SUMMARY If I install KDiff3 to Program Files, the context menu fails to launch kdiff3.exe. STEPS TO REPRODUCE 1. Download and run https://cdn.kde.org/ci-builds/sdk/kdiff3/master/windows/kdiff3-master-1955-windows-cl-msvc2022-x86_64.exe . 2. Install using the default settings. (If you pick "Install just for me", it works around this bug.) 3. Select two text files in Windows Explorer, right-click, and pick menu KDiff3 > Compare. OBSERVED RESULT An error dialog pops up: --------------------------- Diff-Ext For KDiff3 --------------------------- Could not start KDiff3. Please rerun KDiff3 installation. Command: CommandLine: "" "C:\Users\nyanpasu64\Documents (Shared)\files\2fa\discord_backup_codes tuta.txt" "C:\Users\nyanpasu64\Documents (Shared)\files\2fa\discord_backup_codes gmail.txt" --------------------------- OK --------------------------- EXPECTED RESULT KDiff3 launches. SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS Windows: 11 Version 24H2 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Judging from the error message the context menu is failing to get the install path from the registry I'll have a look at the install script. Was this by chance an upgrade from a previous install. I ask because this has caused odd issues in the past.
I've gotten the issue on both a first-time program install on a brand-new Windows, and an upgrade. This error message was taken from a reinstallation, on a computer that previously held a broken global then working single-user install. I suspect the issue might've started with the commits to https://github.com/KDE/kdiff3/commits/master/diff_ext_for_kdiff3 ?
Turns out the install script wasn't creating a 64-bit visible registry entry. See https://invent.kde.org/packaging/craft-blueprints-kde/-/tree/master/extragear/kdiff3?ref_type=heads. Why this only breaks global install I don't know. Fixed now
Git commit bc1d02c8be17981c38765a8015f03f194cf00b3a by Michael Reeves. Committed on 30/04/2025 at 17:15. Pushed by mreeves into branch 'master'. [kdiff3] Fix install script for context menu. It seems 64-bit entries are needed for global system wide install to work. FIXED-IN:1.12.3 M +5 -1 extragear/kdiff3/appunistall.nsi M +4 -0 extragear/kdiff3/sections.nsi https://invent.kde.org/packaging/craft-blueprints-kde/-/commit/bc1d02c8be17981c38765a8015f03f194cf00b3a
*** Bug 503695 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
Updated installed has been generated for 1.12.2 https://invent.kde.org/sdk/kdiff3/-/jobs/2723513
Is it possible to release a minor version, 1.12.3, quickly to circumvent this problem?
That's the plan will also fix a crash found on windows only.
The repaired installer is here will upload 1.12.3 shortly. Note this is for the rebuilt 1.12.2 so it won't have the crash fix. Providing it just n case something come up before I upload 1.12.3 which now tagged. https://invent.kde.org/sdk/kdiff3/-/jobs/2723513/artifacts/file/kde-ci-packages/kdiff3-HEAD-1938-windows-cl-msvc2022-x86_64.exe
Poster of bug 503695 here: I have just tested kdiff3-HEAD-1938-windows-cl-msvc2022-x86_64.exe and confirmed that the context menu bug is gone. As soon as the official release is available on https://download.kde.org/stable/kdiff3/, and thus in MS Store for winget, I'll update here too.
Going upload now. Doing a quick check on my machine too make sure nothing weird happened with the final release like not updating the version correctly.
Just tested with kdiff3-1.12.3-windows-x86_64.exe and I confirmed that the bug is gone. Also tested with winget and it's also good. Thanks. I think this bug can be closed.