I need an utility to compare text files....

Factual Questions
1

I would have done a search for it but I don’t know what this utility is called - just what it does.

Basically, this utility compares two text files and reports the lines those two text files differ from each other. IRIC, Unix has command for this (grep??) but I don’t run Unix, but a Windows 98 on a PC.

Thanks in advances!

2

The unix utility is called diff (or perhaps “df”, it’s been a while). There is a Windows utility called WinDiff that does the same thing. I believe it to be shareware.

3

Sorry, I should have mentioned that there is a DOS utility that might do what you need, if your needs are not particularly involved. In a DOS window, try using the command fc (File Compare). The command is

fc filename1.txt filename2.txt

Output can be redirected to a file by typing

fc filename1.txt filename2.txt > outputfile.txt

WinDiff uses a better comparison algorythm, so there are fewer false positives. fc will work if you just need something sort of quick.

If you are unfamiliar with the DOS prompt, WinDiff will definitely make life easier for you.

4

MS Word will also do this. Load one text file then TOOLS->TRACK CHANGES->COMPARE DOCUMENTS. It will ask you for the second document then show the differences.

5

Thanks…

I am quite convinced that I could learn something new everyday if I try!

6

If you are interested in doing this visually, I can very highly recomment CompareIt. www.grigsoft.com It’s shareware, but well worth the (small) registration fee. As far as I can see it’s some guy working out of his house in Eastern Europe, but I’ve been using this software professionally for a couple of years and it is fabulous.

Disclaimer: I have no financial interest in this, I just think it’s an excellent piece of software.

7

Also, if you really really want to do this in the “command line” UN*X-like style, a lot of the UNIX utilities (including diff) are available here.

8

Try Beyond Compare. Compares files and directories. Syncs them, batch processes, lots of stuff. I’ve found it invaluable.

9

I use ExamDiff from www.prestosoft.com

compares text or binary files or Word documents, compares directories, works either as an interactive two-files-at-a-time editor or in batch mode etc.

10

ExamDiff compares Word documents side-by-side?!? I’ve been looking for this feature for a LONG time. The built-in compare in Word is (IMHO) not much use.

11

Technical hijack:

When it does this, what is it comparing? Code or text?

12

Ummm… err… actually I haven’t really used it for Word documents, but I thought I’d read that somewhere. So I just now tried it. You do see some of the control codes, font names etc. but others just show up as blocks or other higher ASCII characters.

You can download a trial version for free.

13

Oh, and I’m talking about ExamDiff Pro ($35). The plain ExamDiff (free) only handles text files and only does comparisons, no editing.

14

goto www.downloads.com and look for winmerge. It is a good tool and is free.