To print the differences results (Windows)

About this task

If you use the Diff Merge tool in diff mode (that is, not during a merge) for text files, you can print the results. The printed differences results appear as they are displayed on the screen.

Procedure

  1. Click File > Print.
    The Printing Layout Setup window opens.
  2. Do one of the following
    • To accept the default settings or the settings that you last used during this session, click OK.
    • To specify one or two contributors per sheet, do the following:
      • Set Print each contributor on a separate page to have the lines of each contributor restricted to single sheets of paper.
      • Set Print two contributors on each page to have lines from two contributors displayed aligned on single sheets of paper. For best results, use landscape orientation for this option.
    • To include everything or only differences, do the following:
      • Set Print entire content to print from the first line of each contributor to the last line.
      • Set Print only diff regions to print only the regions that differ from comparing all contributors. Selecting this option activates the field in which you can enter the number of lines from the contributor that precede and follow each differences region in the printout. A blank line precedes each difference region and its surrounding lines. Edit the number to specify the number of surrounding lines. Specify zero to have no lines surrounding the regions. You should have at least one surrounding line printed (the default).
  3. (Optional) In the Windows Print window, click Layout and, in Orientation, select Landscape.
  4. Click OK.

Results

The printout is arranged as follows:

  • Each line of a contributor is vertically aligned with the corresponding line of every other contributor. This is the same as the screen display. The layout is such that you can place the printed page for each contributor side by side and have the same layout as on the screen.
  • All text uses the same font that Diff Merge uses on the screen. Adjust the font type and size for best printout quality. If your printer supports a scaling factor, adjust it to fit more content on a page.
  • If you display line numbers, the numbers of specific lines in the contributors are printed.
  • The graphics on the screen are in the printout and in color if the printer supports color. The text has the same format (for example, color) as on the screen.
  • If a line does not fit in the available width, a new line preceded by a plus (+) sign holds the remaining text. Corresponding lines in other contributors are adjusted to occupy the same number of lines to maintain vertical alignment across all printed pages.
  • At the bottom of each printed page is the number of the printed sheet and the contributor names, compressed to fit on a single line. At the top of each printed page is the number of the contributor page and the name of the contributor.