Copyright: © 1994-2002 Symantec Corporation. All rights reserved.
Citation: © 1994-2002 Symantec Corporation. All rights reserved.


Introducing Norton File Compare

Norton File Compare lets you easily compare different versions of a text file, see what changed between versions, and selectively undo changes. You can use Norton File Compare to compare any two text files, so it is ideal for comparing different versions of initialization (INI) files, program source code files, and even HTML files designed for viewing on the World Wide Web. You can also use Norton File Compare together with Norton Registry Tracker to track modifications and undo changes made to critical files and Windows registry settings.

More Info


Comparing files with Norton File Compare

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 Ignoring certain changes

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Display characteristics

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Searching within files

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Undoing changes

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 Setting Norton Registry Tracker exclusions

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 To open Norton File Compare

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 To open files for comparison

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To edit a file

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To print files

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 To set comparison options

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To set display options

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 To undo changes

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To search files

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To set or remove Norton Registry Tracker exclusions

There is no context-sensitive help for this feature. Click here to open the online User’s Guide.


To display file properties

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To view INI files in Norton File Compare

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This side-by-side display shows the two files you have opened for comparison. Lines that differ between the files are printed in a different color, as are identical lines whose positions differ in the two files. For identical lines whose position is different in the two files, read across the panes to discover where the lines in the older file were moved to and where the lines in the newer file were moved from.

Norton File Compare tries to display identical lines side-by-side to make comparisons easier. To do so, it "pads" the display with blank lines. These lines don't represent actual blank lines in the files, but are there to help you quickly recognize file similarities. You can distinguish padded lines from "real" blank lines by having Norton File Compare show you line numbers. Lines that exist in the files are preceded by line numbers; padding lines are not.


Lets you edit the file displayed in the left pane. The selected file appears in your default text editor. The path and filename, or the Norton Registry Tracker snapshot date and time, are displayed to the left of this button.

If you have opened Norton File Compare from Norton Registry Tracker, the filename to the left of the button is the temporary file used to store a Norton Registry Tracker snapshot. Norton Registry Tracker snapshots are denoted by (~snpN) and (~fcN), where N is the snapshot or INI mode temporary file number.


Lets you edit the file displayed in the right pane. The selected file appears in your default text editor. The path and filename, or the Norton Registry Tracker snapshot date and time, are displayed to the left of this button.

If you have opened Norton File Compare from Norton Registry Tracker, the filename to the left of the button is the temporary file used to store a Norton Registry Tracker snapshot. Norton Registry Tracker snapshots are denoted by (~snpN) and (~fcN), where N is the snapshot or INI mode temporary file number.


Prints the contents of the left pane.


Prints the contents of the right pane.


Prints the files displayed in the left and right panes.


Prints the file or files you have specified, and lets you select the printer and set printer options.


Select this option button to search for groups of text in the two panes that are identical. For purposes of this type of search, any pair of files that is compared can be thought of as potentially consisting of blocks of text that are identical, separated by blocks of text that are different.

Show Differences Only (on the View menu) should be unchecked to use this feature.


Select this option button to search for groups of text in the two panes that are not identical. For purposes of this type of search, any pair of files that is compared can be thought of as potentially consisting of blocks of text that are identical, separated by blocks of text that are different.

Show Differences Only (on the View menu) should be unchecked to use this feature.


Select this option button to search for a particular word or phrase in the left or right panes.


This text box becomes active when you select the Text option button. Enter the word or phrase you want Norton File Compare to search for in the left and right panes.


Check this box to do a case-sensitive text search. In a case-sensitive search "ABC" would not be considered a match for "abc."


Use this command button to search upward in the file panes for selected search criteria.


Use this command button to search downward in the file panes for selected search criteria.


Check this box to have Norton File Compare ignore whitespace characters (tabs and spaces) when it compares files.


Check this box to have Norton File Compare ignore any changes to whitespace characters (tabs and spaces) when it compares files.


Check this box to have Norton File Compare ignore any uppercase or lowercase differences between the two files displayed in the left and right file panes.


Check this box to display comparison statistics. The Comparison Statistics window displays the number of lines that have been moved, deleted, or added between the two versions of the file you are comparing.


Check this box if you want line numbers displayed in the left and right panes.


Sets the color Norton File Compare uses to display lines that differ between two files. Click the paint can button to specify a color; the text in the box will reflect the color you select.


Sets the color Norton File Compare uses to display identical lines whose position is different in the two files. Click the paint can button to specify a color; the text in the box will reflect the color you select.


Displays the Font dialog box, which lets you specify the font, font size, and font style used for the Norton File Compare display.


Displays how the file looks with the selected changes undone. Changes that are being undone are colored.


Click this button to undo all selected changes. The newer file displayed in Norton File Compare is overwritten with the undone changes.

You may need to restart Windows for reversed changes to take effect.


Click this button to save the file with undone changes with a different filename than the newer file displayed in Norton File Compare.


Applies the Undo operation directly to the Windows registry. This reverts the registry to the state it was in before the selected changes that are being undone. The display at the left represents the registry as it will look after the changes.

Warning: The registry is fundamental to the proper functioning of your system. You should only change registry entries if you know what you are doing, and are confident of the results.


Excludes only the selected key from tracking. If any subkeys are being tracked, they will not be excluded.


Excludes the selected key from tracking, together with all subkeys it contains.


To view differences only

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