Features

Two pane view

(1) - first (source) pane with source files and folders;
(2) - second (target) pane with target files and folders;
(3) - the "Action" column; the column displaying the synchronization action (copy, move, delete) as well as direction.

Diff Commander displays differences between folders in two panes (each for the folder). The pane consists of a set of columns. The general column displays the folder as a tree. Other columns displays the following information: the file size attributes, date and time. The "Actions" column is located between these panes. An action and a direction of synchronization are specified in each cell of this column. The synchronization is performed by clicking either "Sync. Item (F7)" or "Sync. Checked (F9)"

FTP support

Diff Commander allow you to work with FTP servers. Connecting to some FTP server is more complex action. You need define your ftp connection with help of the dialog box that are represent below:

Zip-archives support

Diff Commander supports comparison and synchronization of a Zip-archive and a folder as well as two Zip-archives. Diff Commander is able to compare the contents of Zip-archives located in the folders as well.

Besides comparing Zip-archives Diff Commander synchronize them as if they were folders.


Note: The synchronization of Zip-archives contents are available in the registered version only.

Batch folder comparison

Diff Commander allows you to compare more than two folders or zip-archives at a time. You can group a number of folders and compare two such groups. To create such group of folders, you should add folders names to a text file with the .dcb extension. Then choose the created .dcb files in Diff Commander to start the comparison:

Note: Batch folders comparison is available in the registered version only.

Snapshot storages

Diff Commander can save the current state of a directory in snapshot storage (a special file). The snapshot holds directory listing of selected folder (and all its subfolders). It includes short description about each file in selected folder (CRC32 checksum, date, time, size etc.), but not contains the file itself. It allows to reduce the size of the snapshot storage essentially and enables you to transfer the snapshot on devices which have the limited size or send it by e-mail (for example, the size of snapshot storage for the directory in 300Mb is ~500Kb only!).

After snapshot it is created, you can compare it with other folder or zip-archive. Right after creations, Snapshot does not content real files. Therefore synchronization of files in a direction "snapshot->directory" while is impossible. But you can put files into snapshot during its comparison with other folder. It will allow you to have in snapshot real contents only those files which really differ.

Usage of snapshots:

• You can use a snapshot for synchronization of your data between two computers which have no a direct connection with each other (for example, between office and home computers). Snapshot allows to store in itself contents only those files which really have differences;
• You can create a snapshot of an important folder and test it periodically for corruptions or "bit fades";
• You can send the snapshot by e-mail. It is usefully, when you work in a team of developers which are far off from each other;

The snapshot storage file have .dcss extension. For convenience of using of snapshot Diff Commander creates file association for this extension. You can double click on snapshot to run Diff Commander. It will allow you to load at once snapshot and to compare its contents to the folder on the basis of which has been made given snapshot (snapshot stores a way to the original directory).

Note: The synchronization of snapshots contents are available in the registered version only. The snapshot does not put subfolders in the unregistered version, only files from the root of selected directory will be processed.

Tree and list view

Diff Commander can display files and folder in two different view modes: tree and list. Each of these view modes has its own advantages. The tree view mode allows you to see the hierarchy of folders; the list view mode is more convenient to display the folders structure with complex hierarchy of subfolders. You can switch between these two modes at any time.

Files filtering

Note: Files and folders which do not match these criteria, will not be shown in comparison panes and will not be synchronized.

Profile (comparison and synchronization rules)

Diff Commander uses a set of rules to determine whether the files are equal or it is necessary to include them in the results list as well as to determine the synchronization direction. You can customize these rules in "Profile".

Diff Commander allows you to create a set of such profiles. In each profile you can specify the options of comparison and synchronization. All options for "Profile" are listed below:

The general options: scan matching files only; scan all subfolders; skip identical files; skip system files; skip hidden files; skip empty folders; skip hidden folders; The "Comparison Features" page: compare by size, content and checksum; compare by date, time and file attributes; The "File Filters" page: files search by "include" and "exclude" masks; file search by "date between", "not older than" and "file size" rules.

The "Synchronize" page. Diff Commander support next synchronization modes: Bidirectional - this is default synchronization mode. All newer and orphans files/folder will be copied from left side to right and vice versa; Mirror Left to Right - work as restore mode. Replace all different files on right side, delete any orphans files on right, copy any orphans from left side to right; Mirror Right to Left - work as backup mode. Replace all different files on left side, delete any orphans files on left, copy any orphans from right side to left;

Synchronize actions

When Diff Commander completes the comparison you can synchronize files in these folders. Diff Commander detects a synchronization direction for each file using sets of rules. If the synchronization action is wrong you can change it during the synchronization process. The following actions are available: Copy file to right pane; Move file to right pane; Copy file to left pane; Move file to left pane; Delete right file; Delete left file; Delete both files.

Excluding of individual files

You can exclude individual files from the synchronization. For this, clear the check box to the left of the file. For example (see picture on the right), files viscmp.exe and readme.txt will not be synchronized.

External tools

When comparing folders using Diff Commander you may need to compare the contents of files. Diff Commander allows you to specify special programs which will be automatically launched to compare or edit files. You can specify a program to be used for comparing files depending on their types. You can edit files directly from Diff Commander using external editors in the same way. On the main menu select Tools->Customize... ->"Tools" to open the Settings dialog. See the screenshot below:

• Visual Comparer (if it is already installed on your computer, or if you downloaded Bundle Edition from our site);
• Notepad is a standard Windows text files editor;
• Paint is a standard Windows images editor;
• Image Viewer is a simple program which allows you to show two images side by side for visual comparison (this program is distributed with Diff Commander).