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A file comparison utility helps you visually compare and merge the differences between two (or more) different versions of the same file, or detect the variations between two different sets of data. These types of utilities are often called "Diff" programs. Hundreds of different types of file comparison utilities exist, each tailored for specific types of data and file formats.
If you are looking to compare plain text files such as code or binary files many different free choices exist. One of the best is WinMerge. It only runs on a Windows based system, but it can handle DOS, UNIX, and MAC, text file formats. A version of WinMerge called WinMergU also supports Unicode. WinMerge can integrate with Windows Explorer and will compare two corresponding groups of text files, and tell you which are identical and which have differences. It will also compare two individual files and like most diff utilities it shows the files being compared in two vertical panes and highlights the differences, allowing you to merge or ignore the changes. While WinMerge is an excellent text file comparison utility it will not work with word processor or spreadsheet type documents because they include special formatting and markup. For these types of files you need a comparison program that is especially designed to support their formatting. Unfortunately virtually all of these come with an exorbitant price tag, which puts them out of the reach of most users.
Another good product is KDiff3. It is similar to WinMerge with many of the same features, but also supports other operating systems including GNU/Linux, Unix, and Mac OSX.
WinMerge
Website: http://winmerge.org
Download link: http://winmerge.org/downloads/index.php
Current version: 2.6.14
Version date: January 17th 2008
License: Freeware
Download File Size: 2.9 MB
Operating Systems Supported: MS Windows (95/98/NT/2000/XP/Limited Vista support)
Additional Software Required: 7-Zip Plug-in (for archive support)
64 Bit Capable: Limited 64-bit support
Portable Version Available: No
KDiff3
Website: http://kdiff3.sourceforge.net
Download link: http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=58666
Current version: 0.9.92
Version date: April 15th 2007
License: Freeware
Download File Size: 7MB
Operating Systems Supported: MS Windows, GNU/Linux with KDE3,Unix, Mac OSX
Additional Software Required: none
64 Bit Capable: unverified
Portable Version Available: No
This software category is maintained by volunteer editor Paul Lawrence.
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The best free file comparison tool that I have ever used is
CSDiff. I used it to compare file only since it is excellent to spot every single difference. It uses only one pane to display the differences, thus making it very easy to check them in the context of the surrounding code. For a programmer it is a must. Additional PLUS - it can compare content of two MS Word documents!
http://www.componentsoftware.com/products/csdiff/index.htm
Another good one is ExamDiff. It is very light and easy to use, showing files in separate panes, but spaces lines in a way that allows you to easily see the common parts.
http://www.prestosoft.com/ps.asp?page=edp_examdiff
Tomasz
While WinMerge is an excellent text file comparison utility it will not work with word processor or spreadsheet type documents because they include special formatting and markup. For these types of files you need a comparison program that is especially designed to support their formatting. Unfortunately virtually all of these come with an exorbitant price tag, which puts them out of the reach of most users.
As this is no reason to keep them in secrecy, may we know some names at least?
Diffuse (http://diffuse.sourceforge.net/) is another excellent file comparison tool. Great for merging and reviewing changes to code.
What about TextDiff which also supports folder comparison http://www.angusj.com/delphi/textdiff.html
Hello
I'm searching for a tool/app for comparing files with the same name and different file type by date.
Smth.fmb (date) <-> Smth.fmx (date)
Total Commander has this option, but it only works if the files are in the same folder.
Has anyone found something like that?
I.B.
DIRECTORY COMPARISON
Any of these that can compare directories without comparing each file byte by byte?
TreeComp is the best directory comparison tool I've ever used. It's free and requires no install.
As far as I know, there are none that are free.
Beyond compare (not free) does have option to compare directories without comparing each file byte by byte.
This is a sorely lacking feature in Winmerge. Also lacking is support for exclusions (for example, exclude folders and files from the diff)
WinMerge does have it. In the options menu, under Compare, there is a File Compare method, which has options for full contents, quick contents, modified date, size, and modified date & size.
WinMerge is now at version 2.10.x and has an officially endorsed portable build at PortableApps.com here. It is open source (GNU GPL) and in active development.
Notepad++ has an excellent diff plug-in, installed by default.
Excellent tool for compare. It is very smart and highlights exactly what's wrong. Default color scheme is intuitive.
However, it ran into an unexpected error on a large text file: 8 meg 62203 records. So there might be a limit. very good for smaller text files.
I too used DiffMerge and it is ultra cool
Another free utility which I've been using since it was introduced in June 2007 is SourceGear DiffMerge, which is available here. DiffMerge runs on Linux, Mac, and Windows, and can perform folder comparisons in addition to file comparisons. I'm not familiar with WinMerge and KDiff3, so I don't know how the features compare, but here are some of the DiffMerge features that I like:
Mike Potjer
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