File compare for non-image files

Ideas for improvements and requests for new features in XnView Classic

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helmut
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File compare for non-image files

Post by helmut »

In XnView 1.80 the comparison for images has been added, which is really good (Tools > Compare).

Currently, only image files can be compared, the images are shown in a dialog and I wonder whether it would be good and helpful to be able to compare normal files. For non-image files, XnView could simply open a dialog and say: "Files are identical" or "Files are not identical".
Dreamer
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Post by Dreamer »

I support this request.

Maybe also thumbnail/frame for video file could be showned.
For non-image files, XnView could simply open a dialog and say: "Files are identical" or "Files are not identical".
There is no such information for image files too :|
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helmut
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Post by helmut »

Dreamer wrote:I support this request.

Maybe also thumbnail/frame for video file could be showned.
For non-image files, XnView could simply open a dialog and say: "Files are identical" or "Files are not identical".
There is no such information for image files too :|
Yes, an information "File A and B are identical" would be much more helpful than showing the CRC values. The CRC checksums of two files only tell whether the files are identical or not. It does not give any indication whether there's little or big differences.

Perhaps a statusbar would be even better than a message box. At the bottom of the compare dialog there is a lot of room left.
Dreamer
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Post by Dreamer »

Maybe you could start a new topic for it...
ckit
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Re: File compare for non-image files

Post by ckit »

helmut wrote:In XnView 1.80 the comparison for images has been added, which is really good (Tools > Compare).

Currently, only image files can be compared, the images are shown in a dialog and I wonder whether it would be good and helpful to be able to compare normal files. For non-image files, XnView could simply open a dialog and say: "Files are identical" or "Files are not identical".
I support this request.
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Danny
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Post by Danny »

helmut wrote:Yes, an information "File A and B are identical" would be much more helpful than showing the CRC values. The CRC checksums of two files only tell whether the files are identical or not. It does not give any indication whether there's little or big differences.

Perhaps a statusbar would be even better than a message box. At the bottom of the compare dialog there is a lot of room left.
Does it really matter? They're different - that's the most important information IMHO.
It's a lot more effort to find out the amount of difference. You would have to create some logic behind it. Like when there has only one bit been added somewhere in the middle. The rest of the file could still be exactly the same but would be recognized as different because of the shifting - and that's just one example from the top of my head.

I do like the idea of comparing non-image files though. (Being able to calculate the CRC value of single files would be nice, too)
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helmut
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Post by helmut »

Danny wrote:
helmut wrote:Yes, an information "File A and B are identical" would be much more helpful than showing the CRC values. The CRC checksums of two files only tell whether the files are identical or not. It does not give any indication whether there's little or big differences.

Perhaps a statusbar would be even better than a message box. At the bottom of the compare dialog there is a lot of room left.
Does it really matter? They're different - that's the most important information IMHO.

It's a lot more effort to find out the amount of difference. You would have to create some logic behind it. Like when there has only one bit been added somewhere in the middle. The rest of the file could still be exactly the same but would be recognized as different because of the shifting - and that's just one example from the top of my head.
...
I completely agree. With my above comment I just wanted to tell that displaying the CRC is not really helpful for the user, a simple messagebox could give the user the same info in a much simpler way.
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Post by Danny »

helmut wrote:I completely agree. With my above comment I just wanted to tell that displaying the CRC is not really helpful for the user, a simple messagebox could give the user the same info in a much simpler way.
But you would loose the feature of calculating the checksum for a file which i like. I don't agree with dumbing it down for the weak minded. IMO it's far more confusing to have a cluttered context and options menu.