How to Compare Highlighted Text With Copied Text in Visual Studio Code

The aim of this page📝 is to show a feature that is often used, but slightly hidden in vscode — the diff between only a selection within a larger file with the copied text.

As I am doing most of my operation work (todo list via git, thinking via markdown, coding in python/bash) in VSCode, I am using this feature quite often

OOTB request dismissed

• This was closed Feature Request: Compare editor selection with Clipboard · Issue #51009 · microsoft/vscode in favor of using an extension
• Indeed, install Partial Diff — Visual Studio Marketplace

Executed with PartialDiff in a little uncomfortable fashion

• Highlight the text within VSCode
• Run PartialDiff: Select Text for Compare
• Here is the uncomfortable bit: Don’t remove the highlight within VSCode — even as you change applications!
• Copy whatever you need to compare elsewhere
• Run _PartialDiff: Compare Text with Clipboard

again, keep the text highlighted on the left side

LINKS

• Feature Request: Compare editor selection with Clipboard · Issue #51009 · microsoft/vscode
• Partial Diff — Visual Studio Marketplace