Compare two files in Visual Studio

Question

I saw new comparsion tool in VS 2012 for comparing two files or two versions of file. I like it. But when I tried to find it I can't because I don't use TFS. Is there a way how can I just compare two files with builtin feature in VS but without TFS?

Answer 1

You can invoke devenv.exe /diff list1.txt list2.txt from the command prompt or, if a Visual Studio instance is already running, you can type Tools.DiffFiles in the Command window, with a handy file name completion:

Answer 2

There is also a Visual Studio extension called CompareFiles, which does nothing else but adding the "Compare Files" entry to the solution explorer context menu. It invokes the built-in Visual Studio diff tool.

Just in case that someone (like me) doesn't want to install an all-in-one extension like VSCommands...

Answer 3

In Visual Studio 2012, 2013, 2015, you can also do it with Web Essentials, just right click the files and from context menu > Web Essential >> Diff selected files:

Edit: It's now available as a separate extension

Answer 4

If you are working with TFS connected then right click on file which you need to compare (through source control explorer) and it presents you a window like this -

Now change path of source file in 'Souce Path:' and you get comparision through VS comparision tool.

Similarly you can compare folder also which compares all files of a folder at once.

Answer 5

You can try VSCommands extension from Visual Studio Gallery. Latest release allows you to select two file and compare them:

Answer 6

File Comparer VS Extension by Akhil Mittal. Excellent lightweight tool that gets the job done.