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Getting Started

Comparing files or directories with ExamDiff Pro is very simple: when the program starts, it presents the Compare dialog where names of files or directories you wish to compare need to be specified (by typing, browsing for, or dropping one or two files/directories from Windows Explorer).

You can also use the title controls to browse for new files or directories or to compare previously compared items . To compare newly selected files or directories, click on the compare button . The drop-down menu can also be used to revert new names back to compared names, swap names with the opposite pane, or set the option to compare items once the drop-down menu is closed. Note that if you change the first name, and the Autopick option is enabled, the second name will be selected for you automatically, based on the last comparison with the first name.

After comparison is finished, its results are shown in 2-pane window (ExamDiff Pro main window) with identical parts of compared files/directories synchronized, and modified parts identified as added (items unique to second file/directory), deleted (items unique to first file/directory), and changed (and also newer and older for timestamp-based directory comparison), and clearly marked by different colors. If files are compared, ExamDiff Pro automatically (unless forced by Options ) determines whether the files are text or binary, and shows comparison results in different views. Overall, there are three different comparison views: text file view, binary file view, and directory view.

Modified parts of compared items (files or directories) are referred to as blocks. ExamDiff Pro allows certain operations on blocks, such as deleting and copying from one item to another. ExamDiff Pro always maintains one block (or difference) as the current block (unless the compared items are identical), and block operations are performed on the current block.

ExamDiff Pro allows modifications to be viewed and printed. It provides multiple ways to navigate through them and allows synchronizing items via block operations or, in case of text files, via manual file editing using the built-it text editor.

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