Sometimes there is a need to compare several files with each other. This may be useful when analyzing the differences between several versions configuration file or just to compare different files. Linux has several utilities for this, both through the terminal and in the graphical interface.

In this article we will look at how Linux file comparison is performed. Let's look at the most useful ways, both for the terminal and in graphic mode. First, let's look at how to compare a Linux file using the diff utility.

The diff linux utility is a program that runs in console mode. Its syntax is very simple. Call the utility, pass necessary files, and also set options if necessary:

$ diff options file1 file2

You can transfer more than two files if necessary. Before moving on to the examples, let's look at the utility options:

• -q- display only file differences;
• -s- display only matching parts;
• -With- display the required number of lines after matches;
• -u- output only the required number of lines after differences;
• -y- display in two columns;
• -e- output in ed script format;
• -n- output in RCS format;
• -a- compare files as text, even if they are not text;
• -t- replace tabs with spaces in the output;
• -l- divide into pages and add support for paging;
• -r- recursive comparison of folders;
• -i- ignore case;
• -E- ignore changes in tabs;
• -Z- ignore spaces at the end of the line;
• -b- ignore spaces;
• -B- ignore empty lines.

These were the main options of the utility, now let's look at how to compare Linux files. In the output of the utility, in addition to directly displaying the changes, it displays a line in which it is indicated in what line and what was done. The following symbols are used for this:

• a- added;
• d- deleted;
• c- changed.

In addition, lines that differ will be indicated by the symbol<, а те, которые совпадают - символом >.

Here are the contents of our test files:

Now let's compare the diff files:

diff file1 file2

As a result, we get the line: 2,3c2,4. It means that lines 2 and 3 have been changed. You can use options to ignore case:

diff -i file1 file2

The output can be drawn in two columns:

diff -y file1 file2

And using the -u option, you can create a patch, which can then be applied to the same file by another user:

diff -u file1 file2

To process multiple files in a folder, it is convenient to use the -r option:

diff -r ~/tmp1 ~/tmp2

For convenience, you can redirect the utility output directly to a file:

diff -u file1 file2 > file.patch

As you can see, everything is very simple. But not very convenient. It's more enjoyable to use graphical tools.

Comparing Linux Files Using GUI

There are several great tools to compare files in linux in a GUI. You can easily figure out how to use them. Let's look at a few of them:

1.Compare

Kompare is a graphical diff utility that allows you to find differences in files and also merge them. Written in Qt and designed primarily for KDE. Here are its main features:

• Supports multiple diff formats;
• Support comparison of linux file and directories;
• Support for viewing diff files;
• Customizable interface;
• Creating and applying patches to files.

2. DiffMerge

DiffMerge is a cross-platform program for comparing and merging files. Allows you to compare two or three files. On-the-fly line editing is supported.

Peculiarities:

• Directory comparison support;
• Integration with file viewer;
• Customizable.

3. Meld

It is a lightweight tool for comparing and merging files. It allows you to compare files, directories, and also perform version control functions. The program was created for developers and has the following features:

• Comparison of two and three files;
• Using custom types and words;
• Automatic merging mode and actions with text sides;
• Support for Git, Mercurial, Subversion, Bazar and much more.

4. Diffuse

Diffuse is another popular and fairly simple tool for comparing and merging files. It is written in Python. Two main features are supported - file comparison and version control. You can edit files while viewing. Main functions:

• Syntax highlighting;
• Keyboard shortcuts for easy navigation;
• Supports unlimited cancellations;
• Unicode support;
• Support for Git, CVS, Darcs, Mercurial, RCS, Subversion, SVK and Monotone.

5.XXdiff

XXdiff is a free and very powerful tool for comparing and merging files. But the program has several disadvantages. This is the lack of support for Unicode and file editing.

Peculiarities:

• Shallow or recursive comparison of one or two files and directories;
• Highlighting differences;
• Interactive association;
• Support for external diff tools such as GNU Diff, SIG Diff, Cleareddiff and more;
• Extensibility via scripting;
• Customizability.

6. KDiff3

KDiff3 is another excellent, free tool for comparing files in the KDE desktop environment. It is part of the KDevelop suite of programs and runs on all platforms, including Windows and MacOS. You can compare two linux files for two or three, or even compare directories. Here are the main features:

• Display differences line by line and character by character;
• Automerge support;
• Handling merge conflicts;
• Unicode support;
• Show differences;
• Supports manual leveling.

conclusions

In this article, we looked at how to compare Linux files using the terminal, how to create patches, and also made a short review of the best graphical utilities for comparing files. What comparison tools do you use? Write in the comments!

Laziness is the engine of progress, no matter how strange it may sound, some inventions greatly simplify our lives. In my article I want to tell you how to compare two files in accessible ways.
I decided to write about this after one case when I needed to find out what changes the developers made to the procedure for the database during a new update.

And two programs that have been with me for a long time helped me with this:
1.Total Commander
2. Notepad++

Comparing files in TotalCommander

Let's say we already have two files that we need to compare.
1.Then select them in TotalCommander

2. Go to the FILE menu — -> Compare by content.

3. In the window that opens, we have two areas in each of which the contents of the files are visible.

As a result, lines with changes are highlighted in gray, specific differences are highlighted in red.

To move to the next block of differences or return to the previous one in TotalCommander there are buttons in the menu “ Next difference" and "Previous difference." Here you can activate the editing mode by clicking the “Edit” button, after which you can change the font, copy lines from window to window, and in case of an erroneous action there is a saving “Rollback” button.

After editing, the program will ask what to do with the files: save or not save.

Comparing files in Notepad++

Notepad++ in my opinion is the best notepad that everyone should have. It has great functionality that can be expanded with plugins.

So, how can Notepad++ help us compare files? The answer is simple: you need to download the required plugin.

Open the item “Plugins” -> “Plugin Manager” -> “Show Plugin Manager”.

A large list of various plugins will appear in the manager that opens. Select " Compare " and install.

1. open two files in Notepad++.
2. We make sure that both files are open in tabs next to each other.
3. On the menu bar, go to Plugins -> Compare -> Compare, or use the hot keys – Alt + D and launch the plugin.

In the window that opens, as in TotalComander, We have two areas in each of which the contents of the files are visible.

Red minuses - what was deleted,

Yellow exclamation marks- what has changed.

Exiting Compare mode via the Plugins menu –> Compare – > Clear Results, or Ctrl + Alt + D.

Need to compare two files Microsoft Excel? Here are two simple ways do it.

There are many reasons why you might need to take one Excel document and compare it with another. This can be a time consuming task.

it requires a lot of concentration, but there are ways to make your life easier.

Do you need to take a closer look manually or do you want Excel to do some of the heavy lifting

on your behalf, here are two easy ways to compare multiple sheets.

How to Compare Excel Files

Excel allows users to display two versions of a document at once to quickly identify the differences between them:

1. First, open the workbooks you want to compare.
2. Switch to View > Window > Side View.

Comparing Excel files by eye

To begin, open Excel and any workbooks you want to compare. We can use the same technique to compare sheets in the same document

or completely different files.

If more than one sheet is obtained from the same book, it must be separated in advance. To do this, go to View > Window > New Window.

This won't separate the individual sheets permanently, just open a new instance of your document.

This menu will list all the tables that are in this moment open. If you only have two open, they will be selected automatically.

Make your selection and click Fine. You will see both tables appear on the screen.

If it's more convenient, you can use Arrange everything button to switch between vertical and horizontal configuration.

One important option to be aware of is Synchronized scrolling switching

Enabling this option ensures that when you scroll one window, the other will move in sync. This is important if you are working with a large table

and you want to keep testing one against the other. If for any reason the two sheets are not aligned, simply click Reset window position.

Comparing Excel Files Using Conditional Formatting

In many cases The best way comparing two spreadsheets may be as simple as displaying them on the screen at the same time. However, it is possible to somewhat automate the process.

Using Conditional Formatting

We can check Excel for any discrepancies between the two sheets. This can save a lot of time if all you need to find are the differences between one version and another.

For this method, we need to make sure that the two sheets we are working with are part of the same workbook. To do this, right-click the name of the sheet you want to transfer and select Move or copy.

Here you can use the drop-down menu to decide which document it will be pasted into.

Select all the cells that are filled in the worksheet where you want any differences to be highlighted. Fast way to do this is to click the cell in the top left corner and then use the shortcut

Ctrl + Shift + End.

Switch to Home> Styles> Conditional Formatting> New Rule.

Choose Use a formula to determine which cells to format and enter the following:

A1sheet_name!A1

Just remember to post "sheet_name" for any other sheet name. This formula only checks when a cell on one sheet does not exactly match the corresponding cell on another sheet, and flags each instance.

Above you can see the results. All cells containing changes have been highlighted in red, allowing you to quickly and easily compare the two sheets.

Let Excel do the hard work

The above technique demonstrates one way you can let Excel handle some of the heavy lifting. Even if you pay close attention, there is a chance that you might miss a change if you perform this task manually. With conditional formatting, you can be sure nothing slips through the web.

Excel is good at monotonous and detail-oriented work. Once you've mastered its capabilities, you can save yourself some time and effort by using techniques like conditional formatting and a little creativity.

Do you have any advice for comparing documents in Excel? Or do you need help with the processes described in this guide? Either way, why not join the conversation in the comments section below?

While working with text documents often you have to compare them by content. This need arises if several people worked on the document or the document was sent to the teacher for approval and editing; you need to quickly find all the changes made by the other party. But the user himself can create several copies of the document and get confused: which version is the latest, and what corrections were made. Let's consider all the possibilities for quick and, most importantly, automatic comparison of two documents.

1. Comparison of two documents in MSWord (starting from MSWord 2007, 2010, 2013)

Let's use the function Legal Note, which allows automatic comparison of documents.

Launch the MS Word program. Open a tab on the ribbon Review, select a section Compare and open possible options teams Compare…(look at Figure 1), select the first command - Comparing two versions of a document (Legal Note).

Figure 1 Launching automatic COMPARISON of two text documents

A window will open in which you specify the path to store the original and modified documents. To specify the path, you must use the yellow folder icon, as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2 Appearance Version comparison windows

Command button More>>(Figure 2) provides more additional settings display (highlight) the changes made. When activated, the window Version comparisons will take the following form (see Figure 3)

Figure 3 Additional features when automatically comparing text documents

In the window that opens, in the section Comparison options Check the boxes for the changes that need to be displayed during the automatic comparison of documents.

Default window Comparisons as follows.

Figure 4. Window for automatically comparing two versions of a document

Let's look at the areas of the automatic document comparison window in Legal note.

• On the left is given Fix Summary: what exactly was corrected and by whom (if the username is specified in Word settings).
• In the center - Comparable document– a document with corrections made (shown in red: adding and deleting words).
• Top right: original document, and lower - modified document.

Reconciliation area Patch Summary can be configured as a horizontal review panel. To do this, you must execute the following commands sequentially: insert Review => Review Area => Horizontal Review Bar.

Figure 5. Setting up the Horizontal Review Panel

In this case, the window for automatically comparing two documents will look like this:

Figure 6. Window for automatic comparison of documents with a horizontal review panel

You can navigate through corrections using the left mouse button by clicking on the text in the desired place in the document, or using the Tab Review - Scope of review.

Figure 7 Working with the CHANGE option

The identified changes must either Accept so that it remains in the modified document and no longer appears as a correction, or Reject, if you don't agree. You can navigate through the corrections using the following keys: Back And Further(see Figure 7).

To reject or accept all corrections, use the command Accept (or Reject). Using the left mouse button, open the list of options for the Accept/Reject command (down arrow) and select the one you need from the proposed options, for example: Apply (Reject) all changes in the document.

Figure 8 ACCEPT command window

2. Comparing two blocks of text in an Internet browser

When comparing the contents of two documents, you can also use specialized services provided by Internet browsers. They are convenient for determining differences in the texts of both English-language documents and when working with Russian-language texts, for example: Text-Compare (http://text-compare.com/), TextDiff (http:// www.textdiff.com/) and Quick Diff (http://www.quickdiff.com/). With their help, you can compare text fragments, tables, and even program code.

Let's briefly consider the technology for comparing documents in each of the three recommended services. What they all have in common is placing the two fragments into their respective windows and then initiating the comparison process.

Text-Compare(http://text-compare.com/). To compare two fragments in this service it is enough to copy these fragments into the corresponding windows, and then start the comparison process (command button Compare). Fragments of text that are different, as well as those missing from one of the compared documents, will be highlighted (differences are highlighted in color when comparing tables; in the program codes, when comparing, lines with differences are additionally marked).

Figure 9 Text-Compare windows before and after the comparison operation

TextDiff(http://www.textdiff.com/). The service window consists of two windows in which the compared fragments of text, table or program code are placed.

Figure 10 TextDiff service window

The results of displaying the comparison process using TextDiff represent one the resulting fragment, in which the text that appeared in the second fragment (that is, absent in the first) is highlighted in green, and the deleted text is highlighted in red.

Let's compare with the previous service: when comparing text blocks and small tables, this result can be convenient; when comparing large tables, this result is difficult to read the differences, since the differences found are displayed line by line in text format without line numbers and maintaining the visibility of the columns.

Figure 11 Comparison results using the TextDiff service

The principle of presenting results in Quick Diff is exactly the same as in TextDiff. The difference is that the data removed from the second fragment is not only displayed in a different color, but is also crossed out. At the same time, the difficulty of comparing text is added to the problem - incorrect recognition Cyrillic alphabet (see Figure 12).

Figure 12. Quick Diff service window after performing the comparison operation

Let's summarize:

1. the Text-Compare service can be used to compare texts, tables and program code without any restrictions;
2. the TextDiff service can be used to compare texts, program codes and small tabular fragments;
3. the Quick Diff service perfectly compares texts (not in Russian), program codes and can be used to compare small table fragments.

The material was prepared by L.A. Shutilina, methodologist of the State Medical Center for Dog and Medical Medicine

Everyone knows that Word is a multifunctional text editor. Its many possibilities go far beyond the scope of this article. This article will tell you how to compare the two Word file in the program itself. This procedure is quite simple, but few people even know about it. It can be useful in different cases, for example, when there are two files on the computer: your work and its draft. In order not to make a mistake and not send a draft to the customer, it is best to use a comparison of two files.

Step 1: preparatory stage

It is noteworthy that after you compare two files, they will remain unchanged, and any discrepancies will be shown in another (new) document that will open automatically. But first things first. First, let's figure out what you need to do first before comparing two Word files.

The first thing you need to do is prepare. Before you can compare two Word files, you need to open them. So find them on your computer and double-click on them.

Now we need to open the tool we need in one of the files. It is located in the "Review" tab in the "Comparison" tool group. The tool is called “Compare”, so click on it and select the item of the same name from the drop-down menu.

So, you are there, now you can proceed directly to how to compare two Word files for differences or matches.

Step 2: selecting documents to compare

A window called “Compare Versions” is now open in front of you. As you can see, there are two areas in it: "Original Document" and "Changed Document". Accordingly, you should place the original document in the first, and its corrected version in the second.

To select a document, you need to click on the folder icon next to After clicking, an explorer will open in which you need to navigate to the file you are looking for. Once this is done, repeat the steps for the second file.

So we chose necessary documents for comparison, but do not rush to click "OK" to begin the analysis process. In order to get the desired result, it would be better to set the necessary parameters. Let's talk about how to do this now.

Step 3: set the necessary parameters for comparison

So, before comparing two Word files, it would be wiser to set the parameters on which the analysis will be based. This will reveal the inconsistencies you want to find.

To open the options menu, you need to click on the "More" button, all in the same "Compare versions" window.

In the menu that expands, you can see a bunch of settings. Now let's turn our attention to the "Comparison Options" group. In it you need to select those elements that will be compared in two documents. By the way, the fewer checkboxes are checked, the faster the comparison process will go. Therefore, if you are looking for formatting changes, it would be wise to highlight only this item while leaving out the others.

In the "Show changes" group, choose what exactly to look for them in: characters or words. Also, do not forget to indicate in which document to show the result. In the source, modified file or new.

After you have set all the parameters you need, you can safely click the “OK” button to begin the analysis process. It does not last very long, even if all comparison points have been selected.

Step 4: Check the result

In the end they will show you the result. Depending on your choice, it will be demonstrated in one of two documents or in a new, third one.

Locations that do not match will be marked with a red line. Which is very convenient - by clicking on the line, you will be shown the difference. It will be crossed out with a red line.

By the way, if you didn’t know how to compare two Word files for matches, then, unfortunately, you won’t be able to do this in the program. However, special services can be used for this purpose.