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1996-05-28
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─── Issue #1 ─── THE SOFTWARE WORKBENCH BY: MATT ANDERSON ──── Summer 1996 ───
──────────────────────── DOS File Comparing Programs ─────────────────────────
Why read the same documentation to a updated program when you can compare
and read only the differences. Check out what many Windows applications
do to your Win.Ini files, so you can later remove them. These charts
provide a highly detailed look at several shareware comparing programs
and which one is right for you. We have examined the features, speed,
and the pros and cons of every program. Over weeks of researching!
Programs Tested Author/Company Released Marketing
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Laser Compare 1.2 (beta) (LAS) LaserArts Jun 1996 Shareware
Sherlock 2.73 (SLK) Gulf Sierra Jan 1995 Shareware
Visual Compare 1.52 (VIS) Whitney Software, Inc. Jun 1992 Shareware
File Compare (FCP) Microsoft Corporation Dos 5.0+ Commercial
Different File Compare 1.0 (DFC) Tanny Bear Development May 1993 Shareware
(beta) = The version I tested was only a preview of 1.2, their final
release of 1.2 may include some more features.
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════╤═════╤═════╤═════╤═════╤═════╗
║ General comparison │ LAS │ SLK │ VIS │ FCP │ DFC ║
╟──────────────────────────────────────────────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────╢
║ Registration fee (without any shipping fees) │ $10 │ $25 │ $30 │ $39 │ $15 ║
║ Documentation (0=Useless, 10=Informative) │ 8 │ 6 │ 7 │ 3 │ 6 ║
║ Internet email/postage stamp mail support │ X │ X │ X │ X │ X ║
║ No evaluation period (NSW=Not ShareWare) │ X │ │ │ NSW │ ║
║ Pre-made Windows .PIF and .ICO files │ X │ │ │ │ ║
║ Program is supported by ASP │ │ X │ X │ │ ║
║ Telephone support │ │ X │ X │ X │ ║
╟──────────────────────────────────────────────┴─────┴─────┴─────┴─────┴─────╢
║ Average Registration Fee: $23.80 ║
╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════╤═════╤═════╤═════╤═════╤═════╗
║ Program features │ LAS │ SLK │ VIS │ FCP │ DFC ║
╟──────────────────────────────────────────────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────╢
║*Ability to analyze ASCII files │ X │ X │ X │ X │ X ║
║*Ability to analyze BINARY files │ (1) │ │ │ X │ ║
║ Ability to create a composite/merged file │ │ │ X │ │ X ║
║ Ability to display carriage returns │ X │ │ │ │ ║
║ Ability to ignore case differences │ X │ X │ X │ X │ X ║
║ Ability to shell to DOS │ X │ X │ │ │ ║
║ Ability to text search for a keyword │ │ │ │ │ X ║
║*Automatic file synchronization │ X │ │ X │ X │ X ║
║ Displays the total number of mismatches │ X │ │ │ │ X ║
║*Displays the line numbers for reference │ X │ X │ X │ X │ X ║
║*Fast built-in duplicate checking │ X │ │ X │ X │ X ║
║ Help available when -? or /? is entered │ X │ │ │ X │ X ║
║ Option to auto exit when its done comparing │ X │ │ │ (2) │ ║
║ Option to ignore leading spaces/tabs │ X │ (3) │ X │ (3) │ X ║
║ Option to ignore trailing spaces/tabs │ X │ (3) │ X │ (3) │ X ║
║ Option to print results to a printer │ X │ X │ │ (4) │ ║
║*Option to save mismatch results to a file │ X │ │ X │ (4) │ ║
║ Option to set the screen mode temporary │ X │ X │ X │ │ X ║
║ Prompts for file names if none are given │ │ X │ X │ │ (5) ║
║ Side by side comparison │ │ X │ X │ │ X ║
║ Uses a key system for registered users │ X │ │ │ (6) │ ║
║ Uses errorlevel codes for batch files │ X │ │ X │ │ ║
║ User (friendly) interface │ (7) │ X │ X │ │ X ║
║*Will process files of unlimited size │ X │ X │ │ X │ ║
║ Will read command line data from environment │ X │ │ │ │ ║
║ Will read command line data from a file │ X │ │ │ │ ║
╟──────────────────────────────────────────────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────╢
║ Total [26 possible points] │ 22 │ 12 │ 14 │ 14 │ 15 ║
╟──────────────────────────────────────────────┴─────┴─────┴─────┴─────┴─────╢
║ * = A main factor when looking for a good comparison program. ║
╟────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╢
║ (1) = Using /H, it can test Binary, but you cannot see differences. ║
║ (2) = Since there is no user interface, it will always exit when its done. ║
║ (3) = Both leading and trailing spaces/tabs ignoring is controlled by one ║
║ option. ║
║ (4) = You can either redirect the output to a file or printer. ║
║ (5) = If you use the -r switch, it shall prompt for the file names. ║
║ (6) = Not a shareware program. ║
║ (7) = Can be disabled using the /O (Output directly to dos) option. ║
╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════╤═════╤═════╤═════╤═════╤═════╗
║ Speed Tests (Time in Seconds) │ LAS │ SLK │ VIS │ FCP │ DFC ║
╟──────────────────────────────────────────────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────╢
║ One file to itself │ .55 │ 2.2 │ .55 │ .16 │ .22 ║
║ Two files with one ending mismatch │ 1.6 │ (A) │ .66 │ .22 │ .27 ║
║ Two files with one beginning mismatch │ 2.8 │ (A) │ .77 │ .22 │ .27 ║
║ Two identical files │ .60 │ 2.2 │ .60 │ .22 │ .22 ║
║ Two different files (Output to a file only) │ 6.2 │ (A) │ 75 │ 2.3 │ (B) ║
║ Two different files (Output to screen only) │ 12 │ (A) │ 74 │ 51 │ 1.5 ║
║ Time to determine if files are identical │ .55 │ (B) │ .60 │ .16 │ (B) ║
║ Time to determine if files are different │ .60 │ (B) │ 75 │ 2.3 │ (B) ║
╟──────────────────────────────────────────────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼─────╢
║ Average Time (Margin of Error: 0.05 seconds) │ 3.1 │ N/A │ 28 │ 7.1 │ N/A ║
╟──────────────────────────────────────────────┴─────┴─────┴─────┴─────┴─────╢
║ Each file consisted of 5000 lines with a random number from 0 to 9 on each ║
║ line. Each program created an output file, if there were any differences. ║
╟────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╢
║ DISCLAIMER: Your results could be different from mine due to factors such ║
║ as disk speed, disk fragmentation, disk caching, memory, and TSRs loaded. ║
╟────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╢
║ (A) = Program cannot automatically synchronize. ║
║ (B) = Program cannot create an output file and does not use errorlevels. ║
║ N/A = Results can not be perform because of program limitations. ║
╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
The PROS and CONS...
Laser Compare by LaserArts ($10) [Shareware]
Pros: No evaluation period. Can output up to 14 destinations (10 files,
3 printers, and the screen) in one session. Can display carriage
returns. Great with batch files including an auto exit option once
files have been found to be equal or different. Uses errorlevel
codes upon exit. Lifetime registration key system.
Cons: Complex user interface. Does not prompt for files if you do not