How to compare folders

[shaka]

I have folders on my network that seem the same, but then I see 1 has less files in than the
other. (back up of my download directory for example) how do I compare the two and see what the difference is. I am hope thaat path finder can do this.

:confused:

[grotsasha]

Path Finder doesn't have this ability, but you can use FileMerge if you have Developer Tools installed. It can compare not only text files line per line, but also directories.

[Arundel]

/vote to offer this feature

And I'll put my money where my mouth is. :cool: Path Finder is already worth owning.

FileMerge in short, is not a solution. There are several other apps (Google: mac folder compare) that are friendlier and won't grip your CPU so tight.

[psmackey]

I'll add my vote for "compare contents of this directory to that one" as a future feature, since I often need to compare folder contents across various archive drives as to which one contains the most recent modified date, or missing files.

(I could probably also use Folder Synchronizer's Preview function to do this, but embedding this feature in PathFinder would make an already excellent tool even more "excellent-er"...)

[adamswick]

1. Make sure View / Path Navigator is selected in the Path Finder menu.
2. In PathFinder, navigate to one of the folders you wish to compare. Make sure the Path Navigator reflects the selected folder.
3. Click on the "Bottom Drawer" icon in PF, or select View / Bottom Drawer from the menu. A terminal window should open.
4. After the dollar sign prompt, type:
diff<space>.<space> (replacing "<space>" with a single space).
5. Now click command-t to open a second tab. Navigate to the second folder you wish to compare, as in step 2 above.
6. You may now do one of two things:
a. right-click the Path Navigator and select Copy Path / UNIX from the pop-up menu. Right-click after your Unix command from step 4 and select Paste from the pop-up menu.
b. OR, click one level to the left of the folder in Path Navigator (the folder's parent) and click-and-drag the second folder you wish to compare from the results pane down to the Unix prompt.
7. The terminal window should now show:
diff<space>.<space><path to second folder>
8. Click return/enter to view the results.
9. You may click File / Save from the Path Finder menu to save the comparison results as a text file.

This seems like quite a bit of work, but it really isn't. Once you try it a couple of times, it becomes very easy with Path Finder. Tabs aren't required for the process, but make it easier when copying the paths or if you wish to redo some steps. You can also replace the dot in the Unix command with the path of the first folder, but this is unnecessary work.

[gihrig]

I too cast a vote for a diff/merge feature.

My favorite is winmerge http://winmerge.org/ which, as the name implies is, alas available for Windoz only.

My favorite features:

1. Ability to select a file/folder by right clicking and selecting "compare to", navigate else where, right and select "compare" for an instant comparison of file or folder contents.

2. The read-ability, I find understanding the differences in files easier than others.

3. Ease of merging file differences.

I have used Developer/ FileMerge and find it so-so. I am also a fan of eclipse (I'm a java developer), but I find eclipse's merge feature second rate compared to WinMerge.

Just the addition of basic WinMege like features to PathFinder would be really killer!

-Glen

[ashmen]

diff'ing two folders and even the ability to merge or rsync the contents would be extremely useful/helpful.

[nwatc]

thx, i'm use now diff with PathFiner, it's good unixway to compare files. It was pleasant implementation as it is made in program "Juxtapose Folders". It is necessary to notice that in it there are no two panels or dual browser mode. It would be fine to realise a similar functional in PathFinder! Maybe in 6.0?

[jraber]

Hi All

One of the major and outstanding features of Pathfinder are the dual panes. This compares Pathfinder with Norton Commander (DOS), Total Commander (Win) and Krusader (Linux).
With all of the above you are able to compare and synchronize folders. I would say that is a logical consequence of a dual pane file tool.

In the meantime try "Compare Folders" from iNexus. You have nine comparisons free before you have to buy it.

http://www.infinitenexus.com/cf/ (http://www.infinitenexus.com/cf/)

Probably the guys from Cocoa and iNexus talk to each other and off it as supported apps in the meantime or as a package deal?

Greetings
Jo

[tlotzer]

If you have Acrobat, it compares 2 documents. The trick is to get Pathfinder to build a directory list of the 2 folder then let Acrobat crunch the 2 documents. I believe other text editors can compare text files also.

[icke]

i do like adamswick's solution of using diff in either a terminal or the bottom drawer. it does however do more than i bargained for. comparing two NAS volumes full of archived images bit by bit just takes ages. but at least it works. a simple file name, size and date compare would be enough for me though. i guess that would be a lot faster too. (if diff offers such choices as options, please forgive me my ignorance, but tell me anyway) ;)

i also downloaded "Compare Folders" from iNexus. that however doesn't show any of my mounted network drives. so this is not suitable to me at all...

a compare two folders in separate panes a-la good old dos norton commander feature would just be a dream come true... so: pleeeeaaaaseeee!!!