10721 Data Compare non-alignment

[chrisjj]

How can I get Data Compare to align similar lines e.g. lines 3492 here:

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/954/29830220.gif

?

They differ in just five chars in column one.

Thanks.

[Aaron]

The Data Compare requires at least one key column to be defined. The Key column(s) must match exactly for the rows to then align.

There is no way to align 'similar' key columns in the current version. This is already on our wishlist.

[chrisjj]

> There is no way to align 'similar' key columns in the current version.

OK.

> This is already on our wishlist.

Thanks.

[Michael Bulgrien]

How can I get Data Compare to align similar lines...

Right-click on the column headers. Set one or more other columns as "Key Columns" then set column 1 as a "Standard Column".

[chrisjj]

Thanks Michael - I chose an empty column for the only key, and that worked fine.

[Aaron]

That should work for you.

Technically, a Key be definition should be unique, but we do not enforce that in Beyond Compare. If a key matches, then it will align.

[chrisjj]

> If a key matches, then it will align.

That workaround fails me today:



Any idea why?

[Michael Bulgrien]

What failed? You have key columns defined as 1 and 11. Column 1 keys do not match due to the "track not found" errors on the right side. All key columns must match for data to align.

[chrisjj]

Whoops, sorry, I'd assumed that setting key=#11 would clear #1 and had failed to notice it did not. Nice that BC does allow multiple keys...

Thanks M.

[Aaron]

Thanks, Michael.

And yes, BC allows multiple columns to be set as a Key. The combination of the columns then must be what is unique and identifying.