---
title: 8.4.7
slug: 847
createdAt: 2026-10-23T01:12:13.361Z
---

***

**Release date:** October 30, 2026

Activate 8.4.7 is a focused patch release that introduces a preview of a built-in merge and compare viewer for Activate Studio. The preview is disabled by default and must be enabled by an administrator.

## Native Merge and Compare Viewer

Activate's existing parameter conflict workflow can present conflict markers for users to resolve, and version comparisons use the legacy compare dialog. The native viewer provides one built-in surface for reviewing and resolving parameter conflicts and for comparing historical versions. It does not require an external diff application when this viewer is enabled.

For a merge, the editor shows the incoming value, the current value, the common ancestor when available, and an editable result in the middle. The three columns stay aligned row for row and scroll together, so matching lines line up and differences are easy to follow. Where a line genuinely differs, it is shown inline with two clickable option chips, incoming and current, so you can resolve it in one click, and you can still edit the result by hand for a third answer. Differences use familiar colours with an on-screen legend, the exact changed characters are highlighted, and runs of automatically merged lines can be folded away. A badge states whether the merge is 2-way, when there is no previous system version, or 3-way; for a 3-way merge the common ancestor is available in its own read-only column, collapsed by default.

You can review differences, select lines to copy or drag between panes, edit the result, undo and redo, and save. Save writes the current result and leaves the editor open so you can keep working. Closing the editor keeps the last saved value, and closing without saving discards unsaved edits. When you resolve a conflict and save it, the conflict is removed from your task list, matching the behaviour of the previous external diff workflow.

For a comparison, the viewer presents two versions in a read-only view. You can select other versions where available, switch between split and unified layouts, adjust display options, collapse panes, and maximise the window.

When the flag is disabled, the existing merge and compare workflows remain in place and unchanged. See the related merge editor guide, compare viewer guide, and controls reference documents.

## Update Notes

The native viewer is an opt-in preview and is not enabled by default by updating to 8.4.7. An Activate administrator must enable PR42846\_MergeToolNativeViewerbefore users can access it. The legacy workflows remain available while the flag is off.