Directory Comparison Utility

by Paul Witheridge


This is an updated version of the DirComp application originally supplied on the RISC User 6:8 magazine disc. The original version did not work correctly with networks, with the result that network users had to copy any files onto disc before running them through DirComp. This problem has now been fixed.

DirComp compares the contents of two directories, identifying files and subdirectories that are present in one directory only, and files that are present in both, but with differing contents. It can also identify files with identical contents in both directories, but with differing filetypes or datestamps.

Because DirComp is intended to highlight differences when dealing with large numbers of files, it only reports objects that do not match. Other tools, such as the Acorn Diff application, can then be used to explore these differences.

USING THE PROGRAM
To install DirComp either click on its icon in the RISC User Menu System, or double-click on it in the Filer window. Click Select on its icon bar icon to open the DirComp window. You should now drag both directories that you want compared into this window, and select the required options.

Subdirectory recursion
Selecting this option causes DirComp to compare the contents of any subdirectories found on both paths.

Verbose
This option causes DirComp to report files which have identical contents but differing filetypes and/or datestamps. When this is selected, objects with differing contents are marked by an arrow in the output to make them stand out.

Finally, click on Run to start the comparison.

NOTE
When comparing a directory on an MS-DOS disc with a directory on an Acorn format disc, DirComp may report that file datestamps differ, even though one file is a direct copy of the other. This is due to the different degree of precision in the MS-DOS and Acorn datestamps.

PREREQUISITES
DirComp runs under the Acorn DDE environment and requires two relocatable modules that form part of this environment: FrontEnd and TaskWindow (the filename for the TaskWindow module is Task).

RISC OS 3 provides TaskWindow resident in ROM, but does not provide FrontEnd. Both modules are provided in the !System.Modules directory on this disc, and can be copied into your own !System.Modules directory.

DirComp can also be used in the command mode. Copy the DirComp program file from inside the DirComp application to your library directory. Then press F12 and enter:
*DirComp
for a summary of the DirComp command syntax.


 Copyright RISC User 1994
