Beyond Compare 3.3.11

Overview

Beyond Compare is a powerful file comparison/management application that provides all the tools needed to conduct detailed text and data comparisons, mergers, and synchronizations within a user-friendly interface.

Installation

At a file size of a little more than 5 MB this application is surprisingly compact considering its quick operating speed and extensive capabilities. Compatible with almost all versions of Linux and Windows, including NT, 98, Millennium Edition, 2000, XP, 2003, Vista, Server 2008, and 7.

Interface

The Beyond Compare user interface is extremely diverse, with uniquely designed windows/viewers for each feature. The main window provides easy access to the eight comparison viewer modules – Folder Compare, Text Compare, Data Compare, Hex Compare, MP3 Compare, Picture Compare, Registry Compare, and Version Compare. Below the comparison module buttons you can access the Folder Synchronization module and the Text Merge module. A navigational pane in the left center of the main window conveniently displays saved sessions so you can quickly resume projects.

Pros

• Utilize simple commands to highlight specific differences between files and folders

• Supports Unicode filenames and content

• Tabbed interface makes it easy to operate more productively within sessions

• 3-way Merge feature lets you combine the changes of two versions of a specific file into a single output file. Section highlighting and color coding make it easy to distinguish the differences between versions and accept, combine, or reject changes quickly and easily. You can also edit the output file using the integrated syntax highlighting editor, or automatically favor changes from one of the two versions being merged

• Lets you compare entire hard drives or specific folders at lightning fast speeds by running a preliminary scan that only checks file sizes and modified times.

• Lets you view and edit text files using syntax highlighting and custom comparison rule sets that are specific to source code, documents, and HTML

• Includes separate comparison viewers for binary files, registry entries, version info, MP3 info, data files, and image files. For example, image files are compared within an interface that provides a preview of the images being compared, while MP3 files are compared in an interface that shows the main attributes of each MP3.

• Folder sync feature makes it easy to back up and synchronize an entire hard drive or specific folders, thereby simplifying the process of backing up a computer or synchronizing website data

• Integrated scripting language makes it easy for developers to automate repetitive tasks. All scripts can be quickly called via the command line

Cons

• Due to the extensive number of specialized windows/viewers, this software may present an extended learning curve for novice to intermediate users.

Alternatives

There are a number of other applications that let you quickly compare/synchronize files and folders, including WinMerge, SyncToy, Meld, and SyncBack (Pro and SE). Of these alternatives, Winmerge is the most similar, and happens to be the most popular.

Conclusion

If you're looking for an easy way to gain complete control over the synchronization, merging, and comparison of all of your files and folders across multiple computers and web servers, Beyond Compare provides an unparalleled solution that is literally beyond compare.