Install the file comparison tool on the same system as Dreamweaver. On Macintosh, install Command line tools from the file comparison tool.
Compare local and remote files, compare files before putting files, and compare files when synchronizing in Dreamweaver.
Dreamweaver can work with file comparison tools (also known as “diff tools”) to compare the code of local and remote versions of the same file, two different remote files, or two different local files. Comparing local and remote versions is useful if you’re working on a file locally and you suspect the copy of the file on the server has been modified by someone else. Without leaving Dreamweaver, you can view and merge the remote changes into your local version before putting the file to the server.
Comparing two local files or two remote files is also useful if you keep previous, renamed versions of your files. If you’ve forgotten the changes made to a file from a previous version, a quick comparison will remind you.
Before you start, you must install a third-party file comparison tool on your system. For more information on file comparison tools, use a web search engine such as Google Search to search for “file comparison” or “diff” tools. Dreamweaver works with most third-party tools.
Install the file comparison tool on the same system as Dreamweaver. On Macintosh, install Command line tools from the file comparison tool.
In Windows, click the Browse button and select the application that compares files.
On the Macintosh, click the Browse button and select the tool or script that launches the file comparison tool from the command line, not the actual comparison tool itself.
Launch tools or scripts are typically located in the /usr/bin or /usr/local/bin folder on your Macintosh. For example, if you want to use FileMerge, browse to /usr/bin and select opendiff, which is the tool that launches FileMerge.
The following table lists common file comparison tools for the Macintosh and the location of their launch tools or scripts on your hard disk:
If you use |
Select the following file |
FileMerge |
/usr/bin/opendiff (or /Developer/usr/bin/opendiff) |
BBEdit |
/usr/local/bin/bbdiff |
TextWrangler |
/usr/local/bin/twdiff |
The usr folder is normally hidden in Finder. However, you can access it with the Browse button in Dreamweaver.
The actual results displayed depends on the diff tool you are using. Check the user manual for your tool to understand how to interpret the results.
You can compare two files located anywhere on your computer.
To select files outside your defined site, select your local disk from the left pop‑up menu in the Files panel and then select the files.
If you have a one-button mouse, Control‑click one of the selected files instead.
The file comparison tool starts and compares the two files.
You can compare two files located on your remote server. You must define a Dreamweaver site with remote settings before you can accomplish this task.
If you have a one-button mouse, Control‑click one of the selected files instead.
The file comparison tool starts and compares the two files.
You can compare a local file to a file located on your remote server. To do this, you must first define a Dreamweaver site with remote settings.
If you have a one-button mouse, Control‑click the local file instead.
The file comparison tool starts and compares the two files.
You can compare a remote file to a local file. You must define a Dreamweaver site with remote settings before accomplishing this task.
If you have a one-button mouse, Control‑click the file instead.
You can compare a file open in Dreamweaver to its counterpart on the remote server.
The file comparison tool starts and compares the two files.
You can also right-click the document tab along the top of the Document window and select Compare with Remote from the context menu.
If you edit a file locally and then try to upload it to your remote server, Dreamweaver will notify you if the remote version of the file has changed. You have the option of comparing the two files before you upload the file and overwrite the remote version.
Before you start, you must install a file comparison tool on your system and specify it in Dreamweaver.
If the remote version of the file has been modified, you’ll receive a notification with the option of seeing the differences.
The file comparison tool starts and compares the two files.
If you haven’t specified a file comparison tool, you are prompted to specify one.
You can compare the local versions of your files with the remote versions when you synchronize your site files with Dreamweaver.
Before you start, you must install a file comparison tool on your system and specify it in Dreamweaver.
After you click Preview, the selected files and the actions that will be taken during synchronization are listed.
The file must be text-based, such as HTML or ColdFusion files.
Dreamweaver starts the comparison tool, which compares the local and remote versions of each file you selected.
Sign in to your account