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Have your say! Join the MAKEMSI discussion list or view archive! Suggest improvements. No question too simple or too complex.
\->Tips and Tricks->Tools->WinMerge.EXE

WinMerge.EXE

This is a free program which you can get from You can download it from "http://winmerge.org/". Although this tool can compare directories I mainly use it to compare text files.

If you can get your information into a text file then it can be compared. Simply commands can export databases, registry, Active Directory, directory listings and more. The following is comparing output from the "IisDumpMetaBase.VBS" tool:

Trick 1 - Poor Man's Directory Tree comparison

Perform a directory command sorting to make the output "reproducible", for example:

dir /od /s > Before.TXT

Note that WinMerge can compare directories so the above is mainly useful if its hard to access the files of one or both directories.

Trick 2 - Poor Man's Registry Comparison

Use regedit.exe (there are many other alternative tools) to export the required registry in a text format (such as "REGEDIT4").


Microsoft awarded me an MVP (Most Valuable Professional award) in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 & 2009 for the Windows SDK (Windows Installer) area.Please email me any feedback, additional information or corrections.
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Microsoft awarded me an MVP (Most Valuable Professional award) in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 & 2009 for the Windows SDK (Windows Installer) area.