Re: Merging Ada Files

["Steve" <nospam_steved94@comcast.net>]

<prichtmyer@yahoo.com> wrote in message 
news:1189562448.148837.261350@r29g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
> We have two versions of an Ada system, both derived/evolved from an
> older version. For each Ada file where there are differences in the 2
> versions, I would like to make a complete file merge where the output
> file identifies (somehow) those lines of code that were only in
> version A (if any), and those lines that were only in version B (if
> any), as well as possible conflicts. Does anyone know of a tool or way
> to accomplish this? Platform can be either MS Windows or Sun - Unix.
> Thanks.
>

If I were given this task, I would use TortoiseSVN on Windows as follows:

1) Create a repository and commit the file(s) in the initial state before 
the independent evolution occurred.
2) Create two working copies, one for each of the derived versions, call 
them verisions A and B.
3) Copy one of the derivatives into version A and the other into version B.
4) Commit the changes from version A to the respository.
5) Perform an "Update" to the working copy of version B.  If there are 
conflicts in the working copy of version B use the merge tool provided with 
TortoiseSVN to resolve the conflicts (or any other suitable tool).
6) Commit the the changes from version B to the repository.

The history log of the repository will have one version that lists the 
changes that were committed by version A and the changes that were committed 
by version B.  If you do a "show log" operation and then right click on an 
individual file and pick "Blame" you will get a file listing that annotates 
the source of individual changes.

When a conflict gets to hairy to merge using a 3 way merge tool, I often 
resolve the difficult areas by hand using a 2 way tool.  The best tool I 
have seen for two file comparisons and merge is by far "Beyond Compare".  It 
is an inexpensive non-free tool on windows that is way ahead of anything 
else I have used.

Regards
Steve
(The Duck)