<oXygen/> XML Editor User Guide |
The comparison of a pair of files is done by opening them in two editors arranged in a side-by-side layout. You can edit either the source or the target file. The differences are refreshed when you save the modified document.
The window is comprised of the following components:
The Main Menu provides access to all the functions and features available in this window:
Here you can select the source file to be compared.
-> : Browses for a file (the source file).
Open URL for details.
-> : Opens URL to be used as a source file. See-> : Saves the changes made in the source file.
Here you can select the target file to be compared.
-> : Browses for a file (the target file).
Open URL for details.
-> : Opens URL to be used as a target file. See-> : Saves the changes made in the target file.
-> : Performs the comparison of the source and the target files.
-> : Selects the first difference in the files. (The button becomes available if the selection is not on the first modification)
-> : Selects the previous difference in the files. (The button becomes available if the selection is not on the first modification)
-> : Selects the next difference in the files. (The button becomes available if the selection is not on the last modification)
-> : Selects the last difference in the files. (The button becomes available if the selection is not on the last modification)
-> : Copies the non-conflicting changes from the source to the target.
-> : Copies the non-conflicting changes from the target to the source.
-> : Copies the selected difference from the source to the target.
-> : Copies the selected difference from the target to the source.
-> : Provides Word Level Comparison
-> : Provides Character Level Comparison
This is where you’ll find the operations that can be performed on the source and target files.
The available functions are presented at the Operations menu.
Also, <oXygen/> offers you the complete diff solution:
two XML diff algorithms
XML Accurate works on small files and it is very precise.
XML Fast works on larger files but it is less precise than XML Accurate.
Syntax Aware for the file types known by <oXygen/>, it computes the differences taking into consideration the syntax of the documents.
three all-purpose algorithms:
Lines algorithm computes the differences at line level
Words algorithm computes the differences at word level
Characters algorithm computes the differences at character level
an automatic selection of the algorithm:
Auto selects the most appropriate algorithm, based on the files' content and size.
It provides quick access to the Diff preferences pane where you set Diff parameters that will be saved for the next time when you open the Compare Files dialog.
To open the source and target files where you want to see the differences, select a file from the "Open" or "Open URL" button. <oXygen/> keeps track of the files you are currently working with and those you opened in this window. You can see and select them from the two combo-boxes.
You can also save the changes in the source file or the target file by clicking the corresponding "Save" button.
The files are opened in two side-by-side editors. The text view is used, offering a better view of the changes.
The two editors are kept in sync, if you scroll the text in one of them, the other will also scroll to show the difference. The differences are indicated using highlights connected through colored areas. You can use the "Go to modification" buttons to navigate between differences or simply select a change by clicking on it in the overview ruler located in the right-most part of the window. You can also do this by clicking on a colored area between the text editors.
You can edit either the source or the target file. The differences are refreshed when you save the modified document.
You can right-click the text editors for the "Cut", "Copy", "Paste" and "Select all" actions.
If the compared blocks of text are too large and you want to see the differences at a finer level, you can use the comparison at "Word" or "Character" level.
This option is only available if modifications(yellow-colored differences) exist between the source and the target file. You can go to Word Level Comparison by clicking the "Show modification details at word level" button from the Compare Panel or from the Operations menu.
This option is only available if modifications(yellow-colored differences) exist between the source and the target file. You can go to Character Level Comparison by clicking the "Show modification details at char level" button from the Compare Panel or from the Operations menu.