File Comparison Tool for SharePoint
I was working on comparing the configuration files in SharePoint today to check some mismatch on files content from two different farms.
The tool I had used may be known to most of you, however, it came to me as a surprise that such tools exist in the Windows.
This tool is called Windiff.exe:
WinDiff is a graphical file-comparison program published by Microsoft (from 1992[1]), and is distributed with Microsoft Windows, support tools, certain versions of Microsoft Visual Studio and as source-code with the Platform SDK code samples.
WinDiff came with the Windows XP as a file comparison tool with the XP SDK and later was added to SP2 of XP.
It can be downloaded form here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/thankyou.aspx?FamilyID=49ae8576-9bb9-4126-9761-ba8011fabf38&displaylang=en&Hash=8BPDXDF
How to use Windiff: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/159214/en-us
However, it was sad news when I upgraded to Windows 8.1 enterprise version, Windiff has been removed from the Windows 8 SDK. However, you have other methods of comparing files
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms717428.aspx
While searching for the alternative of the Windiff I came across some free tools such as WinMerge: http://winmerge.org but loving part is the new file comparison command given in the windows: FC (file compare) is built in to the OS. Just open a command prompt and type FC /? to get the help screen.
I get a very good help from the Windiff and my purpose was solved, but will be using the FC (file compare in a future).
Read My Blog Post: http://mossnwss.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/file-comparison-tool-for-sharepoint.html
Share your thoughts.
Applies to: Windows XP and Windows 8.1 enterprises.