opencompareUser manual
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Overview

Getting started

This manual describes the comparison tools currently available on opencompare.app. Content, original file bytes and metadata are separate checks. Choose a file type to learn what is read, how items are aligned and what the result means.

  1. Open or drop a file on each side. File signatures and package contents determine the comparison type. Each side previews independently; compatible sources compare automatically after imports or changes.
  2. For text, paste directly into either numbered pane. The pencil controls whether editing is allowed. It does not start or stop automatic comparison.
  3. Adjust rules when the default comparison does not match your task. Keep a downloaded copy of work you need to retain.

File comparisons

JPG and PNG can be compared as images. Word, PDF and text files can share an extracted-text comparison. PDF and image files use separate comparison modes.

Reading results

No important differences means agreement within the selected mode and rules. It does not establish identical file bytes, identical appearance or identical metadata. Check the relevant modes separately.

Important changes
Red marks changes considered important by the active rules. Text insertions and deletions also use the important-change color.
Minor changes
Blue retains changes treated as minor, such as ignored whitespace or differences within a tolerance. It does not mean the original data is identical.
Only on one side
Purple identifies content present on only one side where the comparison uses that category, such as an unmatched file or audio segment.
Not checked
Unchecked means the current mode or source cannot establish equality. Missing formula caches and unsupported content must not be read as equal.

Privacy and sessions

Files, extracted text, edits and results remain in the current tab’s memory. File contents are processed in the browser, without an account or upload. Refreshing, closing the tab or browser memory cleanup loses the session. Download work before leaving; the stored language preference does not save documents.