Compare Dirs inc. Dir Contents
Posted: 2004-06-20, 01:50 UTC
There have been numerous problems and as a result requests for the lack of TC’s “Compare Directories” feature to also take into consideration directories and not just files.
I workaround that has been suggested by many users is to use the Synchronization feature instead, which is not always that flexible for simple comparisons.
Since speed is always Christian’s true love, my suggested best approach is the introduction of a second internal command (a “Compare Dirs inc. Dir Contents” feature if you like), which will also compare directory contents. Of course this should also apply in listings that do not contain any files but just directories.
A simple and fast alternative (or extension to the above if you like), that raises though some logical problems, is to apply the dir comparison of dirs just in the name level by marking them, for example, with a different colour coding. In this way dir contents will be excluded (as it currently is the case) but at least you’ll get a fast name matching of dirs (useful in lists that contain many directories).
As a future enhancement, the latter “name-level-of-comparison” feature could be applied by a third internal command. In this case the three commands will be:
1. A valid comparison of the two opposing panels without dirs into consideration (current TC behaviour). Reaction speed: FAST
2. A valid comparison of the two opposing panels including dirs and their contents. Not yet implemented. Reaction speed: SLOW
3. A name-level of comparison (falsely valid) over dirs with different colour coding indication (an indication actually of its false state). Not yet implemented. Reaction speed: FAST
Case 2 also introduces a logical problem: Will two dirs with same contents but different names be counted as equal or not?! That is of course when the comparison is performed outside of the dir contents. Should this minor difference be indicated somehow to the user or purely and strictly be counted as not-equal?
I workaround that has been suggested by many users is to use the Synchronization feature instead, which is not always that flexible for simple comparisons.
Since speed is always Christian’s true love, my suggested best approach is the introduction of a second internal command (a “Compare Dirs inc. Dir Contents” feature if you like), which will also compare directory contents. Of course this should also apply in listings that do not contain any files but just directories.
A simple and fast alternative (or extension to the above if you like), that raises though some logical problems, is to apply the dir comparison of dirs just in the name level by marking them, for example, with a different colour coding. In this way dir contents will be excluded (as it currently is the case) but at least you’ll get a fast name matching of dirs (useful in lists that contain many directories).
As a future enhancement, the latter “name-level-of-comparison” feature could be applied by a third internal command. In this case the three commands will be:
1. A valid comparison of the two opposing panels without dirs into consideration (current TC behaviour). Reaction speed: FAST
2. A valid comparison of the two opposing panels including dirs and their contents. Not yet implemented. Reaction speed: SLOW
3. A name-level of comparison (falsely valid) over dirs with different colour coding indication (an indication actually of its false state). Not yet implemented. Reaction speed: FAST
Case 2 also introduces a logical problem: Will two dirs with same contents but different names be counted as equal or not?! That is of course when the comparison is performed outside of the dir contents. Should this minor difference be indicated somehow to the user or purely and strictly be counted as not-equal?
) the compare of subdirectorys.