File Comparison

The comparison of a pair of files is done by opening them in two editors arranged in a side-by-side layout. You can edit either the source or the target file. The differences are refreshed when you save the modified document.

 

Figure 9.7. The Compare Files Window

The Compare Files Window

The window is comprised of the following components:

 The Main Menu

The Main Menu provides access to all the functions and features available in this window:

 The Source Menu

Here you can select the source file to be compared.

Source->Open : Browses for a file (the source file).

Source->Open URL : Opens URL to be used as a source file. See Open URL for details.

Source->Save : Saves the changes made in the source file.

 The Target Menu

Here you can select the target file to be compared.

Target->Open : Browses for a file (the target file).

Target->Open URL : Opens URL to be used as a target file. See Open URL for details.

Target->Save : Saves the changes made in the target file.

 Operations Menu

Operations->Perform files differencing : Performs the comparison of the source and the target files.

Operations->Go to first modification : Selects the first difference in the files. (The button becomes available if the selection is not on the first modification)

Operations->Go to previous modification : Selects the previous difference in the files. (The button becomes available if the selection is not on the first modification)

Operations->Go to next modification : Selects the next difference in the files. (The button becomes available if the selection is not on the last modification)

Operations->Go to last modification : Selects the last difference in the files. (The button becomes available if the selection is not on the last modification)

Operations->Copy all non-conflicting changes from left to right : Copies the non-conflicting changes from the source to the target.

Operations->Copy all non-conflicting changes from right to left : Copies the non-conflicting changes from the target to the source.

Operations->Copy change from left to right : Copies the selected difference from the source to the target.

Operations->Copy changes from right to left : Copies the selected difference from the target to the source.

Operations->Show modification details at word level : Provides Word Level Comparison

Operations->Show modification details at char level : Provides Character Level Comparison