Alternatives to Built-in File Formats

Use with caution!

These are alternatives to the File Formats that are built into BC3. Only use them if the built-in handling does not suit your needs.

CSV files (*.csv)

Comma Separated Values

14-May-2008

HTML source (*.asp, *.ascx, *.aspx, *.htm, *.html)

HTML tables

14-May-2008

HTML tidied

19-Aug-2009

Standardizes code style before comparing.
Windows only.

HTML to text

16-Apr-2009

Strips out everything except plain text before comparing.
Windows only.

INI files (*.ini)

INI files sorted

2-Feb-2011

Alphanumerically sorts before comparing.
Windows only.

Java source (*.jav, *.java)

Java source tidied

14-Jul-2009

Standardizes code style before comparing.
Windows only.

MSExcel workbooks (*.xls, *.xlsm, *.xlsx)

Microsoft Excel workbooks

21-Mar-2011

Converts to CSV before comparing as plain text.
Requires Microsoft Excel 97 or newer (2007 for *.xlsm, *.xlsx).
Windows only.

Microsoft Excel workbooks to XML

21-Mar-2011

Converts to XML before comparing as plain text.
Requires Microsoft Excel 97 or newer (2007 for *.xlsm, *.xlsx).
Windows only.

Microsoft Excel workbooks VBA

26-Jun-2012

Extracts and compares VBA text.
Also affects *.xla, *.xlam, *.xlax, *.xlt, *.xltm, *.xltx.
Requires Microsoft Excel 97 or newer (2007 for *.xlsm, *.xlsx, etc).
Requires access to VBA be trusted.
Windows only.

Microsoft Excel workbooks with formulas

21-Mar-2011

Converts to CSV with formulas preserved before comparing as plain text.
Requires Microsoft Excel 97 or newer (2007 for *.xlsm, *.xlsx).
Windows only.

MSWord documents (*.doc, *.docm, *.docx, *.dot, *.dotm, *.dotx)

Microsoft Word documents extended

21-Mar-2011

Converts to plain text before comparing.
Slower than the built-in file format but works for a larger variety of files.
Requires Microsoft Word 2002 or newer (2007 for *.docm, *.docx, *.dotm, *.dotx).
Windows only.

Microsoft Word documents VBA

26-Jun-2012

Extracts and compares VBA text.
Also affects *.dot, *.dotm, *.dotx.
Requires Microsoft Word 2002 or newer (2007 for *.docm, *.docx, *.dotm, *.dotx).
Requires access to VBA be trusted.
Windows only.

XML source (*.xml, *.xsl)

XML sorted

31-Jan-2011

Alphanumerically sorts nodes before comparing.
Windows only.

XML sorted and tidied

31-Jan-2011

Alphanumerically sorts nodes and standardizes code style before comparing.
Windows only.

XML tidied

19-Aug-2009

Standardizes code style before comparing.
Windows only.

XML tidied with attributes sorted

19-Aug-2009

Alphanumerically sorts node attributes and standardizes code style before comparing.
Windows only.