Command Line Diff report

[RedOctober]

I would like to use Beyond Compare, in silent command line mode, to:

- Compare two folder trees
- Make a single .txt report listing:

- Orphaned folders left
- Orphaned folders right
- Changed files
- Orphaned files left
- Orphaned files right

And most importantly... DO NOTHING but make this report and save it to an output folder/filename specified as one of the command line parameters. I don't want any files or folders merged, and I don't want the user to have to interact with the BC window in any way. (such as having to save or close a BC window etc.)

Is this possible using Beyond Compare? If so, what would the command line be, and what product should I buy?

[Aaron]

Hello,

You can call Beyond Compare 3 in scripting mode with a /silent flag to have it run automatically and generate a report without showing a window. I would recommend creating the report initially without the silent flag, as it will suppress all messages and errors. Once you are confident the report will run as expected, then simply add /silent to the command line call.

BC3's scripting mode is run with:
bcompare.exe "@c:\bcscript.txt" "c:\folder1" "c:\folder2" "c:\bcreport.txt"

Where bcscript.txt would be a text file containing a few commands:
load "%1" "%2"
expand all
folder-report layout:side-by-side options:display-mismatches output-to:"%3"

This is documented in the Help file, in the Using Beyond Compare -> Automating with Script section, and in the main Scripting Reference section.

You can test this with our fully functional trial first before purchase is necessary.
http://www.scootersoftware.com/download.php
You probably only need Standard edition unless you need one of these features:
http://www.scootersoftware.com/shop.php?zz=kb_editions
The trial can run in Pro or Std mode, using the Help menu -> About dialog, to uncheck a box and switch between them.

We also have a few tutorial videos for general use:
http://www.scootersoftware.com/moreinfo.php?zz=videos


(Eventually, after fully tested: bcompare.exe /silent "@c:\bcscript.txt" "c:\folder1" "c:\folder2" "c:\bcreport.txt")

If you have any questions, please let us know.