Common Commands
Description: The main menu changes depending on what kind of view is active. However, the commands listed below are common across different view types.
Keywords: desktop,desktop load,desktop save,menu,menu global commands

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# Beyond Compare

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Common Commands | Scroll Prev Top Next More Links

The main menu changes depending on what kind of view is active. However, the commands listed below are common across different view types.

Pick Tools > Options and switch to the Commands page to define your own keyboard shortcuts, and hide or expose commands on the menus and toolbars.

The Beyond Compare menu

| About Beyond Compare | Displays the About box with program version and license information.
| Options | Opens the Options dialog to set program preferences.
| File Formats | Opens the File Formats dialog to manage file format settings.
| Profiles | Opens the Profiles dialog to manage profile settings.
| Check for Updates | Checks to see if a newer version of Beyond Compare is available.
| Enter Key | Opens the Register dialog to accept your license key.
| Install Command Line Tools | Installs two shortcuts required to use Beyond Compare from Terminal or with version control (you will be prompted to provide your password): /usr/local/bin/bcomp - Starts the comparison and waits for it to complete. /usr/local/bin/bcompare - Starts the comparison and returns immediately.

The Session menu

| New Session | Opens a new view with an empty session of the specified type.
| New Tab | Opens a new tab in the current window and displays the Home view.
| New Window | Opens a new window and displays the Home view.
| Open Session | Opens a new view and displays the Home view.
| Load Workspace | Lists saved workspaces. Picking one closes any open views and restores the selected configuration.
| Load Workspace > Manage Workspaces | Lets you rename or delete saved workspaces.
| Save Workspace As | Saves the current configuration of windows and tabs as a named workspace.

The Tools menu

| Export Settings | Opens the Export Settings dialog to selectively save settings and sessions to a file.
| Import Settings | Opens the Import Settings dialog to selectively load settings and sessions from a file.
| Restore Factory Defaults | Opens the Restore Factory Defaults dialog to selectively reset settings to defaults.
| Save Snapshot | Opens the Save Snapshot dialog to create a snapshot of a folder structure.
| Edit Text File | Opens a new Text Edit view.
| View Patch | Opens a new Text Patch view.

The Window menu

| Minimize | Minimizes active window.
| Minimize All | Minimizes all application windows.
| Zoom | Maximizes or restores active window.
| Zoom All | Maximizes all visible document windows.
| Cycle Through Windows | Selects window after active one.
| Cycle Back Through Windows | Selects window before active one.
| Select Next Tab | Selects tab after active one.
| Select Previous Tab | Selects tab before active one.
| Move Tab to New Window | Removes active tab and makes it into new window.
| Merge All Windows | Moves all tabs onto active window.
| Bring All to Front | Brings all windows to the foreground.
| Arrange in Front | Arranges all visible windows.

The Help menu

| Beyond Compare Help | Displays help contents.
| Scooter Software on the Web | Opens the Scooter Software website in your browser.
| Support | Opens the Support dialog which lists instructions for reporting problems.