Compare and synchronize files and folders

Compare Suite features a handful of additional functions that complement document comparison process and make this file comparison tool easy to use and multi-functional. CS is widely used in programming, app source code in particular. Programmers often use comments right in source codes, using special syntax, for instance /* or // to open comment, and */ or // to close it. Upon compilation of code these comments are ignored. However, when codes with comments are compared, CS may regard them as differences. To avoid this situation, comments in source codes may be ignored.

Despite differences in comments files are identified as identical

The latest version of Compare Suite makes it possible to ignore comments in source codes, such as Delphi, PHP, Java, C# and C++. This feature is enabled and disabled in Ignore section of Options menu. As said above, comments are not meaningful since they are not parts of codes. In some cases, it is reasonable to compare comments too, for example, to review versions of comparison files and source codes in detail. Thus, depending on requirements of comparison, users may either enable or disable comments ignoring feature in Compare Suite. In the majority of instances, comments are not meaningful. It is important to load files with correct extensions that are currently supported by Compare Suite (Delphi, PHP, Java, C# and C++).

Ignore comments in source files

As known, Compare Suite also can recognize source codes of some programming languages and highlight those parts of text which are recognized as programming language code, for instance, HTML, C#, PHP. It is convenient to compare parts of codes and “normal texts” inside codes. Comments ignoring feature for source codes makes CS an efficient tool both for code comparison and team work in software development. It is not a secret that the best way to find bugs and errors in new code versions is to contrast them against older app codes. This ignoring feature works only for source codes, not ordinary texts.

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Comparing of HTML and HTM pages is a more complex process in comparison of the same procedure for simple text document since HTML pages contain two types of information: HTML code and the text itself. User might be interested in both. Sometimes, it is necessary to contrast HTML pages to view differences in codes, while, for example, web content writers might use Compare Suite to compare text contained in HTML pages without copying and pasting this text in a document.

Comparison of HTML pages is easier than ever

Compare Suit users from now on enjoy two types of HTML comparison: basic comparison (it is necessary to save HTML pages to your local drive) and a new HTML comparison feature which contrasts web pages just as they appear on the web, i.e. not as collection of images and code entities. Thus, HTML pages are displayed just as they are displayed in a web browser. Compare Suite uses traditional ways to highlight changes – various color schemes. Besides, it is possible to analyze changes in Preview mode or in DOM tree. The latter option is great if a user wants to review HTML code.

The new HTML comparison feature is quite helpful since sometime it is easier to look at web pages as they appear online, but not analyze code and text in between the line. However, IT savvy users may still compare codes by switching to DOM tree where all tags and HTML code is structured. Those who are interested in traditional HTML comparison may use Compare Source feature (bottom right button).

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Since various users are interested in different changes in documents and folders, they tend to use different comparison methods. For instance, one might need to see only major differences between documents or check out similarity degree. Often, users need to look at the slightest changes, even broken lines. However, in most cases it does not really matter if the words are located in a different line as compared to the source document. In other words, if the only difference two or three compared documents have is a broken line, comparison by broken line will view files as identical. It is very convenient for comparison of very similar or identical document since Compare Suit will not highlight undesired changes which might be totally unimportant for a user.

Avoid undesired indication of changes by applying comparison by broken lines

Comparison by broken lines is integrated in new Compare Suite version as a separate comparison method. So, to be able to compare documents by this principle, choose relevant option from comparison method box in the left upper corner. If documents have no differences but broken lines they will be identified as identical which may simplify comparison task for lots of CS users.

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Comparison of several documents or even bulk comparison may be quite problematic and inconvenient especially if the ancestor document or folder is to be contrasted with derived files or directories. The traditional two way comparison is of course rather effective with Compare Suite owing to a great number of features and functions. However, in some cases 2-way comparison is not enough. As stated above, the best option to compare three documents or folders is to apply 3-way comparison method. In terms of basic contrasting principles it does not differ from comparison two documents or folders – the same visual comparison is applied, although software user will have 3 docs or folders in the dashboard.

Enjoy the new 3 way comparison feature

3-way comparison is perfect to contrast, for instance, two versions of a contract with an original agreement version. If the 2-way comparison method implies individual contrasting of each version with the original, the newer method makes things easier since users may contrast the two versions with one another as well as see differences with the ancestor document.

Traditionally, it is possible to merge documents and folders, i.e. to apply differences, which is very convenient if a huge number of docs are to be revised. The 3 way comparison methods keeps all features of two-way contrasting. For example, it is possible to compare selected parts of text, contrast files and directories located at remote ftp folders, use syntax highlighting (very beneficial for programmers) apply different comparison methods, like char by char or word by word etc.

Who will benefit from introduction of a 3 way comparison? Basically, all users who frequently compare multiple files with the ancestor doc will find this new feature helpful. This comparison type might be effectively used in merging of folders to integrate whole parts of apps source codes. Traditionally, 3 way comparison is perfect for version control tools and cms applications.

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Comparison of file and folders is definitely much easier with efficient file comparison software. AKS LABS has been offering its doc and folder comparing solution – Compare Suite – for a couple of years already. In course of time, Compare Suite acquired new features, developers have been fixing bugs and adding new functions which customers wanted to have in new releases. This time AKS LABS has also updated Compare Suite with a new search feature. This is not to say that it was impossible to search for word, part of words or word combination in previous releases of CS. The software had such feature before, but now it has become more user-friendly.

CS with a new improved search function

Thus, when contrasting two files it sometimes becomes necessary to look for certain words and word combinations that require a special attention. Thus, for example if the two similar agreements conclude don different dates are compared, then it is definitely easier to find necessary part of text using search function. So, what’s new in search feature of updated Compare Suite version?

If previously search feature resembled that of, say, Notepad (or similar simple text editors), now search function look pretty much like in, for instance, popular Firefox browser. What are the distinctions? Upon pressing Ctrl+F (or Serch-Find in the main menu) users will see a panel in the bottom which contains 3 checkboxes and search box with 2 arrows. All one needs to do is to enter search word or phrase, check relevant options and enjoy results.

Convenient search features make the entire process easy and enjoyable

What are the options? Firstly, it is possible to match case. This is very convenient when searching for names and proper nouns. Highlight all matches will make it possible to see all search words and words that partially consist of the search word (for instance, when searching for “host” one will see highlighted results such as hosting, hoster, webhosting etc.)

As known it is possible to fold lines (paragraphs) in Compare Suite. Such procedure is performed when users are not interested in certain parts of text so it is possible to make them invisible. At the same time, compare suite will look for search words in folded lines as well, if necessary of course. Thus, if a user knows for sure what paragraphs contain search words, the search process will be quite easy.

Navigation arrows will help review all search results and get to the search word that is used in the necessary context.  As you navigate through search results, Compare Suite changes color to indicate which word you are currently at.

Search feature can be used for both compared documents. Moreover, having found search words it is possible then to compare certain parts of text individually, to get a more detailed overview of similarities and differences between them.

Search and replace features make Compare Suite a simple text editor, as well as help compare/edit files in an easy way and search text in compared documents.

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Software configuration management (SCM) systems are being actively used in today’s IT industry, especially among software developers who often need to compare and review different releases and compilations of programs. It is not a secret that comparison of programmer files is quite a daunting task. Besides, it is not very convenient to start file compare software manually every time you need to contrast scm files.

That is why it is important to be able to integrate file compare solutions with SCMs. Free VCS is a popular tool in the Delphi community. It is used for team work in development of software solutions. In this post we will show how Compare Suite can be used with Free VCS as an external diff tool.

First off, run FreeVCS Project Manager. Then open Options menu, choose Properties and Compare Tools. To add a custom diff tool, enter comparesuite.exe which is located in CS installation directory (C:\Program Files\Compare Suite\comparesuite.exe). After that make sure you add parameters of files – %1 %2.

Having gone through this procedure, comparison of Free VCS files will take just a few seconds. There is no need to manually compare files, which saves time and efforts.

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File and folder comparison can be a tedious task, especially when it concerns important files and huge volumes of information. Compare Suite is an effective file contrasting tool that is widely used by professionals occupied in different business. This is a powerful file search engine that requires very little time to highlight differences and similarities between files. Compare Suite has a number of helpful and effective features that make the comparison process fast and enjoyable. Besides, this software can be used as an external diff tool with various configuration management (SCM) systems that are mostly used by IT and software specialists. When CS is used as external diff it saves time since there is no need to manually start file comparison software to contrast scm files.

Compare Suite can be integrated as an external diff tool with Adobe (Macromedia) Dreamweaver. Perhaps, every programmer and web developer knows this popular software. It is very easy to go through integration process. Thus, perform the following steps:

• Open Dreamweaver and choose Edit-Preferences
• Find File Compare category
• Choose Browse and open Select External Editor dialogue box.
• · In the next step specify the path to CS – C:\Program Files\Compare Suite\comparesuite.exe
• Press Open button to see the full path to comparesuire.exe in the entry field Choose application to compare files.
• Finish this procedure by clicking OK button.

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The value of file compare tool is assessed, among other factors, by possibility to be used as a third party external diff tool with other applications and especially SCM (system configuration management) utilities. It is not very convenient to run both applications and choose or upload files to be able to find differences between files, which can be very important for programmers and web developers. It takes time and efforts that should be spent for development and improvement of software solutions.

Compare Suite is totally accessible with CM Synergy 6.3 for Developers. This tool provides managers and developers with a full lifecycle of software development both from manager’s and developer’s viewpoint. CM Synergy support assignment of tasks and is aggregated to compile software releases, covering the entire development process from initial testing to software release. It coordinates developers’ work and facilitates communication between team members.

Thus, you have to add a path to Compare Suite installation directory (C:\Program Files\Compare Suite\comparesuite.exe) to the PATH environment variable.

After then, it is necessary to edit C:\Program Files\Telelogic\CM Synergy 6.3\etc\ccm.properties in the following way:

windows.tool.compare.ascii = %ccm_compare

must be replaced with

windows.tool.compare.ascii = comparesuite.exe /%file1 %file2

and

windows.tool.merge.ascii = %ccm_merge

must be replaced with

windows.tool.merge.ascii = comparesuite.exe /%file1 %file2

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The possibility to run applications through run command is certainly appreciated by users who value time and convenience. Simply by entering commands and parameters it is possible to run various software type, in certain cases some of them. Compare Suite is not only marked by extremely efficient compare engine and features but also possibility to use this software as external diff tool or a third party compare tool with a number of software configuration management (SCM) systems and some other applications. Programmers know perfectly well the problems of file comparison, especially in case of SCM tools. Compare Suite does the job, thus saving precious time.

Compare Suite can be successfully used as an external diff tool with a popular AccuRev Windows client. As known, AccuRev is a SCM that makes it possible to manage and adapt the process of application development, which is certainly a beneficial feature for programmers and software developers. Compare Suite is a perfect AccuRev third party compare tool. The feature runs through the following command in run line

“C:\Program Files\Compare Suite\comparesuite.exe” %1% %2% (this is a path to CS installation directory),

where 1 and 2 are the two compared files. Compare Suite will automatically contrast the selected files, while the user will then have the possibility to edit files, analyze changes, comments on changes or generate a report.

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• This update is available in PRO edition only

With Compare Suite it is now possible to specify more detailed ignoring mask. It is possible to use symbols like * (any symbols) and ? (any single symbol).

For instance, to ignore all date strings that look like:

• Date 01.02.2010 10:22

user can apply the following ignore mask:

• Date ??.??.???? ??:?? * {0}

where ending {0} tells Compare Suite to ignore this very line. It Compare Suite should ignore the next line there should be {1}.

With Compare Suite it is now possible to specify more detailed ignoring mask. It is possible to use symbols like * (any symbols) and ? (any single symbol).

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