20.1 File Compare (Revision #15)

The File Compare Tool provides users a method of depicting differences in the content between two text-based files. The results of a comparison display as a split-pane with line numbering down the center and connecting splines for identifying where the deltions, changes and additions occur. Each file in a comparison takes up half of the comparison results window and each can be vertically scrolled independently of the other. At the top, between the two files above the line numbering, digits separated by a / indicate the change selected out of total number of changes discovered (i.e. 9/27). Differences are identified down to the character level, with background highlighting and text bolding as markers.

When differences are found, their corresponding highlight colors appear in the annotation bar on the right side of the results and can be used to quickly navigate to differences. If a marker in the annotation bar is used to navigate to a particular difference, a tick mark overlay shows which difference currently has focus.

Launching the File Compare Tool

To compare two files, either multi-select individual files in the Scripts Browser from mounted directories, or launch the File Compare Tool from Tools Menu (Tools->Compare->File Compare) and browse to them. If the File Compare Tool is launched from the Tools Menu, it is possible to choose files that are not listed in the Scripts Browser, but are available to the operating system. Filters to exclude files by file size, name, directory, or file extension can be selected before the comparison is run using the "Show Differences" button.  The File Compare Tool keeps the last files selected when the application is restarted and the File Compare Tool is relaunched.

When the comparison is being performed, and the two files are large enough, a status bar indicates its progress.

Once the comparison is complete, it can be refreshed, allowing new changes to appear in the comparison results. It is also possible to select two new files for comparison by clicking the "Browse" buttons at the top of the comparison results without having to launch the Compare Tools Menu again.

Comparison Results

Displays graphically which lines in the content have been deleted from, added to or have been changed in some way from the original.

• Two files are identical if they have the same content.
• If they are not Identical they are highlighted different colors. The defaults are pink (deleted), purple (changed) or green (added). These colors can be changed under File->Options->Compare->Colors

File Diff Features

• Refresh: A "Refresh" button on the toolbar allows the user to requery for file changes in case any changes to the files have taken place.
• Save As HTML: The toolbar contains a "Save As HTML" button that allows the user to save the compare results to HTML so that they may be saved and emailed to other users. The save prompt provides the user different options such as layout, font, file name and the object choices.
• Preview in Browser: The toolbar contains a "Preview in Browser" button that allows the user to preview the last saved compare results, allowing quick access to the saved HTML.
• Drag & Drop of files into tool: A user can directly pick up a file from a file manager and drag & drop it into the text field instead of browsing for the file. The file text will get displayed in the text field and the file difference will be calculated.
• Multi selection of two files in the Scripts Browser allows launching the File Compare Tool with a right click.
• If the file displays are scrolled independently of each other, visual alignment is kept using splines
• Line numbers are shown in the center divider, also shows current change and the number of changes as X/X
• Annotation bar next to the vertical scroll bar shows bird’s eye view of the changes
• Toolbar has an option button - compare options button on the top of the diff panel to alter color selection (added, deleted, changed)