THE VISIBLE EDGE

Issue: June 20, 2005

Visible Spotlight
- Blockbuster Razor Release - Razor 5.1 includes new Diff/Merge Utility

Configuration Management
- Razor: Special Promotion - "OUR PLACE OR YOURS"
- Tech Tip

Puzzler...

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Visible Spotlight - Feature Story
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The upcoming release of Razor will include an easy-to-use, integrated, advanced Diff/Merge tool called SureMerge by Guiffy Software that runs native over all platforms supported by Razor (with the exception those operating systems that lack the necessary Java Runtime Environments/JREs). SureMerge makes comparing, merging, and upgrading sources as easy and reliable as possible. SureMerge is used around the world by thousands of professionals in more than 25 countries on an endless variety of platforms (Including: Windows, Linux, Unix, Solaris, Irix, AIX, HP, OpenVMS) http://www.guiffy.com/shots.html.

SureMerge Includes a ton of new capability and adds color to Razor. The major capabilities included are as follows:

• SureMerge can be used to compare and diff/merge source files of any type with builtin support of UNICODE, MBCS, and over 150 File Encoding and character set formats http://www.guiffy.com/GuiffyHelp/Encodings.html
• SureMerge implements a blend of 3 diff algorithms to provide the best visual compare results (including tuneable in-line diffs highlighting) and trusted smart merge capabilities.
• SureMerge also provides sophisticated folder and file tree compare and synchronization capabilities.
• SureMerge's smart 3-way diff/merge, called SureMerge, surpasses all other merge tools with its intelligent functionality and ease-of-use. For more information, read the whitepaper, entitled "A Trustworthy 3-Way Merge" which includes test kit files. This is a great way to evaluate other 3-way merge tools.
• And, SureMerge comes with a Java API package (Guiffy Inside), so you can use it as a component in your application.
• SureMerge's VERY smart 3-way merge automatically goes beyond the focus on "conflicts" in other merge tools. SureMerge's "Attention" focus can be expanded by the user. And, SureMerge's heuristic algorithms result in fewer, easier to resolve changes. Plus, a Parent Attention view is available for when it helps to see or copy parts of "the way it was before".
• The ComparEdit features are very handy for when you need to find a change made in one version of a file and include it in the other --- maybe a bug fix.
• Choice of 2-way or 3-way merge operations with views of both compare/merge files and the merge result. The MergEdit interface supports editing-in-place while merging. Navigation through remaining "Attention" changes is automatic or user-directed. Each change can be resolved with a single click and reversed as well. Tools to Keep or Undo All changes are handy for beginning a merge with all the changes from one version --- then, find and keep what you need from the other version.
• Integrated Folder/FileTree compare capability. From the Folder Compare Tree view, a double-click quickly does a file compare in another window. And, a right-click brings up a menu of choices for merging, copying, or deleting, etc.

Features

• Folder Compare results can be viewed as a FileTree without (the default) or with details (File Size and Modified Date). Folder Compare Ignore options include: Ignore Subfolders (list), Ignore Files (list), Ignore Filetypes (list), Ignore Modified Date and Time, Ignore File Size, and Verify files Match (Byte-by-Byte or with Text compare). Folder Compare Show options include: Show SubFolders recursively, Show Files Matching, Added, Deleted, Changed. Folder Compares can be for one folder at a time (with the ability to drill down), or explored (expanding and collapsing subfolders), or for an entire file tree at once (recursively).
• Double clicks or right click perform file compares or synchronize operations or 2-3way merges. The compare/merges performed this way are aware of all the file compare/merge options.
• When verifying with text compare whether files match, a quick verify compare is performed which is aware of all the file compare options. Verify compares stop on the first diff.
• Open both files or folders from one panel with: history lists, single-click copy/paste, and Browse capabilities. Or, Use Drag and Drop to select any file/folder in the Multi-File/Folder Open Panels.
• SureMerge supports a flexible set of style controls. A builtin set of Styles are provided to give you an idea of the possibilities. Color choices for matching. inserted, and deleted text can be combined with background colors for each of those types and change blocks. Font choices can also be setup for
  each style category.
• Differences can be viewed side-by-side, split horizontally, or together in a single window.
• SureMerge's vertical and horizontal scrolling is synchronized with one set of scrollbars.
• The MouseWheel is supported, AND its scrolling is synchronized.
• Clicking on the scroll meters takes you directly to that point in the view.
• During ComparEdit or MergEdit a full set of Edit menu operations are available including: Copy, Cut, Paste, Undo, and Redo. Plus, special operations for marking lines as removed and flipping the order of changes in a merge block. Compare/Merge views include a context (right-click) popup menu for
  quick and easy mouse operations.
• SureMerge's U.I. includes toolbars for frequently used operations. There are several separate toolbars displayed within a 1 or 2 tier panel depending upon the window's width and which bars are visible.
• Navigation tools for next/previous changes and next/previous merge attentions are provided.
• Save a Compare Report, view and print it with your browser, send it to a co-worker in an email re: code review or merge resolution, or maybe its a critical bug fix - so you post it on the support page of your web site or send it in an email to all your customers.
  
• File and Folder compare views can be printed. A Together or Split view (side-by-side) report is generated depending upon the current view. The Report reflects all of SureMerge's Style (Color and Font) choices and the compare results with the current Ignore and Show settings. Printing can be in Landscape (sideways) and font sizes can be shrunk for printing as well. The upcoming release of Razor will include an easy-to-use, integrated, advanced Diff/Merge tool called SureMerge by Guiffy Software.

The Diff/Merge tool runs across all platforms supported by Razor (with the exception of those operating systems that lack the necessary Java Runtime Environments/JREs). SureMerge makes comparing, merging, and upgrading sources as easy and reliable as possible. SureMerge is used around the world by thousands of professionals in more than 25 countries on an endless variety of platforms including Microsoft Windows, Linux, Unix, Solaris, Irix, AIX, HP-UX and OpenVMS.

SureMerge adds color to Razor. The major capabilities included are as follows:

• Can be used to compare and diff/merge source files of any type with built-in support of UNICODE, MBCS, and over 150 File Encoding and character set formats.
• Implements a blend of 3 diff algorithms to provide the best visual compare results (including tuneable in-line diffs highlighting) and trusted smart merge capabilities.
• Provides sophisticated folder and file tree compare and synchronization capabilities.
• Surpasses all other merge tools with its intelligent functionality and ease-of-use.
• Comes with a Java API package (Guiffy Inside), so you can use it as a component in your application.

For more information please visit: http://www.guiffy.com

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Configuration Management
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Razor: Special Promotion - "OUR PLACE OR YOURS"

"OUR PLACE OR YOURS" available for any order of 10 licenses or more licenses of Razor that we receive no later than June 30, 2005. The "OUR PLACE OR YOURS" entitles you to either 1 free day of on-site consulting or 1 free seat at a week of Razor training classes scheduled for October 17, 2005 in Cocoa
Beach, FL.

*** This offer is not valid on previous purchases. On-site consulting is valid for US locations only. ***

Razor Tech Tip

Branching Threads

Razor does not offer a direct method for the branching of threads. However, we do have a few suggestions that would essentially give you another copy of the Thread to work with:

1. You can duplicate the thread and give it a new name. Here's the command for duplication.

# razor -c dup -f <name> -g <group> -n <new name> -t <title> /
[-i <issue[:<issue group>]>]

2. You could also simply double-click on the thread in the GUI, and do a "Save As..." from the File/Edit menu of the Edit Thread GUI, giving the thread a new name. This would also create a second copy.

3. You can also do the following to create a copy of the Thread:

File, New Thread
File, Import

In the Import GUI, choose a Thread, File/Save As, and give the Thread a new name.

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Puzzler
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What's similar about the names of these continents?

Asia
Africa
Australia
Antarctica
Europe