Too many unmatched folders, how not to display

[jmthomas]

On one side I have a handful of folders which I'm interested in. On the other side, I have a backup that contains zillions of folders, a only few of which correspond to the ones of interest.

In other words, I have a zillion (minus a few) yellow folders on one side, none of which have the same name as a folder on the other side.

I want all those yellow folders that don't contribute to not be shown. There are so many of them (hundreds) that 1) scrolling the display page by page takes forever, and 2) it's too easy to miss one of the lonesome folders flashing through the white space as I drag the scroll bar.

The folder with glasses icon looked exactly like what I wanted, but it turns out the BC2 definition of "does not contribute" is something different than "turn off the yellow folders".

So how can I get the display to show only folders where a folders exists on BOTH sides of the comparison?

(While there is a help entry for "does not contribute", the phrase in not further defined. As a tangent, just exactly does the phrase mean?)

Thanks!

PS: I'm still at BC2 because the direction BC3 took in source control and remote files didn't add function that is important to me. But if BC3 has a way to tame the unmatched folders display, I'll gladly upgrade!

[Chris]

It isn't possible to use a filter that will only display folders that exist on both sides.

It might work for you to just filter out orphan files from the side with the backup. In BC's menu, select "View > Toolbars > Component". Once the filter buttons on the toolbar are changed, toggle off "Show Left Orphans" or "Show Right Orphans".

Beyond Compare 3 doesn't have any new features that will allow you to hide orphan folders.

[jmthomas]

Thanks!

Using "component" view does what I want -- exclude orphans on a side.

I'd been using the "drop down" view, and just assumed that the drop down list would cover all available options. But "component" has more options, and they solve my problem.

PS: What is the definition of "does not contribute" -- just curious!

[Chris]

Here's the full text I think you're referring to from the BC2 help file:

Folder Viewer Filtering:

In general, folders are interesting because of their contents. Folders will disappear from the view if they don't contribute to the comparison. For instance, if you have selected Only Mismatches, folders that don't contain mismatched files will be hidden. This is particularly useful if you have many folders but few mismatches.

"does not contribute" means that if a folder doesn't contain files that match the current display filter the folder will be hidden from view.

[jmthomas]

It's a dead product...

But I'd amend the help to say "folders that don't contain mismatched files after filters are applied will be hidden".

And I'd move the "folder with glasses" icon to the File Filters toolbar, since it really has to do with the visible results of file filtering.

Having it on the Composite Filters toolbar contributed to my (mis-)assumption that it applied to orphans, et. al.

Thanks again Chris -- you do great work!

[Chris]

Thanks for the suggestion. The filters are described more clearly in Beyond Compare 3's help file.

The "folder with glasses" icon was also replaced by a dropdown of folder handling options with text names describing what they do.