Text file comparison utilities

agibsonsw · Post by **agibsonsw** » 29 Jan 2011, 11:48

Hello.

Does anyone have a recommendation for comparing text (or html) files? I found one called 'ExamDiff'. It does the job but only highlights the lines containing the difference. I sometimes spend a while trying to spot the difference only to realise that it is a space added at the end of a line.

Thanks, Andy.

Post by **HansV** » 29 Jan 2011, 12:24

I don't have recommendations, but you could use Microsoft Word's Compare feature. Or perhaps you'll find something in Free File Comparison and Differencing Utilities.

AlanMiller · Post by **AlanMiller** » 29 Jan 2011, 12:37

I haven't tried this, but ComponentSoftware Visual Diff for Windows at least appears to address your white space issue:
"Change detection by line, by word or by character.
Smart white-space difference analysis option. "

ware 1.2MB

Alan

Bigaldoc · Post by **Bigaldoc** » 29 Jan 2011, 13:07

agibsonsw wrote:Does anyone have a recommendation for comparing text (or html) files?

I use WinMerge

John Gray · Post by **John Gray** » 29 Jan 2011, 13:14

Bigaldoc wrote:
agibsonsw wrote:Does anyone have a recommendation for comparing text (or html) files?
I use WinMerge

Me too!

agibsonsw · Post by **agibsonsw** » 29 Jan 2011, 13:37

Thank you. I've installed WinMerge and it looks good. I can compare folders as well - that's very handy. And it has a nice splashscreen (it says in the promo).

I didn't install the ComponentSoftware one. The web page has large and bold text and lots of exclamation marks !! That always makes me suspicious. Andy.

jonwallace · Post by **jonwallace** » 29 Jan 2011, 16:50

Notepad++ has a compare function. Load the two files into notepad++ then go Plugins->compare...

agibsonsw · Post by **agibsonsw** » 29 Jan 2011, 17:06

Is there anything Notepad++ can't do? I think when I finish studying Dreamweaver, I might revert to NP++. Andy.

Bigaldoc · Post by **Bigaldoc** » 29 Jan 2011, 18:55

Since we're continuing to list other products, I've been a (free) NoteTab Lite user for quite some time and it also has file compare function. Fookes Software - NoteTab - Versions

The main reason I ever went to the first recommendation I made was the FOLDER comparison, but files is just as nice.

Good luck Andy!

agibsonsw · Post by **agibsonsw** » 29 Jan 2011, 19:25

I 'kinda' wish you hadn't recommended this - my editor list is approaching 20!

But you gotta love the name 'Fookes Software'

ChrisJakarta · Post by **ChrisJakarta** » 30 Jan 2011, 03:12

I have used TextPad for many years, and find it fills my needs. This also has a file comparison facility.

Chris

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