Comparing files and folders

When it comes to comparing files, I have been used to a perform this on text files only, always wondering if similar functionality is availble for Word documents or even images. The tools i have used in the past:

• diff -y --suppress file1 file2, very usefull for checking changes to config files, eg. in scripting if you want to make only a certain number of lines are changed. Adding something like MKS Toolkit or GnuWin32 will give you similar tools on your Windows platform.
• Total Commander has a built in compare files.
• My favorite is WinMerge which is freeware and can recursively compare folders!
• WinMerge can also magically replace the builtin side-by-side compare functionality of TortoiseCVS and TortoiseSVN which are my favorite Subversion and CVS version control Windows interfaces.
• FreeCommander can compare files if you set it to use WinMerge. Without WinMerge FreeCommander can recursively compare files and folders (Syncronize).

I dont recall needing to merge a lot of files, so i dont know how the tools above will compare to Araxis Merge.

So at my new job i was pleasently surprised to learn of Araxis Merge, a new tool, that also can compare pictures! I do not have any particular use for it right now, but i am sure i will think of something :-) Unfortunately it will cost me some bucks, so i will probably stick with WinMerge for the time being.