File compare utility

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Level 1

3 points

File compare utility

Is there a utility that comes with OSX 10.4 to compare files? I know the Unix diff command can do this but I am looking for something easier to use.

iMac, 2.33GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2GB, 20", Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Dec 26, 2008 9:45 PM

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Answer 1

Dec 26, 2008 10:14 PM in response to pokerpal

The optionally-installed Xcode (developer tools) includes FileMerge, an elegant file and folder comparison utility.

The freeware text editor TextWrangler (or the commercial version, BBEdit) (barebones.com) also includes an excellent file and folder comparison function.

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Answer 2

pokerpal Author

Level 1

3 points

Dec 27, 2008 4:30 PM in response to Jeffrey Jones2

Thank you very much for the lead, Jeff!! I called Apple to see what version of XCODE to use for Tiger and was told v2.5. Then I registered as a member on the ADC (Apple Developer Connection) website, down-loaded and installed XCODE and have started fooling around with FileMerge. I agree with you: it is very, very nice and is exactly what I've been looking for -- a file compare app fully supported by Apple. PP

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Answer 3

dymar

Level 1

34 points

Dec 28, 2008 7:48 AM in response to Jeffrey Jones2

Jeffrey Jones2 wrote:
The optionally-installed Xcode (developer tools) includes FileMerge, an elegant file and folder comparison utility.

What file types can be compared with FileMerge?

Also, is it suitable for normal (non-developer) users?

I assume TextWrangler can only compare 'plain text' files?

Thanks.

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Answer 4

Dec 29, 2008 1:34 PM in response to dymar

Both FileMerge and BBEdit can compare folders or plain text files. If a folder contains non-text files, either utility will flag any that are different. Looking at a side-by-side display for non-text won't make much sense. You can force FileMerge to compare individual non-text files, but again, unless the content is mainly text, the comparison won't make much sense.

FileMerge has filters to convert certain types of non-text files (e.g., RTF) into an ASCII representation for the comparison. A programmer can write filters for other file types, if feasible. Aside from RTF, the built-in filters are of interest mainly to developers.

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Answer 5

dymar

Level 1

34 points

Dec 29, 2008 7:22 PM in response to Jeffrey Jones2

Jeffrey Jones2 wrote:
Both FileMerge and BBEdit can compare folders or plain text files. If a folder contains non-text files, either utility will flag any that are different. Looking at a side-by-side display for non-text won't make much sense. You can force FileMerge to compare individual non-text files, but again, unless the content is mainly text, the comparison won't make much sense.

FileMerge has filters to convert certain types of non-text files (e.g., RTF) into an ASCII representation for the comparison. A programmer can write filters for other file types, if feasible. Aside from RTF, the built-in filters are of interest mainly to developers.

I would be satisfied being able to compare non-text (i.e., Word, etc.) files only for differences in the 'text' (not formatting, etc.).

Can TextWrangler do that as well as BBEdit?

Thanks.

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Answer 6

Dec 30, 2008 8:56 AM in response to dymar

TextWrangler is free. Try it and see if it is suitable. It will probably be a mess comparing .doc files. You could export the plain text from each version of a document and compare that, if the text is all you want to compare.

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