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With Nota Bene, you can compare two files to see where there are differences or similarities. File comparison is done on screen with the two files being compared in separate windows. It is not possible to display or print a document showing the differences or similarities between two files, only to search for them. Nota Bene will guide you in the process of moving the cursor to the first difference, then to the next similarity, then to the next difference, etc. One of the two open files will be active and the cursor will display in that file, but both files will scroll together so that the next similarity or difference is visible in both files.
Method 1: Quick and Easy
With the two files you want to compare on screen and the cursor at the top of both files (or at the point in the files where you wish to start comparing):
| 1 | Click Window, Arrange Pair Horizontally or Window, Arrange Pair Vertically. |
| 2 | Click Ctrl+Alt+Shift+ the minus sign (or dash) to move the cursor to the next difference. |
| 3 | Click Ctrl+Alt+Shift+ the plus sign (or equal sign) to move the cursor to the next similarity. |
| 4 | Repeat steps 2 and 3 to move through the document alternately finding the differences and then moving to the next similarity. |
Alternatively, you can use Ctrl+Alt+Shift+? to highlight the differences.
Method 2
| 1 | Click Proof, File Comparison |
| 2 | The Compare Files dialog will appear. Use the top half of the dialog to select the two files to be compared by checking the check boxes next to the files to be compared. |
| • | All open files will be listed in the top window in the dialog with check boxes next to them. |
| • | If one (or both) of the files you want to compare is not open, click the check box to the left of one of the blank boxes under "Files on Disk:" Then type in the path and file name or press the button to the right of the blank box to locate the file you want to compare. |
| • | Note two files must be selected and you cannot select more than two files. |
| 3 | Use the drop down list in the Compare Files dialog to select how you want the files arranged. When file comparison starts, the files will appear on your screen as you specify. Split Top and Bottom is the default and it is recommended for most purposes. |
| 4 | Use the drop down list in the Compare Files dialog to select where the comparison should start. |
| 5 | Use the slider control in the Compare Files dialog to select the number of characters constituting a match. Nota Bene will not recognize matches of less than this number of characters. Differences are recognized even if they are only one character. The default is 40, and this is recommended for most purposes. |
| 6 | By default, the Show Compare-File Toolbar option is checked. This will add a toolbar of two buttons to the top of your screen. If you do not want this toolbar to display, clear the check box. |
| 8 | Nota Bene will open any files that were not open and the two files that you have selected will now be open and ready to be compared. If you chose Split Top and Bottom or Split Side by Side, both files will be visible on your screen. If the Show Compare-File Toolbar option was checked, the Find Next Difference button (an apple, an orange and a magnifying glass) and the Find Next Match button (two apples and a magnifying glass) will be visible at the top of your screen. A pop-up screen will provide instruction on proceeding with the file comparison. Click OK |
| 9 | Find the first difference by pressing the Find Next Difference button or by pressing Ctrl + Alt + Shift + the minus sign (or dash). |
| 10 | Find the next similarity by pressing the Find Next Match button or by pressing Ctrl + Alt + Shift + the plus sign (or equal sign). |
| 11 | Repeat steps 9 and 10 to move through the document alternating between differences and similarities. |
| 12 | You can edit either document during the process of comparing files. Use one of the following methods to move the cursor to the other window: |
| • | Click in the window of the document that is not active. |
| • | Click Window and then select the name of the file you want to move to from the list at the bottom of the drop down menu. |
See also:
Redlining
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