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how to compare files in flat view

Posted: 11.08.2014, 23:59
by darkstar
I'd like to compare some files (various folder & sub folders) in flat view with another panel also in flat view.
how is that supposed to work?

Re: how to compare files in flat view

Posted: 12.08.2014, 00:39
by joby_toss
What do you mean how? I don't understand.

You activate flat view for both panes and hit Alt+V (Folder -> Compare). Similar files and folders are colored or displayed based on the rules you've set in Settings -> Compare folders section.

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(identical files are colored light green in my screenshot)

Re: how to compare files in flat view

Posted: 13.08.2014, 00:52
by dsperber
Just in passing, I mention that I don't use FCXE for "folder/file compare" functionality. I realize that there are many ways to skin a cat, and this cat in particular where many 3rd-party products do folder/file compares with assorted presentation designs.

In my own experience I prefer the sophisticated folder/file compare capability (i.e. both folder/file structure, as well as internal file data content comparison based on file type) and presentation design of a non-free product named Beyond Compare to any other product that I've tried. Available free for 30-day trial.

It is a side-by-side 2-pane presentation, which also uses color coding to identify present and equal, present and not-equal, or "orphan" (i.e. on one side or the other but not both). But unlike the FCXE presentation you show in your screenshot, Beyond Compare "staggers" folder/file presentation in its "ALL" view so that differences and orphans are very easy to see. And in "DIFFS" view, again the display is "staggered" to make it easier to see what exactly the differences are. I've never found much use for the "EQUALS" view (since it only shows what's equal on both sides, something I'm not generally interested in).

Just a quick pair of screenshots showing an example of ALL and DIFFS, for my own FCXE beta installer folder in two locations. First ALL, and then DIFFS:

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Re: how to compare files in flat view

Posted: 13.08.2014, 02:29
by darkstar
yeah, I know there is a myriad FREE comparison tools like winmerge and freefilesync just to mention some. For file by file binary comparison I usually use a FREE hex editor.

What you cannot do with the tools above nor with your suggestion (afaik) is a flat view file (CRC) comparison.
Unfortunately this seems not work in XE either. To reproduce move file in subfolders and toggle to flat view (CTRL+B)
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move all files to "root", comparison works now:
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any ideas? :?:

@joby_toss: athough alt+v is not what I am looking for,
can you maybe share your settings? I never get a result in color as you do.
I never understood how alt+v is supposed to work, all i get is a blue BG, I
dunno even how to escape from that.

Re: how to compare files in flat view

Posted: 13.08.2014, 03:30
by dsperber
darkstar wrote:yeah, I know there is a myriad FREE comparison tools like winmerge and freefilesync just to mention some. For file by file binary comparison I usually use a FREE hex editor.

What you cannot do with the tools above nor with your suggestion (afaik) is a flat view file (CRC) comparison.
I don't think you're correct.

Re: how to compare files in flat view

Posted: 13.08.2014, 07:13
by joby_toss
darkstar wrote:@joby_toss: athough alt+v is not what I am looking for,
can you maybe share your settings? I never get a result in color as you do.
I never understood how alt+v is supposed to work, all i get is a blue BG, I
dunno even how to escape from that.
Image

Re: how to compare files in flat view

Posted: 13.08.2014, 21:56
by darkstar
thanks joby_toss. with you settings folder compare (alt+v) works as expected even in flat view.
(maybe your settings should be set as standard when fresh installing FC...)

alt+v is pretty fast, but not useful in some cases because it checks only file name and file size but not file content (CRC).

each time when you want to assure files are really the same alt+v is not working.
exp. let's say you're downloading a huge file, space was allocated but then something goes wrong and you're end up with a corrupt file partially containing 00 00 00 00. (real life scenario :roll: ) with alt+v (without CRC) you will not realize the difference.