Microsoft Access support for Beyond Compare 2
Version 1.0.0, released 14-Sep-2006
by S. Towner


Abstract
--------

These rules are an add-on to Beyond Compare that allows read-only
comparisons of Microsoft Access (.mdb) table data.  Associated files are
loaded directly into Access and then the table contents are extracted as a 
comma-separated text file.

This affects both the visual comparison and the folder viewer's rules-based
content comparison.  Non-text information will not be compared.

System tables starting with 'MSys' will be ignored.

The resulting file contains the comparison of each table seperated by some
header lines. The header line contains the name of the table that is being
compared. The temporary output file is also included in the header purely
for the purpose of forcing BC to detect that it is an unimportant change,
there by displaying the header even if no table values have changed. This
makes it easier to determine which table any changes belong to.

Installation
------------

1) Extract all files in MSAccess.zip into your Beyond Compare installation
   directory.  By default, this would be:
     C:\Program Files\Beyond Compare 2

2) Run Beyond Compare and from the "Tools" menu select "Import Settings...".

3) In "Select import file", enter the name of the rules file:
     C:\Program Files\Beyond Compare 2\MSAccess\MSAccess.xml

   Click "Next".  In the "Pick rules to import" list, "MS Access" should be 
   checked.  Click "Next" again, then click "Finish" to import the rules.

4) Whenever you load a pair of MDB files in the file viewer Beyond Compare
   will now display a comparison of the text.


Requirements
------------

Beyond Compare 2.1 or higher
Microsoft Access 97 or higher
Windows Scripting Host


History
-------

 14Sep06  v1.0.0
          Official release.
