Ignoring date column in beyond compare file comparison

Question

I'm using BeyondCompare3 i've two files with lines containing with this kind of format.

abc,bbbb,cdef,test,14:45:23.123,info,comment

I want to omit the date from the comparison.

I've selected Session > Session Settings > Importance Tab > Edit Grammar button and created a new rule.

After entering an Element name, I've selected Category of Basic, checked Regular Expression and searching for Text. [0-9]{1,2}:[0-9]{1,2}:[0-9]{1,2}.[0-9]{1,3}. I've also tried /[0-9]{1,2}:[0-9]{1,2}:[0-9]{1,2}.[0-9]{1,3}/.

I then click 'ignore unimportant differences' on the tool bar.

I was hoping this would ignore the date column in the comparison. But it doesn't.

Any pointers on this or other tools/scripts would be very much appreciated.

John.

Yorke

Answer 1

In Beyond Compare 4.1.9, you can ignore Modified Date by unchecking "Compare timestamps" in tab "Comparison" of the "Rules" window.

Chelyuskin

1) You can search 'timestamp' in the help, but 2) speaking of BC v.4.4.3, inside a comparison window (session), click Filters, then go to tab 'Comparison' and uncheck the 'Compare timestamp' (or define your settings as needed there). – Gael

Answer 2

You can also add a regular expression to define text to be ignored (Unimportant text) in the Rules section like so:

https://www.scootersoftware.com/vbulletin/forum/beyond-compare-2-discussion/beyond-help/2292-set-to-ignore-date-and-timestamp-difference

Vietcong

hmm, the curly braces seem to be either undocumented or are only valid with newer versions. (have not tested it now) – Cardiograph

Answer 3

In a 'Table Compare' session, comparing both files do the following:

• Select rules, tab columns;

• Edit the date column;

• Check the unimportant checkbox;

• Enable minor (to ignore minor and unimportant differences);

A date tolerance is also an option, but that is not your question.

Eohippus