Simple folder comparison program

[Terry Pinnell]

Please excuse this slightly OT query.

I've tried several programs over the years but still haven't found the
no-brainer I seek. I want a truly simple compare program that for a pair
of specified XP Explorer folders X and Y will show me:

1. Those only in Folder X
2. Those only in Folder Y
3. Those common to both.

I appreciate that simply having the same *name* doesn't make two files (or
subfolders) identical in all respects. But it's often all I need, or at
least the first step before further analysis.

 

[GS]

Not sure if this will be helpful...

I use TextPad from Helios Software to compare same name files in
different folders. It's not restricted as to what differences it
detects in a pair of files in terms of the content being text or
binary. I don't know if it handles more than 2same name files because
I've never had a need for that.

Also, besides using TextPad as a stand alone text, I also incorporate
it in a program I developed for managing CNC (computer Numerical
Controlled) machinery program files. This app (VB6.exe and Excel VBA
versions) lists folder contents for any number of selected folders, but
only offers single selection. It wouldn't be hard, though, to modify
the code to handle file comparison for 2 (or more) folders. It would
merely require adding a feature to make a 3rd list *if* there are any
same name files in the target folders. It already allows multi-select
for opening files in TextPad, where file comparison is a simple task
since this is a built-in feature of TextPad.

Is this something that might work for you? What have you tried so far?

--
Garry

Free usenet access at http://www.eternal-september.org
ClassicVB Users Regroup!
comp.lang.basic.visual.misc
microsoft.public.vb.general.discussion

 

[GS]

A few typos, cut/paste errors:

Not sure if this will be helpful...

I use TextPad from Helios Software to compare same name files in different
folders. It's not restricted as to what differences it detects in a pair of
files in terms of the content being text or binary. I don't know if it

=====
handles more than 2 same name files because I've never had a need for
that.Also, besides using TextPad as a stand alone text editor, I also
incorporate it in a
program I developed for managing CNC (Computer Numerical Controlled)
=====

machinery program files. This app (VB6.exe and Excel VBA versions) lists
folder contents for any number of selected folders, but only offers single
selection. It wouldn't be hard, though, to modify the code to handle file
comparison for 2 (or more) folders. It would merely require adding a feature
to make a 3rd list *if* there are any same name files in the target folders.
It already allows multi-select for opening files in TextPad, where file
comparison is a simple task since this is a built-in feature of TextPad.

Is this something that might work for you? What have you tried so far?

--
Garry

Free usenet access at http://www.eternal-september.org
ClassicVB Users Regroup!
comp.lang.basic.visual.misc
microsoft.public.vb.general.discussion

 

[Ken]

Please excuse this slightly OT query.

I've tried several programs over the years but still haven't found the
no-brainer I seek. I want a truly simple compare program that for a pair
of specified XP Explorer folders X and Y will show me:

1. Those only in Folder X
2. Those only in Folder Y
3. Those common to both.

I appreciate that simply having the same *name* doesn't make two files (or
subfolders) identical in all respects. But it's often all I need, or at
least the first step before further analysis.

You might look into CDCHECK. It is designed to compare CD's, but it
should also compare directories. It is free.
http://www.kvipu.com/CDCheck/download.php

 

[J. P. Gilliver (John)]

Please excuse this slightly OT query.

I've tried several programs over the years but still haven't found the
no-brainer I seek. I want a truly simple compare program that for a pair
of specified XP Explorer folders X and Y will show me:

1. Those only in Folder X
2. Those only in Folder Y
3. Those common to both.

I appreciate that simply having the same *name* doesn't make two files (or
subfolders) identical in all respects. But it's often all I need, or at
least the first step before further analysis.

One of the utilities that give you two explorer windows side-by-side
should show that (or manually two explorer windows). Though if you have
many files, a lot of scrolling would be needed.

Alternatively: in X, open a DOS prompt (you do have "open DOS prompt
here", don't you? It's one of the MS utilities, as well as others), and
do

dir > D:\x.txt

and then in Y, open a DOS prompt and do

dir > D:\y.txt
D:
cd \
fc x.txt y.txt | more

which will show you extra or missing files, as well as any with
different sizes or dates. (I'm assuming you have a D:; if not, use C:.)
If you're not bothered about different sizes or dates, use

dir /w > D:\?.txt

; if you want to check subfolders too add /s instead of (or as well as)
/w; and so on.

There's probably a GUI way to do it, but these should work.

 

[Terry Pinnell]

Please excuse this slightly OT query.

I've tried several programs over the years but still haven't found the
no-brainer I seek. I want a truly simple compare program that for a pair
of specified XP Explorer folders X and Y will show me:

1. Those only in Folder X
2. Those only in Folder Y
3. Those common to both.

I appreciate that simply having the same *name* doesn't make two files (or
subfolders) identical in all respects. But it's often all I need, or at
least the first step before further analysis.

Thanks all, following up those suggestions today. Here's what I have so
far:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4019461/CompareProgs.jpg

 

[Ardent]

Please excuse this slightly OT query.

I've tried several programs over the years but still haven't found the
no-brainer I seek. I want a truly simple compare program that for a pair
of specified XP Explorer folders X and Y will show me:

1. Those only in Folder X
2. Those only in Folder Y
3. Those common to both.

I appreciate that simply having the same *name* doesn't make two files (or
subfolders) identical in all respects. But it's often all I need, or at
least the first step before further analysis.

Search Ggl for WMatch32.exe that can compare two folders and show all,
different and same under different panes. I see that it works well
with both XP and W7.

 

[Terry Pinnell]

Search Ggl for WMatch32.exe that can compare two folders and show all,
different and same under different panes. I see that it works well
with both XP and W7.

Thanks Archer, but it looks similar to a couple of the freeware programs
(Compare Folders and Directory Compare) that I listed in my earlier post,
so no contest really!