DLSuperC, DLSupCX and DLSupCBF Comparison and Overview

A. DLSuperC - For reference and background

   DLSuperC is the basis and style for the trio of Delphi 3 generated
program products. It is basically an intelligent text compare program
that handles two files. There are filters (special options that allow the
input text to be inspected, transformed, and temporarily discarded
before the compare) that set the functionality of the compare program
above any on the market.

   DLSuperC is an "industrial grade" compare program. All text compare
versions handle files larger than 64K. It also looks for reformatted lines
(lines that have blank character differences but same data content) as a
part of the basic program processing. Mostly the compare program does
not get lost and produce results that appear completely different than
expected.  The reports appear very close to that expected from and text
edit session that flags "inserted" and "deleted" text lines.

   The execution of DLSuperC is started from a series of panels that
allows the user to select options and initialize fields that retain their
content throughout re-executions of the program.  Exit and reentry to the
program retains these same values.  Ease of use and data persistence
(providing many drop down list) enables the user to select repeatable
results.   Most reports can be personalized to the requirements of the
user session.  They can be configured to generate either concise or
large output reports.  Many options are available to configure the data so
that the volume of normal output does not overlook important
information.  Different views of the same compare are important in
programmer/user productivity.

   DLSuperC is shareware priced at $29.95.

B. DLSupCX

   DLSupCX includes DLSuperC as an operating kernel within the
program logic.  Many functions are identical as options to DLSupCX that
are in DLSuperC.  DLSupCX is designed to be a more encompassing
text compare program and it allows two complete directories composed
of pairs of files to be compared per iteration of the program. It is an
advanced but separate version of DLSuperC.

   DLSupCX has more options than DLSuperC and it is a more complex
program to overview and operate.  Users wishing a simpler program and
interface with less function are normally satisfied with the basic
DLSuperC program.  Yet, all the functions that DLSuperC performs can
be done with DLSupCX - simply and still generating the same type of
output.  DLSupCX can also compare two files identically as DLSuperC.
Since most compare result from the user wishing to see the differences
between just two files, DLSupCX may be an over kill for many entry level
users.

   DLSupCX only exists in a Win95/WinNT 32 bit version. No 16 bit Win
3.1x version is available.  DLSupCX has seven (7) new preference
options for the compare of two files that extend the versatility of the
comparison to a higher level than the basic DLSuperC program.  These
new preference options are:

  1. Full source on changed lines up to 128 columns.
      1a. -- The previous limit for DLSuperC was 80 columns although all
               columns in the line were inspected.
  2. Side-by-side report with insert and delete changes separated into
      two split views of the displayed report.  The inserts and deletes lines
      are shown at the same synchronized level within the separate list
      boxes.
      2a. -- Only a consolidated single panel view is available in
               DLSuperC.  The inserts and deletes were either alternated in
               pair sets or block displayed as sets of inserts or deletes.
  3. Plus 5 other directory related file classification options that limit the
      processing required to handle  the diverse file types in full directory
      compares.
      3.a -- Using equal time-stamps/length to limit comparing files that
               appear unchanged and under the user's library control. This
               speeds up the comparison processing rather than having to
               compare the complete extent of the data file.
      3.b -- Default detection of files for determining whether a file is
               composed primarily of text or binary data.  A check is made
               of the files first record for binary data.  No check was
               previously made in DLSuperC. An option override is
               available for not checking to be consistent with DLSuperC.
      3.c -- Excluding certain output with limiting classification options.
  4. One new generalized Dp (Don't Process) Option that allows the user
      to define a single line leading comment character with an optional
      embedded comment delimiter to end-of-line (examples "  # This is a
      comment line." - where the # is the header of the comment line.  ".
      Source statement @ - Comment embedded after source statement -
      where @ is a end-of-line comment delimiter.)

    For emphasis, DLSupCX handles comparing two entire directories or
file pairs with one invocation.  This enhances the capability of DLSuperC
that requires multiple user iterations to do the same task.

   The DLSupCX program features 2 automatic execution  options where
file selection is well defined.  No intermediate panels are shown - just
position the mouse and click. These are:

  1. Single New/Old Named Files - files are named in file slots.
  2. All Directory Like-Name Files (between the two directories) - files
      are determined automatically by the DLSupCX program.

   Two additional intermediate selection panels are  available to refine
user defined file processing.

  3. Select from 1 Directory File Like-Name List
  4. Select from 2 Directory File Name Lists - for Like and Unlike names

   Information and selections are saved between executions and multiple
executions. An attempt is to minimize user  repetition of standard
compare requirements. However, this  is short of a batch invocation.
User interaction is still required.

   DLSuperC and DLSupCX are separately purchasable shareware
download compare programs. They both are offered at $29.95.  Both are
aimed at the text line compare user. DLSuperC is simple and relatively
direct. DLSupCX gives more options but requires more definition and
"care".

   Because DLSupCX involves a potential of many more comparisons
and more output, care must be taken not to let it produce results that
are wasteful. Processing time  is directly related to the number of file
pairs the user selects or the automatically program selects.

   DLSupCX is shareware priced at $29.95.

C. DLSupCBF - Third DLSuperC based product - The comparison product
   you have selected and will be using.

   DLSupCBF (DLSuperC for Binary File Directory Compare) is the third
(3) product in the Win95 DLSuperC series of products.  It is a separate
program aimed at a slightly different comparison environment.  While it
maintains the shape and format of both DLSuperC and DLSupCX, it
closer to the aims and objectives of DLSupCX - full directory capability.

   DLSupCBF is strictly a directory file compare program that processes
files at the directory at the binary data level.  It does not provide
differences at any boundary except the whole file. The data file is either
the same or different.  This may result from the difference in one
character or number of characters in the file.

   DLSupCBF is a specialized program with dedicated binary
processing.  Most of the functions are possible with DLSupCX. Yet,
DLSupCBF has extra options and extra directory views that make it
quite different than DLSupCX.

   DLSupCBF can process multiple directories and display differences to
the user in a pseudo like directory tree structure.  It even has a space
and structure display view that does no compare. The output is strictly a
picture of the multi-directory subdirectory structure.

   DLSupCBF is designed to be faster than DLSupCX in the processing
overhead of binary files.  Many checks that a text compare program
would need to make are not necessary since DLSupCBF only handles
binary files - even if they are composed exclusively of Ascii text.

   DLSupCBF is shareware priced at $21.95.