How to compare two files with Notepad

If you are a computer programmer or an average computer user, you have probably needed to compare two files at some point. The best course of action is not to manually skim through the files to identify differences. Doing so will only be a waste of time that could be better spent elsewhere. Or worse yet, you could risk missing any significant differences that may occur between the two files.

But do not worry. This article delves into the details of comparing two files using your preferred text editor, Notepad++. We’ll show you how to compare two files with and without a plugin, as well as how to differentiate two files in case you’re working with a version control system. Let’s pe right in.

How to compare two files with Notepad++

There are many reasons why you would want to compare two different versions of a file. For example, if you are copying a file from one folder to another, you may experience packet loss and data corruption along the way. To make sure your file is truly similar to its original version, you need to do some comparison.

Notepad++ is a good tool for comparing files. Unfortunately, the functionality is not built into the software. For that reason, you will need to install the Compare plugin for the process to produce meaningful results. As the name says, the Compare plugin allows you to compare two files by highlighting the visual differences that occur between them. Differences are highlighted through the use of different colors and icons. For example, red means a line was skipped, green means a line was added, and orange means the line was modified.

With the plugin, you can compare multiple iterations of files stored on your local machine. To set the bar even higher, the plugin allows you to compare files stored in online repositories, namely Git and SVN. Whatever your needs, Notepad++’s Compare plugin has you covered.

How to compare two files in Notepad++ side by side

To compare two files in Notepad++ side by side, follow these steps.

1. On your computer, open the Notepad++ application.
   
2. Go to “Plugins” and select “Plugin Manager”. If you miss the “Plugin Manager…” option, navigate to “?” then select “About Notepad++” and verify that you are running the current version.
   
3. In “Plugin Manager” mode, find the plugin called “Compare” and select it in the results.
   
4. In the upper right corner of the screen, press the “Install” button.
   
5. Follow the instructions provided in the installation wizard to finish setting up the plugin.
   
6. Drag and drop the two files you want to compare into your Notepad++ editor and make sure they are next to each other.
   
7. In the top menu, navigate to “Plugins” and expand the “Compare” menu.
   
8. From the options, select “Compare.” Alternatively, you can press “Ctrl + Alt + C”.
   
9. Instead of manually scrolling through the file to identify highlighted differences, use the “Compare Navigation” icon, especially for large files.
   

If you’re into customization and like to tweak things a little, you’re in luck. The Compare plugin allows you to adjust settings, giving you a personalized experience from within the app. Here’s how to customize the Compare plugin settings.

1. Go to “Plugins” and open the “Compare” menu.
   
2. From the options, select “Settings”.
   
3. Choose all the custom presets for your files and press the “Reset” button.
   

Once you’re done comparing your files, go to “Compare” and select the “Clear all comparisons” option. This should return your files to normal and remove all highlights.

How to differentiate two files with Notepad++

If you are a developer and want to differentiate two files using Notepad++, you will need to have the Compare plugin installed. The plugin allows you to differentiate two files that are stored in a local repository. Currently, the Compare plugin only supports two versioning systems, Git and SVN.

Here’s how to diff Git files using Notepad++.

1. Launch Notepad++.
   
2. Open the Git repository that contains your code.
3. Go to “Plugins” and expand the “Compare” menu.
   
4. From the options, select “Git Diff”.
   

With the Git Diff option selected, you should see the differences between the current file and the file you have stored in the Git repository.

How to differentiate two SVN files using Notepad++.

1. Open Notepad++.
   
2. Open the SVN repository file you want to diff.
3. Go to “Plugins” and expand the “Compare” menu.
   
4. From the options, select “SVN Diff”.
   

How to compare two files in Notepad++ without a plugin

Don’t want to go through the process of installing a third-party plugin? Well, here’s how to compare two files in Notepad++ without a plugin.

1. Open Notepad++.
   
2. Drag and drop the two files you want to compare into the editor.
   
3. With both files open, right-click on the file tab and select “Move to another view.”
   
4. Your files should now be next to each other and you should be able to compare them.
   

The disadvantage of the above method is that it is difficult to compare two large files. If you skim through the files manually, you will surely miss some critical details.

Frequently asked questions

Are Git and SVN the same?

Git and SVN are version control systems, but they are not the same platform (think Facebook and Instagram; they are both social networks, but they are not exactly the same platform). While Git is decentralized, SVN is practically a centralized versioning system.

Get rid of the old way of browsing files

Files are an essential part of our workflows and knowing the difference between two file versions doesn’t have to be a hassle. Notepad++ includes the Compare plugin, which makes the process much easier. The plugin has Git Diff and SVN Diff, making it easy for programmers to differentiate files stored in online repositories and databases. Regardless of your needs, we hope you can now compare files through the Notepad++ text editor.

Have you tried using a command or code script to compare two files with Notepad++? Let us know in the comments section below.