6 messages in com.perforce.perforce-userP4, P4Win and Binary files| From | Sent On | Attachments |
|---|---|---|
| Bert...@lanhopper.comBert.x.lindgren | 18 Jan 1999 19:18 | |
| LeeH...@voicenet.com | 19 Jan 1999 06:18 | |
| Cowham | 19 Jan 1999 08:47 | |
| Ping...@MIT.EDU | 20 Jan 1999 18:37 | |
| Mike...@placeware.com | 21 Jan 1999 10:36 | |
| Step...@vance.com | 21 Jan 1999 19:21 |
| Subject: | P4, P4Win and Binary files |
|---|---|
| From: | Step...@vance.com (Step...@vance.com) |
| Date: | 01/21/1999 07:21:18 PM |
| List: | com.perforce.perforce-user |
Ping Huang wrote:
Bert.x.lindgren at lanhopper.com wrote:
However, does anyone know how to convince it to do any of the following: Safe-resolve binary files Execute an external diff tool on binary files Execute an external merge tool on binary files
I'm not sure what you would want Perforce to do to accomplish "safe-resolve binary files".
You should be able to get Perforce to do the latter two by forcing the type of your binary files to text, and setting your DIFF and MERGE environment variables appropriately. You probably would want your DIFF and MERGE environment variables to point at scripts that figure out whether the intended target is really of text or binary type, and invoke the appropriate diff/merge programs based on type.
The problems with this are that you lose file typing information and that you need much more intelligent DIFF and MERGE programs.
It has occurred to me to request enhancements for extendable file types, and to be able to associate diff and merge programs with particular file types, perhaps even to have an API for diffing and merging that would allow you to write a pluggable shared library for different file types.
This would allow you, for example, to define an "archive library" file type on which you could diff the contained objects. Or you could define a diff algorithm for object files that knew enough to compare the various component object file sections and to ignore differences like irrelevant date or version stamps.
In the case of the Word files, you could write a diff'er that took into account the incremental file format used by Word in fast save mode.
I have not requested this enhancement because I have not been prepared to develop such extensions, and did not want to ask Perforce to jump through hoops for no reason.
--- ======================================================================= Stephen Vance | mailto:steve at vance.com | http://www.vance.com =======================================================================
A computer programmer is a machine for turning coffee into programs. --- Paraphrase of the late mathematician Paul Erdo"s