Viewing Differences in Backup Files

You can view any differences between an older backup file and the newer file in the project. Color coding makes it easy to see where differences occur. You can also switch between the tag view and WYSIWYG view, as well as ignore the case and whitespace. You can view differences for XML-based files, such as .htm topic files.

How to View Differences in Backup Files

  1. Select View > Backups.

    The Backups window pane opens.

  2. Select the file whose differences you want to see.
  3. In the local toolbar of the Backups window pane, click Differences. The Differences Editor opens to the right, showing content from the backup file on the left and the current version of the file on the right.

    Example The following images show how a particular file might look when you view its backup differences.

    The Backups window pane focusing on the Differences button for file comparison.

    The Differences Editor showing a backup file and an identical current file.

    The Differences Editor showing the backup and current files have changes between them.

  4. In the local toolbar of the Differences Editor, you can click any of the following to make adjustments.
    • Options Click this to open the File Differences dialog, which lets you change the colors used to display content differences between the files. See Setting Color Options for Backup Differences.
    • Show WYSIWYG Click this to switch from tag view to WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) view.

      The Differences Editor displayed in WYSIWYG format rather than with tags.

    • Ignore Case Click this to ignore changes in case when viewing differences. This option can be used in "text view" only; it is not available in WYSIWYG view.

      Example If a word is not capitalized in the backup file but it is capitalized in the current file, this option does not highlight those differences.

      The Differences Editor not set to ignore case in lettering, and highlights any inconsistencies.

      The Differences Editor set to ignor case in lettering.

    • Ignore Whitespace Click this to ignore whitespace when viewing differences.

      Example A paragraph is identical in both files, except for an extra space that was added within the paragraph in one of those files. If you click this option, that difference is not highlighted.

      The Differences Editor is not set to ignore whitespace, and highlights odd spacing.

      The Differences Editor set to ignore whitespace.