Running Directory Compare

You can run Directory Compare as a normal program, from any of the following:

You can also double-click any file containing saved settings (a .dcp file), which starts Directory Compare and loads the settings.

Once Directory Compare starts:

  1. Select the source directory (or zip file) by doing one of the following:
  2. Select the source file mask (or masks separated by ;) under Filter (the default *.* will use all files in the selected directory or zip file; patterns after / will be excluded: see File Patterns in Filter),
  3. Select the target (backup) directory (or zip file) by doing one of the following:
  4. Select the items you want included in the list:
  5. Press Scan to make Directory Compare search both directories and compare the time stamps of files. The results are displayed in a list which shows in each line the file name, and the size and date of the copies existing in both directories. Data corresponding to Source and Target is separated by one of the following:
    Character Meaning
    > the source file is newer than the target file or the latter is missing,
    < the source file is missing or older than the target
    ? both files have the same time stamps but different sizes (they will be treated as the > files if the Sizes are different option in the Options dialog is selected),
    - both files have the same time stamps and sizes but different attributes (they will be treated as the > files if the Attributes are different option in the Options dialog is selected)

    !

    files are different but have the same name and the Ignore everything… option is selected.

    #

    for one FAT file and one NTFS file differing just by one hour. See FAT vs. NTFS.
    = both files have the same time stamp, sizes and attributes (although not very probable, they could have some different bits: use the Compare function to check this).

    The different files will appear selected and the status line will inform you on the number of files that are newer in each directory, as well as the equal files and the number of selected files (initially, those with different time stamps)

  6. Now, you can select or deselect files as usual (remember holding down the Ctrl key if you want to keep other selections when changing the status of a single line) and use the Edit menu, the shortcut menu that you get when using the right mouse button or, in some cases, the equivalent keyboard shortcuts to update and compare files in both directories as well as to perform other tasks on them: erasing, opening, viewing, using an external compare program. The usual way of arranging the order of entries by clicking on column headers works as expected.

Since you may have different sets of working directories (say, your documents and your programs) you may find yourself repeatedly using the same sets of directories, filter and options. The history lists under Source and Target will help you, and Directory Compare always starts with the settings you used the last time. Furthermore, by using the File menu you can save the settings in a .dcp file and then use them again later. You can then recover the settings in the file, or by simply clicking on the file icon (you may also define a shortcut to this icon in any convenient location, such as your desktop). In that case the program will start with the corresponding settings and an automatic Scan will by performed on start-up.

See also Automatic Backups and Command Line Options.