Folder Compare is a tool for manipulating directories that change. I wrote it mainly for comparing big source folders when several people work at the same time on them. You can also use that program for comparing document folders if you want, or even synchronize folders from your powerbook with your desktop machine.
Why that program ? Many a program can synchronize folders…
Well, yes, BUT Folder Compare is more powerfull than that because it let you choose what to do with the diferences. You're not always expected to UPDATE a folder, you may want to restore a copy of a file for example. Folder Compare allows you to do that, and more !
How to use ?
Easy: just launch the application. A window will appears with two drop place on top. Drag & drop your SOURCE (the folder you've been working on) and COMPARE folder from the finder to the specified places, and click the 'Compare' button.
The comparison runs in the background, but moving files/folder from one or the other folder while you're comparing it would be a bad idea, don't you think ?
You can STOP the comparison by clicking the 'Compare' button again.
What are the four lists used for ?
• 'Unique in source' list contains the files or folder that are only in the SOURCE Folder. Typically files/folder that you've added to the SOURCE folder, or that have been removed from the COMPARE folder.
The list displays the icon and filename of the file, and the name of it's parent folder.
• 'Unique in compare' list contains the reverse. ie: the files/folders that are exists only in the COMPARE folder. The display is the same as in the 'Unique in source list'
Tip: In each lists, you can click (and hold) the mouse on the file/folders little icons to display a popup with the complete name (pathname) of the file/folder. If you are comparing folders on a slow disk (a server), the popup may take sereval seconds to appears.. so hold on :-)
The buttons at the bottom of those two lists are :
Open: open the selected files using the application that created it. If it's a folder, it opens the folder in the finder.
Trash: will move the selection to the trash. BE CAREFUL, there's NO WARNING.
Get Infos: will act like the 'Get Infos' menu from the finder.
Open Enclosing: will open the enclosing folders of the selected items in the finder.
Install: will copy the file/folder from the current folder (SOURCE if you are in the Unique in source list, COMPARE if you are in the Unique in Compare list) to the other folder, at the same location relative location, WITHOUT WARNING.
• 'Different' list shows files that are present in both folders, but are different. The criteria are :
+ Modification date
+ Size
+ Change in the Type or creator of the file
The display shows the filename, the enclosing folder, and the difference found.
Note that the file displayed in the list is always the file from the SOURCE folder, so if the label says 'Newer' it means that the file in the SOURCE folder is newer than the other. Keep that in mind when you decide to update files.
The buttons at the bottom of that list are:
Open Both: Will open both files (when I mean both, that's the file from the SOURCE folder, and it's counterpart in the COMPARE folder) using the application that created them.
Get Info Both: Open the two Infos Windows in the finder, for both files/folders.
Install Source: Will copy the file from the SOURCE folder to the COMPARE folder, at the same relative location, and trash the file from the COMPARE folder.
Restore Compare: Will do the same, but the other way around (from the COMPARE to the SOURCE folder)
• 'Moved' list shows file/folders that MAY have been moved from one place to another. How do I know ? I look at the 'Unique in source' folder and if I find there a file and has the same name of one in the 'Unique in compare' list, I decide that that file has been moved. It works correctly most of the time, but that feature can of course be fooled rather easilly. So look at the content before replacing anything.
The display shows the filename and parent folder from the SOURCE folder, and it's relative location in the COMPARE folder.
The buttons are:
Open Both/Get Info Both: does the same as the Different List.
Move Source: will move the file/folder from the SOURCE folder to the same relative location as the one in the COMPARE folder. Note that you should compare again after moving items, because the file/folders may still be different.
Move Compare: does the same, but in the COMPARE folder.
The Log Window
The log window (from the Windows menu) displays the log of the file opperations you're making. It displays only when you trash/copy/move files. You can copy the log window to mail to your coworkers for them to know what you've been updating.
Everytime you make an operation on a selection, the selection disable itself to prevent you of doing doing them again. You should compare the folders again to verify that everything is fine.
Now, the funny things
In the same folder as Folder Compare, you'll find a script named "Folder Compare Script". Folder Compare NEED that script for running, but the funny thing is that it use that script for doing all it's finder oriented opperations. So you can customize it if you want !! (Open it with AppleScript's Script Editor)
The not-so-funny things
Folder Compare is not completly finished, you MAY have crash (I did'nt find any, but who knows) and you ABSOLUTLY NEED:
+ AppleScript
+ The Drag Manager
+ A Scriptable finder running.
If you have a plain System 7.5 installed, everything will be fine.
+ There are time when you may receive funny error messages, If you want to help, just mail them to me.
Future improvments
If I receive enougth payment, I plan of doing a real source control system (like cvs under UNIX) with a complete text compare utility, a list of helpers applications for opening/comparing files and a lots of other things !
Your money !!
Folder Compare is Shareware. That means you're expected to send me $15 (cash ONLY, no checks) if you use the program. That's not because you got that program from somewhere without paying (or even if you paid for it, that's your fault) that that mean you don't have to pay me.
I'm trying to earn at least part of my money by doing sharewares, I'd really like people to pay me. I did'nt have good experience with my previous shareware (especially with the French people, who are'nt very honest (you french don't scream : I AM french)).
When you register, you'll get the latest version by Email, and that version will not have the bothersome about dialog at startup.
You can send me your $15 (Cash Only):
Michel Pollet
2 Allée des Tilleuls
Résidence de l'Ermitage
92330 Sceaux
France
Email: michel@ellis.fdn.org
Release Notes:
1.0b3
+ Fixed a little hiliting bug.
+ Removed the flickering of the lists.
+ List elements are not disabled before executing events, but after.
+ I use the time I steal from the unregistered user at startup more wisely.
+ Double clicking a list element either 'open' or 'open both' it, depending of the context.
+ First public release.
1.0b2
+ Added a spinning cursor when AppleScripting, with a command period cancel option.
+ Compiled using 604 sheduling, and PowerPC alignment (a lot faster, even on 601)
1.0b1
+ First release to beta testers
Disclaimer
Folder Compare does'nt ask conformation about potentially destructive opperations, you have to know what you are doing. I strongly suggest that you learn to use Folder Compare on copies of your folders before starting doing real work with it. I will not be held responsible for any loss of datas that may occur !
I wrote that program, but I'm still careful when using it !!
Remember that if you click the wrong button, especially when copying files, Folder Compare uses the 'duplicate' finder event for doing those. It means that the files you replace will go in the trash, and you may still restore it.
