WinMerge: How to exclude *.bak and *.tmp files?

Question

How do I include all files and exclude *.bak and *.tmp files in WinMerge compare dialog window?

=========== WinMerge Dialog Window ===========

Left: [Folder-A]               [ OK ]
Right: [Folder-B]              [ Cancel ]
Filter: *.*                    [ Help ]

[x] Include Subfolders

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Solution

Using an inclusive filter, all files are included except those matching a filter rule. For .tmp and .bak files that would be:

def: include ## Inclusive (loose) filter lets through all items not matching rules
f: \.tmp$ ## temporary files
f: \.bak$ ## back up files

When selecting a file or folder, hit select right next to the filter textfield to select a filter. Then hit new, select a filename and adjust the filter by the above lines. After saving, you may have to refresh the filter page by closing and opening it again. Select your new filter and voila.

Comments

[Level1Coder]

link doesn't work

[Level1Coder]

Actually, I read that before posting the question. The documentation is rather poor on how to exclude files, there is no clearcut example.

[Maria Ines Parnisari]

Basically, you create a filter for bak and tmp files, and apply that filter to the comparison.

[Level1Coder]

Does that mean if I have 1 billion files to compare, it will compare 1 billion files THEN apply filter? Seems not efficient

[Maria Ines Parnisari]

I don't know how it works.

[Level1Coder]

Tks, it works. Been a while and I have used another software. Now that I know how filters work, I may give WinMerge another chance.