Configuring a file-comparison utility

Before you use FormSync, you must configure a file-comparison utility. This utility is required to synchronize customizations and to compare objects.

You can configure various third-party file-comparison utilities to work with FormSync, including these:

  • KDiff3, an open source file comparison and merge utility that allows three-way comparisons, which can be helpful when working with FormSync files and databases.

    This is the recommended utility and the one used for FormSync documentation. Other utilities might be different from or similar to the procedure descriptions provided here. Where there are differences, consult the documentation for your file-comparison utility.

  • WinDiff, available from Microsoft with the Platform SDK.
  • BeyondCompare, from Scooter Software.
  • WinMerge, an open source file-comparison tool. This utility is somewhat deprecated, because we find it complicated and difficult to use.

To configure a file-comparison utility, use this procedure:

  1. Install the file-comparison utility of your choice.
  2. Verify that you have at least two configurations to select from for the Source and Target databases.
  3. From the FormSync Tools menu, select Configure Comparison Utility.
  4. In the Name field of the File Comparison Utilities dialog box, enter the name of your file-comparison utility.
  5. In the Exe File field, perform one of these actions:
    • Enter the path and file name of the executable file for the file-comparison utility.
    • Click in the field, click the ellipsis (•••) button, and then select the executable file for your file-comparison utility.
  6. To set the utility as the default, select the Default check box, and then click Set.