Beyond Compare
Encyclopedia
Beyond Compare is a file comparison
utility. Aside from comparison of files, the program is capable of doing side-by-side comparison of directories
, FTP
directories, and archives
. In an April 2009 review, Beyond Compare was awarded four out of five stars by CNET. The reviewers initially found the user interface
to be "a little overwhelming", but "quickly got the hang of it", after using the program for a little while. PC World
writer Michael Desmond included the program in a 2005 list of utilities for a "Trouble-Free PC". He highlighted the program's "watch list" feature for particular acclaim. Beyond Compare was featured in the March 2005 issue of the Windows IT Pro magazine
, in the "What's Hot" section.
Scott Mitchell, writing for MSDN Magazine, identified the program's comparison rules as its most powerful feature. The customizable rules control which differences between two files should be flagged as such. A set of predefined rules are included for the comparison of common file types, such as C++
source code, XML
, and HTML
files.
File comparison
File comparison in computing compares the contents of computer files, finding their common contents and their differences. The result of the comparison may be presented in a graphic user interface or as part of larger tasks in networks, file systems, or revision control.Some widely-used file...
utility. Aside from comparison of files, the program is capable of doing side-by-side comparison of directories
Directory (file systems)
In computing, a folder, directory, catalog, or drawer, is a virtual container originally derived from an earlier Object-oriented programming concept by the same name within a digital file system, in which groups of computer files and other folders can be kept and organized.A typical file system may...
, FTP
File Transfer Protocol
File Transfer Protocol is a standard network protocol used to transfer files from one host to another host over a TCP-based network, such as the Internet. FTP is built on a client-server architecture and utilizes separate control and data connections between the client and server...
directories, and archives
Archive file
An archive file is a file that is composed of one or more files along with metadata that can include source volume and medium information, file directory structure, error detection and recovery information, file comments, and usually employs some form of lossless compression. Archive files may be...
. In an April 2009 review, Beyond Compare was awarded four out of five stars by CNET. The reviewers initially found the user interface
Graphical user interface
In computing, a graphical user interface is a type of user interface that allows users to interact with electronic devices with images rather than text commands. GUIs can be used in computers, hand-held devices such as MP3 players, portable media players or gaming devices, household appliances and...
to be "a little overwhelming", but "quickly got the hang of it", after using the program for a little while. PC World
PC World (magazine)
PC World is a global computer magazine published monthly by IDG. It offers advice on various aspects of PCs and related items, the Internet, and other personal-technology products and services...
writer Michael Desmond included the program in a 2005 list of utilities for a "Trouble-Free PC". He highlighted the program's "watch list" feature for particular acclaim. Beyond Compare was featured in the March 2005 issue of the Windows IT Pro magazine
Windows IT Pro
Windows IT Pro is a trade publication and web site owned by Penton Media serving the information needs of IT professionals in various fields including data processing, software development and programming....
, in the "What's Hot" section.
Scott Mitchell, writing for MSDN Magazine, identified the program's comparison rules as its most powerful feature. The customizable rules control which differences between two files should be flagged as such. A set of predefined rules are included for the comparison of common file types, such as C++
C++
C++ is a statically typed, free-form, multi-paradigm, compiled, general-purpose programming language. It is regarded as an intermediate-level language, as it comprises a combination of both high-level and low-level language features. It was developed by Bjarne Stroustrup starting in 1979 at Bell...
source code, XML
XML
Extensible Markup Language is a set of rules for encoding documents in machine-readable form. It is defined in the XML 1.0 Specification produced by the W3C, and several other related specifications, all gratis open standards....
, and HTML
HTML
HyperText Markup Language is the predominant markup language for web pages. HTML elements are the basic building-blocks of webpages....
files.
Open source alternatives
- WinMergeWinMergeWinMerge is a free software tool for file comparison and merging text-like files. It is useful for determining what has changed between versions, and then merging changes between versions.The project is currently dormant.WinMerge runs on Microsoft Windows....
- KDiff3
- TortoiseMerge