|
|
To merge files Mercurial uses merge tools.
|
|
|
|
|
|
A merge tool combines two different versions of a file into a merged
|
|
|
file. Merge tools are given the two files and the greatest common
|
|
|
ancestor of the two file versions, so they can determine the changes
|
|
|
made on both branches.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Merge tools are used both for :hg:`resolve`, :hg:`merge`, :hg:`update`,
|
|
|
:hg:`backout` and in several extensions.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Usually, the merge tool tries to automatically reconcile the files by
|
|
|
combining all non-overlapping changes that occurred separately in
|
|
|
the two different evolutions of the same initial base file. Furthermore, some
|
|
|
interactive merge programs make it easier to manually resolve
|
|
|
conflicting merges, either in a graphical way, or by inserting some
|
|
|
conflict markers. Mercurial does not include any interactive merge
|
|
|
programs but relies on external tools for that.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Available merge tools
|
|
|
=====================
|
|
|
|
|
|
External merge tools and their properties are configured in the
|
|
|
merge-tools configuration section - see hgrc(5) - but they can often just
|
|
|
be named by their executable.
|
|
|
|
|
|
A merge tool is generally usable if its executable can be found on the
|
|
|
system and if it can handle the merge. The executable is found if it
|
|
|
is an absolute or relative executable path or the name of an
|
|
|
application in the executable search path. The tool is assumed to be
|
|
|
able to handle the merge if it can handle symlinks if the file is a
|
|
|
symlink, if it can handle binary files if the file is binary, and if a
|
|
|
GUI is available if the tool requires a GUI.
|
|
|
|
|
|
There are some internal merge tools which can be used. The internal
|
|
|
merge tools are:
|
|
|
|
|
|
.. internaltoolsmarker
|
|
|
|
|
|
Internal tools are always available and do not require a GUI but will by default
|
|
|
not handle symlinks or binary files.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Choosing a merge tool
|
|
|
=====================
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mercurial uses these rules when deciding which merge tool to use:
|
|
|
|
|
|
1. If a tool has been specified with the --tool option to merge or resolve, it
|
|
|
is used. If it is the name of a tool in the merge-tools configuration, its
|
|
|
configuration is used. Otherwise the specified tool must be executable by
|
|
|
the shell.
|
|
|
|
|
|
2. If the ``HGMERGE`` environment variable is present, its value is used and
|
|
|
must be executable by the shell.
|
|
|
|
|
|
3. If the filename of the file to be merged matches any of the patterns in the
|
|
|
merge-patterns configuration section, the first usable merge tool
|
|
|
corresponding to a matching pattern is used. Here, binary capabilities of the
|
|
|
merge tool are not considered.
|
|
|
|
|
|
4. If ui.merge is set it will be considered next. If the value is not the name
|
|
|
of a configured tool, the specified value is used and must be executable by
|
|
|
the shell. Otherwise the named tool is used if it is usable.
|
|
|
|
|
|
5. If any usable merge tools are present in the merge-tools configuration
|
|
|
section, the one with the highest priority is used.
|
|
|
|
|
|
6. If a program named ``hgmerge`` can be found on the system, it is used - but
|
|
|
it will by default not be used for symlinks and binary files.
|
|
|
|
|
|
7. If the file to be merged is not binary and is not a symlink, then
|
|
|
internal ``:merge`` is used.
|
|
|
|
|
|
8. Otherwise, ``:prompt`` is used.
|
|
|
|
|
|
.. note::
|
|
|
|
|
|
After selecting a merge program, Mercurial will by default attempt
|
|
|
to merge the files using a simple merge algorithm first. Only if it doesn't
|
|
|
succeed because of conflicting changes will Mercurial actually execute the
|
|
|
merge program. Whether to use the simple merge algorithm first can be
|
|
|
controlled by the premerge setting of the merge tool. Premerge is enabled by
|
|
|
default unless the file is binary or a symlink.
|
|
|
|
|
|
See the merge-tools and ui sections of hgrc(5) for details on the
|
|
|
configuration of merge tools.
|
|
|
|