Project Revision Control
Araxis Merge is a revolutionary comparison software, which enables the user to compare various revisions of text, including ascii, mbcs and Unicode files. Araxis Merge has a powerful side-by-side color-coded interface with lines linking related elements of the compared text documents. Araxis Merge can also synchronize and compare folder hierarchy, including comparing and merging entire directory trees.
Pros:
– The user interface is localized in a number of languages, including Oriental
– Three-way file and folder comparison (Professional Edition)
– Powerful text navigation capabilities
– Custom text filters, text ignore options, regular expressions support
– Point-and-click merge
– Automatic Merging and swift reconciliation (Professional Edition)
– Comparison statistics is all-time available
– Export/Import the entire comparison project
– Folder hierarchy comparison and synchronization
– Byte-by-byte comparison (allowing to check the integrity of recordable CDs)
– Folder comparison report includes comparison statistics for all selected files
– Automation API and Command Line features
Cons:
– MS Office documents can be added to the comparison project by copy-and-paste method only
– The price is much higher than the price for similar comparison tools
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Beyond Compare 2 is an outstanding file and folder comparison software. It can be used for comparing and merging plain text, source code and binary files, as well as synchronizing local and networked folders. Although Beyond Compare supports a wide range of automatic functions, its main goal is to help the user analyze differences in detail, and carefully reconcile them.
Pros:
– Beyond Compare is localized in over 10 languages, including Oriental
– Startup Compare Wizard
– Custom rules for different file formats
– Powerful, highly customizable syntax rules (for text and programming languages)
– Align lines automatically and manually, or isolate specific line(s)
– Text Edit panel
– Comparison of entire directory trees
– File filters for both compared folders
– Compare files in the folders by date/time and by file contents
– Byte-by-byte comparison
– Compare files by their numeric versions (CRC)
– Powerful folder management capabilities
– Exporting “folder snapshot” file
– Session Manager for each project
– Export/ import settings
– Extensive and highly customizable reports
– Windows explorer integration
– Additional plug-ins for data files (CSV), image formats, exe/dll version information, mp3 files, and icon/cursor files (as separate viewers)
Cons:
– No support for by-char and by-keyword comparison
– No support for three-way comparison
– Comparison functionality for MS Office files is limited
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ECMergePro 2.0 is a powerful comparison and merge software. ECMerge provides for side-by-side, two- and three-way file revision and folder synchronization. ECMergePro 2.0 is available in three versions: MS Windows, Linux and Solaris. In MS Windows, ECMergePro 2.0 can be integrated in Windows explorer.
Pros:
– ECMerge Pro 2.0 is available in 5 languages
– Two- and three-way comparison
– Comparing several projects simultaneously
– Extensive text navigation capabilities
– Comparison at “word” and “char” level
– A large number of programming languages supported
– Powerful XML comparison
– “Text ignore” options, regular expressions support
– Reviewing and editing files manually
– Comparing text from clipboard
– “Undo” option
– Local and remote folder synchronization
– Outstanding image comparison
– Integration in document management system
– Windows explorer integration
– Custom reports in Unix patch, XML and HTML format; comparison statistics
– Plug-in converters supported
Cons:
– Slightly complicated interface
– External file converters are unavailable for some formats, including MS Excel and some others
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ExamDiff Pro is a visual file and directory comparison software which enables the user to compare plain text, HTML/XML, binary files and source code. ExamDiff Pro contains all necessary features for project revision control.
Pros:
– Intuitive, user friendly interface
– Comparing several projects simultaneously
– Three methods of file comparison (by lines, by lines and words, by lines and characters)
– Extensive text navigation capabilities
– Full Unicode support
– Extensive drag and drop support (ExamDiff Pro 3.5 Beta)
– All diffs displayed in the drop-down list
– Intuitive Autopick feature (remembering matching pairs) (ExamDiff Pro 3.5 Beta)
– Custom text/file filters, text ignore options, regular expressions support
– Ignore Comments option for various programing languages
– Byte-by-byte comparison (custom block size)
– Reviewing and editing files manually
– Manual synchronization (ExamDiff Pro 3.5 Beta)
– Comparing text from clipboard
– “Undo” option
– External plug-ins for MS Office, PDF files and ZIP archives, etc.
– Folder tree comparison and synchronization
– Easy navigation for folder comparison
– Exporting folder “snapshot” in XML format
– Immediate notification of any changes in the compared folders
– Reports: HTML, plain text and UNIX diff
– Export/Import settings
– Integration in document management system
– Windows explorer integration
Cons:
– No custom reports
– No support for three-way comparison
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Compare Suite is a file comparison tool. It enables the user to work with different versions of text as well as binary files. Compare Suite provides for a color-coded, side-by-side comparison. Compare Suite allows the user to compare folders containing similar files as well.
Pros:
– Visual comparison of MS Office, PDF, binary files and Zip archives
– Outstanding editing and comparing capabilities for MS Excel files
– Intuitive user interface
– Comparing several projects simultaneously
– Three methods of file comparison (by char, by word, and by keyword)
– Text ignore options, “my interests” words
– Comparison of non-related text files
– Built-in various file conversion tools
– Reviewing and editing files manually
– Easy navigation for folder comparison
– Saving files in different formats
– Comparing text from clipboard
– Three levels of reports: Standard, Full, and Advanced
– Integration in document management system
Cons:
– No syntax highlighting capabilities
– No support for three-way comparison
– No support for folder synchronization
– No support for merge functionality
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Visual Comparer and Diff Commander: 
Visual Comparer is a file comparison tool which enables the user to compare source code, resolve differences between HTML files, and analyze differences in text reports or program output. Diff Commander is a folder comparison utility. Visual Comparer and Diff Commander have a color-coded, side-by-side comparison interface with customized menu bar and toolbar. Visual Comparer and Diff Commander can be both purchased as a Bundled Edition.
Pros:
Visual Comparer:
– Syntax highlighting for C++, Delphi, JScript, VBScript, Perl, etc.
– Full Unicode support
– Extensive text navigation capabilities
– “Fast comparison engine”
– Full Screen mode
– Comparing files in MS Windows, Mac, UNIX, and “mixed” formats
– Parser plug-ins for AutoCAD, WinBatch, and TCL 8.0
– By-line and by-char comparison
– “Read Only” mode
– Review and edit text in the comparison panel
– Automatic/manual lines adjustment
– Text ignore options
– “Undo” option
– Point-and-click merging
Diff Commander:
– Powerful file filters
– Folder hierarchy synchronization
– Manual/ Automatic synchronization
– Exporting “Folder snapshot” file
Cons:
– Poor report functionality
– No support for three-way comparison
– No text filters and regular expressions support
– Using two comparison tools is somewhat inconvenient; besides, it is more expensive
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CSDiff, HTMLDiff and ExcelDiff are file and folder comparison software which enable the user to compare source code, HTML/XML, plain text and MS Office files. The software has a single screen comparison interface.
Pros:
– Comparing several projects simultaneously (each project opened in a new window)
– Extensive text navigation capabilities
– Three interface modes: Friendly (rich-text) Format, Diff (GNU DIFF) Format, and Edit Format
– “Visual aspect” and “source code” mode
– Integration in MS Word
– Text layout, navigation options, and different “whitespace modes”
– Remote server support for FTP, HTTP and HTTPS
– Windows explorer integration
Cons:
– Single screen interface provides for less visual comparison functionality
– No support for folder synchronization
– Insufficient report functionality for the file comparison
– Compared MS Excel files cannot be edited
– Using two or three comparison tools is somewhat inconvenient; besides, it is much more expensive
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Diff’n’Merge is a color-coded, side-by-side file and folder comparison and synchronization software. Diff’n’Merge can be used for visual comparison of source code, HTML, XML, and text files.
Pros:
– Byte-by-byte comparison only (very slow process)
– Comparison of C/C++/Java, Visual Basic, Delphi and HTML/XML source code
– Point-and-click merging
– File filters, text ignore options
– Folder hierarchy synchronization
– Automated and manual folder synchronization
Cons:
– No support for multiple comparison projects
– Poor folder navigation capabilities
– No support for three-way comparison
– Byte-by-byte comparison is too slow and requires a lot of system resources
– No text filters, regular expressions support
– No report functionality
– Diverse comparisons methods are not supported
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WinMerge is a popular file and folder comparison software which enables the user to compare text files, source code and synchronize folders.
Pros:
– WinMerge is a freeware
– Multiple project support
– Easy CVS integration
– By-line and by-char comparison
– Text formatting capabilities; text filters
– The target files can be saved for MS Windows, UNIX, and MAC
– Folder synchronization
– Rule-based filters for files in the compared folders
Cons:
– Reports contain no analytical data
– No support for three-way comparison
– No support for binary and MS Office files
– Slightly complicated interface
