Total Commander

As I understand, Compare contents compare 2 topmost selected entries from panels. Please exclude [..] from that (if selected by mistake), it makes no sense there.

Instead, selecting [..] on both sides and calling Compare contents should open Synchronize directories. Just saying.

In the first part I agree. I would even put it in the bug category.

As for synchronization, it does not look like an obvious solution due to the combined functionality.
But this can be done with a script without any problems.

Got caught in this trap many times...

My vote for the improvement.

I do not really understand the posters startup handling of the compare content module:

In my case there are three ways (I have Ctrl+Y set to "cm_CompareFilesByContent"):

No file selected & pressing Ctrl+Y: The file under the cursor (in the active window) will be compered with the file with the same name within the inaktive window.

Two files selected (one in active, one in inactive window) with different names & pressing Ctrl+Y: The files with different names will be compared.

Two files selected (both in active window, no one in inactive window) with different names & pressing Ctrl+Y: The files with different names will be compared.

The case that [..] is in the selection never happens here. No need to change anything at this part of compare content module.

Maybe you just need to learn how TC works at this part and get used to it

JO"Please tell me more of your handling of this..."UBE

2JOUBE

Two files selected (one in active, one in inactive window) with different names & pressing Ctrl+Y: The files with different names will be compared.

A Hint: You don't need to select the file in the active window - in that case the file under the cursor will be used.

Damel wrote: ↑2022-06-20, 20:37 UTC selecting [..] on both sides ...

Why both? One is enough here:

TCFS2.exe /ef if((msg(1074,1005)==0&&msg(1074,1007)==0)||(msg(1074,1006)==0&&msg(1074,1008)==0),tcm(2020),tcm(2022))

JOUBE wrote: ↑2022-06-22, 10:57 UTC JO"Please tell me more of your handling of this..."UBE

Words about "2 topmost selected entries" are referring to all situations where 2+ entries are selected.

It can be by accident or it's that situation where you can have selected as many files as you want or must have but you are still able to compare 2 files by your needs - modulating which files TC chooses by changing sorting methods. Try it for yourself - select 3 files (no worry in which panel) and use your hotkey, then change sorting (name/ext/size/date/ascending-descending) so selected files will be in a different order than previously and compare again. TC compares another pair (awesome feature BTW).

What is important is that TC chooses the top most entries - and The Top Most entries are the [..].

It happened to me (and I'm not alone) so many times that it was worth writing an article about it.

2Damel
So did my solution suit you? Or not?

Fla$her wrote: ↑2022-06-22, 15:55 UTC 2Damel
So did my solution suit you? Or not?

This solution is nice, but (and I'm sorry) what's the point? Why call this when by the same action
(number of steppes - assigned hotkey, click on button/menu entry) can be called Synchronize directories function itself.

Functions need to be ergonomic without additional thinking/actions, say automatically.
Imagine TC thinking: Compare files called on [..]? There are no files to compare, let's compare dirs instead!

And to be honest, I'm not decided (and it is not at me either) what would be better (to call when [..] are selected or under cursor):
- Synchronize directories
or
- Compare directories

Damel wrote: ↑2022-06-22, 15:20 UTCWords about "2 topmost selected entries" are referring to all situations where 2+ entries are selected.

It is very easy: Do not do that, it is not the usual way to handle it. Please lean more about TC handling.

JO"Are you really interested in using the Tc to handle files? Then it is easy to learn how..."UBE

Damel wrote: ↑2022-06-22, 17:06 UTC This solution is nice, but (and I'm sorry) what's the point?

So "nice" or "what's the point"?

Damel wrote: ↑2022-06-22, 17:06 UTCWhy call this when by the same action (number of steppes - assigned hotkey, click on button/menu entry) can be called Synchronize directories function itself.

Then I don't understand what else is needed if everything was fine.

Damel wrote: ↑2022-06-22, 17:06 UTCFunctions need to be ergonomic without additional thinking/actions, say automatically.

What extra actions are required with my solution?

Damel wrote: ↑2022-06-22, 17:06 UTCAnd to be honest, I'm not decided (and it is not at me either) what would be better (to call when [..] are selected or under cursor):
- Synchronize directories
or
- Compare directories

If there are 3 different comparison commands: cm_CompareDirs (533), cm_DirMatch (534) and cm_CompareDirsWithSubdirs (336). So substitute the desired number instead of 2020.

I still vote for Damel's initial request.

The follow-up conversation baffles me.
I believe Damel aims solely to GUI whereas most of the follow-up conversation deals with internal commands.

2mmm
1. What does GUI have to do with it?
2. Do you know how to compare without executing an internal command?

Fla$her wrote: ↑2022-06-23, 13:58 UTC 2mmm

He really has no idea about TC. And if he wants to use it, then he should learn the TC.

JO"That's it"UBE

mmm wrote: ↑2022-06-23, 08:06 UTC I still vote for Damel's initial request.

The follow-up conversation baffles me.
I believe Damel aims solely to GUI whereas most of the follow-up conversation deals with internal commands.

Exactly! Nice to see that TC users frustrated with this issue understand well the root cause.
Who doesn't face this issue isn't just using TC in a way and for what we do. You do you.

I'm sad from expressions like "you just don't know how to use TC". There is no place for this kind of hostile behaviour.