Using the Command Line to Compare XML files

[Cougar]

I am tring to use the command line to compare 2 xml files. I want to be create certain rules so that the comparison can look for certain details and also ignore details. I want to do this all through the command line. How can i do this?

[Aaron]

Hello,

What is your end goal of the command line call? Is it to create a Text-Report report file (as plain .txt or html)?

You can initiate a comparison from the command line and create a report using BCScripting or generate an %errorlevel% using quick compare. Scripting documentation can be found in the Help file in the Using Beyond Compare -> Automating with Script section.

You cannot set the unimportance rules from the command line. The main option here is to define the defaults ahead of time using the graphical interface, as detailed here:
http://www.scootersoftware.com/suppo..._unimportantv3

Or you can use another scripting language to override the BCSetting.xml files previous to calling BC3 and manually reconfigure the global defaults. This is more of a workaround and the former solution is recommended for most cases.

[Cougar]

I am creating an interface in C# using the Beyond Compare software. So i need to use scripts or commands. I mainly want to be able to use regular expressions but i am confused on how to use them with this software. What would be the best way to do this you think? Can you give me an example of how to use the regular expressions in a script or a command ? Thank you for you help by the way

[Aaron]

Hello,

The regular expressions would need to be setup ahead of time as a Grammar type for a specific File Format, following the KB article above's instructions. When you call BC3 from the command line, the default behavior uses the global defaults, for either BC Script or the /QuickCompare. Which you would use would depend on if you are comparing folders or generating reports (BC Scripting) or comparing a pair of files and want a command line return code (/QuickCompare).