How to compare 2 PDF files

Forum for the PDF-XChange Editor - Free and Licensed Versions

Moderators: TrackerSupp-Daniel, Tracker Support, Paul - Tracker Supp, Vasyl-Tracker Dev Team, Chris - Tracker Supp, Sean - Tracker, Ivan - Tracker Software, Tracker Supp-Stefan

Post Reply
ITGSD
User
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri Sep 21, 2018 12:57 pm

How to compare 2 PDF files

Post by ITGSD »

Hello,

I have installed PDF XChange Editor Plus Version 7.0 (Build 325.1) on my computer (Windows 7 Enterprise SP1).
I would like to compare 2 PDF files which are similar but there is some differences between both.
Is there a feature to compare 2 files and which show us the difference between both ?

I've looked for a solution on Internet during 2hours, without success ...

Could you please help me ? :)

Thanks a lot in advance and have a nice day.
User avatar
Tracker Supp-Stefan
Site Admin
Posts: 17765
Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 8:07 am
Location: London
Contact:

Re: How to compare 2 PDF files

Post by Tracker Supp-Stefan »

Thanks Timur,

And we are working on our own comparison tool - which will be available soon (but not in build 327 unfortunately).

Regards,
Stefan
ITGSD
User
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri Sep 21, 2018 12:57 pm

Re: How to compare 2 PDF files

Post by ITGSD »

Thank you for your answers.
As i'm working for a company, I have to ask for the security if I can download the tools mentionned.

Thanks a lot, you can close the topic.
User avatar
Tracker Supp-Stefan
Site Admin
Posts: 17765
Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 8:07 am
Location: London
Contact:

Re: How to compare 2 PDF files

Post by Tracker Supp-Stefan »

Hello ITGSD,

Glad you find the ideas shared here useful!

Regards,
Stefan
daniel_lutz
User
Posts: 83
Joined: Fri Mar 07, 2014 9:46 am

Re: How to compare 2 PDF files

Post by daniel_lutz »

That sounds very interesting. Is there already a rough schedule with which release this should come? Because I would have already now several times a purpose for it.

Best regards
Daniel
Best regards
Daniel

PDF XChange pro
User avatar
TrackerSupp-Daniel
Site Admin
Posts: 8371
Joined: Wed Jan 03, 2018 6:52 pm

Re: How to compare 2 PDF files

Post by TrackerSupp-Daniel »

I am afraid that we still do not have a set timeline for this, so I cannot make a guarantees, we are hoping to see it "Soon" as Stefan said, but beyond that, cannot promise anything.
Dan McIntyre - Support Technician
Tracker Software Products (Canada) LTD

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Our Web site domain and email address has changed as of 26/10/2023.
https://www.pdf-xchange.com
Support@pdf-xchange.com
daniel_lutz
User
Posts: 83
Joined: Fri Mar 07, 2014 9:46 am

Re: How to compare 2 PDF files

Post by daniel_lutz »

any news of it?
Best regards
Daniel

PDF XChange pro
User avatar
Tracker Supp-Stefan
Site Admin
Posts: 17765
Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 8:07 am
Location: London
Contact:

Re: How to compare 2 PDF files

Post by Tracker Supp-Stefan »

Hello daniel_lutz,

We were focusing on the Accessibility features and allowing the creation of tagged PDFs for the release of V9, so I am afraid that the file comparison tool was left with a lower priority. It is still not available, but we should be able to get back to working on it soon!

Kind regards,
Stefan
dvg
User
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu May 20, 2021 2:00 pm

Re: How to compare 2 PDF files

Post by dvg »

since 2009 in proogress and still not working? :shock:

or is there any workaround???
User avatar
Paul - Tracker Supp
Site Admin
Posts: 6813
Joined: Wed Mar 25, 2009 10:37 pm
Location: Chemainus, Canada
Contact:

Re: How to compare 2 PDF files

Post by Paul - Tracker Supp »

Hi DVG,

I'm not sure it's been since 2009, though I suspect you may be able to correct me on that, perhaps that's when the discussion started?

I can say for sure it's been since at least 2018 that this has become a firm plan to deliver. Unfortunately it both turned out to be significantly more complex that at first thought and there have been other higher priority items.

We are a small team, probably a great deal smaller than our web presence suggests and sometimes we just have to put things on the back burner.

Having said that, it is now in progress, not just waiting it's turn, but is still several builds away.

respectfully

Paul
Best regards

Paul O'Rorke
Tracker Support North America
http://www.tracker-software.com
dvg
User
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu May 20, 2021 2:00 pm

Re: How to compare 2 PDF files

Post by dvg »

thanks Paul,

looking forward for the feature! :D
User avatar
TrackerSupp-Daniel
Site Admin
Posts: 8371
Joined: Wed Jan 03, 2018 6:52 pm

How to compare 2 PDF files

Post by TrackerSupp-Daniel »

:)
Dan McIntyre - Support Technician
Tracker Software Products (Canada) LTD

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Our Web site domain and email address has changed as of 26/10/2023.
https://www.pdf-xchange.com
Support@pdf-xchange.com
User avatar
KoLoLoLo
User
Posts: 67
Joined: Fri May 15, 2020 9:40 am

Re: How to compare 2 PDF files

Post by KoLoLoLo »

@dvg

I also asked for it here:

https://forum.pdf-xchange.com/viewtopic.php?t=34393

Unfortunately, we probably won't get this helpful function from what the author of the product writes.
User avatar
Tracker Supp-Stefan
Site Admin
Posts: 17765
Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 8:07 am
Location: London
Contact:

Re: How to compare 2 PDF files

Post by Tracker Supp-Stefan »

Hello KoLoLoLo and all,

We are working on our Comparison tool, but unfortunately I still do not have a specific date (or build) for which this is planned!
We are working on some other features at the moment, so it is not likely to be in build 355 (the next upcoming one), but I will see if we can raise the priority of this feature for a future one!

Kind regards,
Stefan
User avatar
Tracker Supp-Stefan
Site Admin
Posts: 17765
Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 8:07 am
Location: London
Contact:

Re: How to compare 2 PDF files

Post by Tracker Supp-Stefan »

Hello all,

There was a post from David King which we had to remove as it was advertising other products.

Kind regards,
Stefan
User avatar
KoLoLoLo
User
Posts: 67
Joined: Fri May 15, 2020 9:40 am

Re: How to compare 2 PDF files

Post by KoLoLoLo »

Hi Stefan,

Do you have any optimistic information regarding my needs?
User avatar
TrackerSupp-Daniel
Site Admin
Posts: 8371
Joined: Wed Jan 03, 2018 6:52 pm

Re: How to compare 2 PDF files

Post by TrackerSupp-Daniel »

Hello, KoLoLoLo

Yes in fact, we do have good news! The comparison tool should be coming either in the next release, sometime this October, or in the next one after that, depending on some internal factors.

Kind regards,
Dan McIntyre - Support Technician
Tracker Software Products (Canada) LTD

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Our Web site domain and email address has changed as of 26/10/2023.
https://www.pdf-xchange.com
Support@pdf-xchange.com
igorlima
User
Posts: 174
Joined: Sat Aug 22, 2020 12:16 pm

Re: How to compare 2 PDF files

Post by igorlima »

TrackerSupp-Daniel wrote: Wed Sep 29, 2021 12:04 am Hello, KoLoLoLo

Yes in fact, we do have good news! The comparison tool should be coming either in the next release, sometime this October, or in the next one after that, depending on some internal factors.

Kind regards,
I'm not KoLoLoLo, but I'm happy to read this! Thank you!
Igor
PDF-XChange Editor fan :)
User avatar
TrackerSupp-Daniel
Site Admin
Posts: 8371
Joined: Wed Jan 03, 2018 6:52 pm

How to compare 2 PDF files

Post by TrackerSupp-Daniel »

:)
Dan McIntyre - Support Technician
Tracker Software Products (Canada) LTD

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Our Web site domain and email address has changed as of 26/10/2023.
https://www.pdf-xchange.com
Support@pdf-xchange.com
llinfeng
User
Posts: 8
Joined: Tue Apr 21, 2020 12:21 am

Re: How to compare 2 PDF files

Post by llinfeng »

I am glad to find that this feature is a few days away. I am dealing with a good number of "conflicted" files produced by my Sony Digital Paper App, where both the reader device and such desktop app have both been discontinued by Sony. It was a headache to deal with PDF files that are differing only by handwritten annotations.

Anyways, while waiting for the release, I'd like to know what to expect:
1. How to jump from one difference to the next? All differences in my case are annotation differences (highlight, underline and other handwritten stuff stored in a layer by iteslf);
2. Can I send a page-down event to both documents in the comparison window? With the current release, although I can keep two files side by side, I cannot lock my scroll wheel to act on both of the documents. It is now a chore to page through two "almost identical" documents side-by-side.

Looking forward to the release.

All the best,

-Linfeng
User avatar
KoLoLoLo
User
Posts: 67
Joined: Fri May 15, 2020 9:40 am

Re: How to compare 2 PDF files

Post by KoLoLoLo »

@llinfeng

I think that what I am writing about here would also be very helpful in the comparison option, if the scales of the drawings were the same in both windows, it could also be easily compared.

https://forum.pdf-xchange.com/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=34430
User avatar
TrackerSupp-Daniel
Site Admin
Posts: 8371
Joined: Wed Jan 03, 2018 6:52 pm

Re: How to compare 2 PDF files

Post by TrackerSupp-Daniel »

Hello,

At the moment I still do not have my hands on the pre-release version of the next build, so I cannot confirm with 100% certainty that it will be this release just yet. Likewise, I an unable to offer input or confirmation of how the feature will work just yet. We will all need to wait and see what the Dev's have on hand for us.

Note that, as before, we are hoping to bring the feature in this next build (357) but it may not make that release, and could instead have to come in one of those following it (possibly 358 or even 359).

Kind regards,
Dan McIntyre - Support Technician
Tracker Software Products (Canada) LTD

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Our Web site domain and email address has changed as of 26/10/2023.
https://www.pdf-xchange.com
Support@pdf-xchange.com
llinfeng
User
Posts: 8
Joined: Tue Apr 21, 2020 12:21 am

Re: How to compare 2 PDF files

Post by llinfeng »

KoLoLoLo wrote: Wed Oct 06, 2021 4:20 pm @llinfeng

I think that what I am writing about here would also be very helpful in the comparison option, if the scales of the drawings were the same in both windows, it could also be easily compared.

https://forum.pdf-xchange.com/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=34430

@KoLoLoLo Thanks for the pointer. Indeed, syncing the scaling on both views should help as well.

We may now generalize the "ask" to be: hey, Devs, can there be two control modes? Like what we are having for now, one mode is to let the user control one view at a time. The new mode should sync all user input across two views? (On 21:9 monitors, one may fit more than two views and may be comparing v1 to v2 and v3 ... It then helps to sync all user inputs across all views in the active PDF-Xchange Editor window.)

In terms of the ideal functionalities of diff-tool, I think the native diff-tool for Vim rocks. Here is a list of desirable features:
1. For each line, highlight the difference with difference background colors (implemented through syntax highlighting);
2. Let there be a shortcut to jump to the next/previous diff;
3. Let there be two shortcuts to "obtain/put" the diff in the current view from/to the other view
4. Let there be a toggle for "scrollbind", where one can choose whether two "views" are moving together or not.
5. Although zoom-level is not relevant in vim, like @KoLoLoLo mentioned in another post, it helps to bind the zoom-level for two views in PDF-Xchange editor.

----

And, @Daniel, it helps to have an update here. I am looking forward to the diff-tool for future releases.
User avatar
Paul - Tracker Supp
Site Admin
Posts: 6813
Joined: Wed Mar 25, 2009 10:37 pm
Location: Chemainus, Canada
Contact:

Re: How to compare 2 PDF files

Post by Paul - Tracker Supp »

Thanks for the input all of you! It really is appreciated!

The team will consider all this as they build the feature. I have passed on this thread for them to read, they will take it all into consideration.

please and thanks.
Best regards

Paul O'Rorke
Tracker Support North America
http://www.tracker-software.com
User avatar
KoLoLoLo
User
Posts: 67
Joined: Fri May 15, 2020 9:40 am

Re: How to compare 2 PDF files

Post by KoLoLoLo »

Congratulations on releasing Build 9.2.359.

I am afraid that the function we are writing about and which many users are waiting for is still delayed in time.

Can you please reassure me in my thinking and give me some specific time frame for creating this usability?

Will it be in a week / month / year?
User avatar
Tracker Supp-Stefan
Site Admin
Posts: 17765
Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 8:07 am
Location: London
Contact:

Re: How to compare 2 PDF files

Post by Tracker Supp-Stefan »

Hello KoLoLoLo,

Build 359 was mainly focused on fixing some bugs, and indeed the file comparison feature was not included in it. What I have as the latest news from our dev team is that we will try to have it included in the next features introducing build.

Kind regards,
Stefan
User avatar
KoLoLoLo
User
Posts: 67
Joined: Fri May 15, 2020 9:40 am

Re: How to compare 2 PDF files

Post by KoLoLoLo »

Nice to hear that.
KoLoLoLo wrote: Wed Nov 24, 2021 12:15 pm Will it be in a week / month / year?
???
User avatar
Tracker Supp-Stefan
Site Admin
Posts: 17765
Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 8:07 am
Location: London
Contact:

Re: How to compare 2 PDF files

Post by Tracker Supp-Stefan »

Hello KoLoLoLo,

I do not have a date for you yet - sorry!
As soon as such information is available - we will post it here!

Kind regards,
Stefan
User avatar
KoLoLoLo
User
Posts: 67
Joined: Fri May 15, 2020 9:40 am

Re: How to compare 2 PDF files

Post by KoLoLoLo »

Hi Stefan,

Let me refresh the query a bit.

Is there any work progress?

Recently, I had several dozen pages to compare, which was a nightmare for me.
I obtained the results of the comparison as described in this thread, unfortunately it did not give much:

https://forum.pdf-xchange.com/viewtopic.php?t=38804
User avatar
Tracker Supp-Stefan
Site Admin
Posts: 17765
Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 8:07 am
Location: London
Contact:

Re: How to compare 2 PDF files

Post by Tracker Supp-Stefan »

Hello KoLoLoLo,

Yes - build 361 does include a comparison tool. It's quite an early version so there would be further improvements in future builds, but you can give it a try right now.

Kind regards,
Stefan
User avatar
KoLoLoLo
User
Posts: 67
Joined: Fri May 15, 2020 9:40 am

Re: How to compare 2 PDF files

Post by KoLoLoLo »

Stefan,

I have 361 builds and that's what I meant.
User avatar
TrackerSupp-Daniel
Site Admin
Posts: 8371
Joined: Wed Jan 03, 2018 6:52 pm

Re: How to compare 2 PDF files

Post by TrackerSupp-Daniel »

Hello, KoLoLoLo

At the moment I cannot speak much to the progress of this, We are planning a new release in the coming weeks, and i expect some improvements will be available with that, but I have not heard any groundbreaking news about the comparison tool. I expect that at most, it will result in less "false positives" (for lack of a better term), in its detection of base content text.

For the moment, Comments, images, and other content items are not yet part of the comparison process, but they are in the pipeline.

Kind regards,
Dan McIntyre - Support Technician
Tracker Software Products (Canada) LTD

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Our Web site domain and email address has changed as of 26/10/2023.
https://www.pdf-xchange.com
Support@pdf-xchange.com
Post Reply