View changes on CVS repository with TortoiseCVS

Question

Is there a way, with TortoiseCVS, to see what has changed in the repository since the last CVS update?

I am used to Eclipse's synchronize function. But now I want to view differences in a directory that isn't an eclipse project.

I could check out the project somewhere else and use any diff tool. But that's ugly.

Answer 1

The command line version of cvs provides the '-n' option for this purpose. From the cvs manual:

Do not change any files. Attempt to execute the `cvs_command', but only to issue reports; do not remove, update, or merge any existing files, or create any new files.

Note that CVS will not necessarily produce exactly the same output as without `-n'. In some cases the output will be the same, but in other cases CVS will skip some of the processing that would have been required to produce the exact same output.

The option is also available in Tortoise: Choose "CVS Update Special" from the context menu. In the dialog check the box "Simulate Update" (it's on a separate tab in newer version of Tortoise).

However, I find the feature to be of limited usefulness, due to it's cryptic output and low level of integration (e.g. it's not possible to click on a file and actually view the diff's).