How to do a table comparison through the scripting interface?

[randomuser007]

As the title suggests, I want the comparison to happen using a 'table comparison'. What do I need to modify?

Command line:

BCompare.exe @script.txt

Script.txt Contents:

criteria rules-based
expand all
load path_to_folder1 path_to_folder2

expand  all
select newer.files older.fileds diff.files
text-report layout:side-by-side options:include-file-links display-mismatches output-to:dir1 output-options:html-color

[Chris]

Use the following script to output a report of different and orphan files:

criteria rules-based
load c:\folder1 c:\folder2
expand all
select orphan.files diff.files
data-report layout:side-by-side options:display-mismatches output-to:c:\report.html output-options:html-color

To include all files instead of just orphans and different files, use "select all.files" instead of the select command listed in the above example.

Scripting Reference: https://www.scootersoftware.com/v4he...reference.html

[randomuser007]

Thank you Chris, very helpful!
I have a few questions.
1) Is it possible to also get the UI to open up and see these results on the UI?
2) Is it possible through a folder comparison to get individual reports for each file compare rather than a total one?

[Chris]

1) It isn't possible to launch the UI from a Beyond Compare script. If you want to see results in the UI, you'll have to perform the same actions interactively.

2) It's possible to generate a single folder report that lists links to individual file reports. To generate the report, use folder-report with the include-file-links option.

criteria rules-based
load c:\folder1 c:\folder2
expand all
folder-report layout:side-by-side options:display-mismatches,include-file-links output-to:c:\report.html output-options:html-color

[randomuser007]

That's fantastic!
On a related note, through command line, i can do:
...\BCompare.exe file1 file2 /fv "Table Compare"

are there some specific parameters I can pass in:
...\BCompare.exe folder1 folder2 in order to not only load the folders but also begin comparing everything as tables?

[Chris]

The command-line argument to force the Table Compare for a pair of files is /fv="Table Compare".

It isn't possible to force the Table Compare for a pair of folders with a command-line argument. However, you can edit Beyond Compare's file formats to force the Table Compare for files matching a set of file masks.

To define a file format:
Open Tools > File Formats.
Click +.
Select Table Format.
Enter a semicolon separated list of file masks, like "*.csv;*test.table".
Save the format.

When the Folder Compare runs a rules-based content comparison or file contents are displayed, the highest format in the list with a matching file mask determines how to compare or display the files.