I would like to compare the contents of two folders to dislay file differences.
Can anyone recommend one?
JP
AppleTV 2
You don't need a utility for that. use Automator. See example below:
You can also use this action to sync folders:
Thanks for the advice, but I'm having trouble getting this to work.
Couple of questions.
What type of automator is this? Application, workflow, or service?
When I try to run this (as a workflow) I can select the first folder and then select the next folder but I don't see the folders in the results and I don't know how to indicate that I'm ready to perform the compare.
A little more help is requested - TIA
Regards,
-jP
Hey jp,
Sorry about that. Didn't realize that you were not familiar with Automator.
First close Automator, then you will need to download these 3rd party actions and instal them:
http://automatorworld.com/archives/compare-folders/
http://automatorworld.com/archives/sync-folders/
Click on them, and they will load into Automator as actions.
Then download my automator workflow that I created and run it, and then from there we can work out exactly what you are trying to do.
OK. Downloaded the actions but not sure where to place them.
Downloaded your workflow. I unzipped and then opened in Automator.
Ran the workflow and selected a folder, hit Choose, and immediately received an error indicating that I needed to select a second folder.
Still struggling.
TIA-
jP
No worries man. When you download them, just double click on them and they should automatically install into Automator (a dialog box will tell you it is installing).
Then launch Automator. On the left under "Finder" actions, should be the Ask for Finder Items and the Compare Folder actions. Drag the Ask for Finder Items over to the right field, then do the same with the Compare Folder actions, putting it UNDER the Ask for Finder Items.
Make sure that the Ask for Finder Items has "Type: Folders" and the checkbox is selected to "Allow Multiple Selection".
Run the workflow (by clicking Run on top right).
Then it should prompt you to select your folders. You should select the first folder then hold down Command and select the other folder. Then it should do the comparison.
There are several options on the Compare Folder action, which you should select based off your needs. But if you want to see the immediate result of the comparison do make sure you select on "Generate Log" checkbox, and this will open a text doc with the comparison.
Let me know how it goes!
Phil
Followed described steps above - exactly. As soon as I select the first folder, I receive the error message stating "You gotta have two folders selected. Sorry."
Hey James, that's weird. Can you upload the workflow for me?
Also are both folders that you want to select in the same directory?
The other action you can use, instead of the Ask for Finder Items, is the Get Specified FInder Items.
Try that one and let me know if it works.
If you could provide me with the steps that I should perform to upload I'd be glad to do what you're asking.
As for the folders - No, they are not in the same directory. They are on different drives. Does that make a difference or is it a requirement for the compare?
Really appreciate your help on this.
Regards,
Jim P.
Oh I see what's happening. Yes, having them in seperate directories will not work.
Can you drag the folder onto your desktop, so that both of them situate there?
Once you do that then the workflow should work.
Let me know.
I use FoldersSynchronizer but ChronoSync is said to be very good too.
They do not come with limitations about where the folders are. Which is helpful when the folders are very large or on different disks.
You should check out Compare Folders in the App Store: it's a very simple and fast app to recursively compare the contents of 2 folders. It appears to do exactly what you need.
recommend a folder comparison utility?
