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Script to compare 2 files and prints difference as output sidebyside

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# 1  
Old 01-12-2013
Script to compare 2 files and prints difference as output sidebyside
Hi All,

Am trying script to compare 2 files and print the difference found from old file to new file on line by line basis on side by side display.

Basically line by line comparision and files may contain blank line as well

I know we have compare/diff commands but i don't how to make them display the results side by side.

for ex : OLD_FILE content will be
Code:
netip :01.99.22.10
username :herty
component : sds mgm tth
 
link file : 
symbol : £$ %$

NEW FILE content will be
Code:
netip:11.88.23.11
username : mmerty
 
link file : gge
symbol : £$ %$

After running the script : ./scriptname OLD_FILE NEW FILE

Output should display like this :
Code:
line 1 is different :
OLD_FILE : netip :01.99.22.10      NEW FILE : netip:11.88.23.11
 
line 2 is diiferent : 
OLD_FILE : username :herty        NEW FILE : username : mmerty
 
line 3 is different :
OLD_FILE : component : sds mgm tth  NEW FILE  : 
 
line 4 is different :
OLD_FILE : link file :      NEW FILE : link file : gge

# 2  
Old 01-12-2013
man diff:
Quote:
-y, --side-by-side
output in two columns
Code:
$ diff -y file1 file2
netip :01.99.22.10                          |    netip:11.88.23.11
username :herty                             |    username : mmerty
component : sds mgm tth                     <
link file :                                 |    link file : gge

You may consider using the --suppress-common-lines option as well.
# 3  
Old 01-12-2013
Using diff command is the best option here. But if you want an o/p as per your requirement, then here is another approach:
Code:
c=0
paste -d"@" OLD_FILE NEW_FILE | while IFS=@ read o_line n_line
do
        c=$(( c + 1 ))
        if [ "$o_line" != "$n_line" ]
        then
                echo "Line $c is different:"
                echo "OLD_FILE: $o_line NEW_FILE: $n_line\n"
        fi
done

Last edited by Yoda; 01-12-2013 at 04:11 PM.. Reason: Changed the field separator
# 4  
Old 01-12-2013
@bipinajith: won't work. It doesn't sync back in once there's one or more lines too many in either file. In this case, the component line shifts the entire OLD_FILE one down, never to come back in sync.
diff (magically?) does...
# 5  
Old 01-12-2013
Quote:
Originally Posted by RudiC
@bipinajith: won't work. It doesn't sync back in once there's one or more lines too many in either file. In this case, the component line shifts the entire OLD_FILE one down, never to come back in sync.
I don't think this statement is correct. Below is contents of 2 files and paste o/p side-by-side:
Code:
OLD_FILE                 NEW_FILE             paste O/P
------------------------ -------------------  ------------------------------------
netip :01.99.22.10       netip:11.88.23.11    netip :01.99.22.10@netip:11.88.23.11
username :herty          username : mmerty    username :herty@username : mmerty
component : sds mgm tth                       component : sds mgm tth@
                         link file : gge       @link file : gge
link file :              symbol : #$ %$       link file : @symbol : #$ %$
symbol : #$ %$                                symbol : #$ %$@

BTW I have changed the field separator to @ because the file content has #
# 6  
Old 01-12-2013
Well, that's a matter of opinion. Result of your code working on requestor's files:
Code:
Line 1 is different:
OLD_FILE: netip :01.99.22.10 NEW_FILE: netip:11.88.23.11
Line 2 is different:
OLD_FILE: username :herty NEW_FILE: username : mmerty
Line 3 is different:
OLD_FILE: component : sds mgm tth NEW_FILE:  
Line 4 is different:
OLD_FILE:   NEW_FILE: link file : gge
Line 5 is different:
OLD_FILE: link file :  NEW_FILE: symbol : £$ %$
Line 6 is different:
OLD_FILE: symbol : £$ %$ NEW_FILE:

You are right when you say line 5 etc. is different, but old line 6 equals new line 5, so a resync should take place (as does diff). Else long files will be entirely different should line 1 be lost... The requestor's sample output vaguely alludes he/she wants resync.

Anyhow, I regretfully apologize for the harsh wording.
Last edited by RudiC; 01-12-2013 at 04:32 PM..
# 7  
Old 01-12-2013
You're absolutely correct about using diff command. I mentioned it already in Post #3 that using diff command is the best option here.

I was just suggesting a different approach as per requester's requirement.
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