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Compare

Applies
to X9Vision?		Applies
to X9Validator?		Applies
to X9Assist?		| |Applies
to X9.37?		Applies
to ACH?		Applies
to CPA005?
NoNoYes| |YesYesYes
Compare

Compare is used to compare record and image data across two x9 files, subject to possible field exclusions. The currently loaded file is compared against a secondary file which is user selected. This is an excellent regression testing tool since it confirms that a modified file is logically equal to an original file, which could be the current file before modifications or a previously verified file which contains expected results.

Compare requires that the items within the file be structured in the same logical order to allow the matching process to remain aligned within the two files. Positioning is internally maintained by record type and then additionally on item amount and item sequence number. There are no other assumptions or requirements for the matching process. Any missing or inserted items will be reported and optionally listed.

The compare process reports on field level difference by field name when there are individual records that are aligned by the matching process. This makes it easier to identify the actual differences between two records that have been matched. The compare process also reports on records determined to be inserted on one side or the other of the matching process. These records are present on file one but are not present on file two.

Reviewing Differences

The compare process is invoked as follows:

  • Use the ‘select’ button to select the secondary file to be used for the compare. Once a file is selected, it will be located and summary information will be provided which helps you determine if you want to continue with the compare.
  • After statistics are confirmed, then use the ‘compare’ button to initiate the actual file compare process. Differences will be displayed as identified. The progress bar will be updated as the compare continues. A text file will be written to the TEMP folder and can be used (as needed) when you require a log of the identified differences. Once the compare has been completed, the “differences’ button can be used to obtain a summary of all fields across all record types which were determined to be different.
  • The “launch’ button can be used to invoke a more detailed file comparison (at the record level) when a compare tool is available for your environment. This process can be very informative since it provides a better visual comparison of the differences between the two files.
  • This comparison includes image lengths but not the actual image data. The compare tool itself is pluggable and can be modified based on your specific requirements.
  • Use the ‘reset’ button to reset and allow the currently loaded file to be compared to another secondary file.

Excluding Fields

The default is to compare all fields within all record types. There are times when that is not appropriate. For example, you may have modified an application that creates files and you know that as a result of that change you are expecting a certain field to have different contents. In this situation, it is very helpful to explicitly exclude that one field from the comparison so you can then easily determine that all other fields within the file are equal as expected. This exclusion is accomplished by using the selection panel on the right. One or more fields can be excluded from the compare process. You should indicate the fields to be excluded before you select the secondary file to be compared.

Sequence Used for Comparison

Resequencing can be used to change the order that items will be compared. This parameter can be selected as physical, item, or transaction. Physical sequencing retains the original order of the input file. Item sequencing reorders the items such that they can be compared, regardless of their order within the input file. Transaction ordering is similar but more complex, where the file is considered to be a series of deposits (transactions), which will be restructured and reordered for the comparison. Item and transaction resequencing should be used only when the files that are being compared have gone through processes or manipulations such that their order is expected to be different. Transaction sequencing accepts either credits first or credits last, but obviously must be consistent throughout the file. Item and transaction sequencing will compare file and cash letter header and trailers, but will purposefully never compare batch header/trailers, given that the items have been rearranged.

Implementing an External Compare Tool

The file compare process can be further enhanced by adding an external compare tool. This compare can then be launched after the file compare has been completed and allows you to do further analysis of any differences which may exist. This is an optional process to add value to your environment. This is a text-to-text comparison of two text files which are created during the compare process. Launch of the external compare tool allows you to visually explore the differences between the two files that have been compared. This is possible due to the powerful string matching capabilities of the text compare tools that are available in the industry today.

X9Assist is not hard-wired to a specific external comparison tool. You can implement the preferred external comparison tool of your choice through the “comparex9.bat” batch script. This single batch script is used to both identify and launch the comparison tool. This batch script allows the compare tool to be generic and external to our comparison process.

Our distribution by default supports the following external compare tools:

  • WinMerge: a freeware Windows alternative.
  • Meld: a freeware alternative which is available for Windows and Linux.
  • UltraCompare: a powerful file edit / compare tool and an industry leader which is installed by many organizations on a world wide basis.

Batch file “comparex9.bat” is located in the program launch folder. A parameter of “-isDefined” is initially invoked to determine if the compare tool exists. This pre-launch must return an exit code of 10 when the compare tool exists. The compare is then launched using this same batch file, using two parameters which represent the two files to be compared. The comparex9.bat file can be modified to invoke the preferred tool for your environment.

WinMerge Usage

The following options should be set to maximize your usage.

  • View from the menu bar
    • Enable line differences
    • Enable line numbers
    • Enable margins
  • Options (wrench) from the tool bar
    • General – enable ignore case
    • Editor – enable view line differences at character level

Meld Usage

The “up arrow” and “down arrow” on the tool bar can be used to skip to each identified difference within the compare.

UltraCompare Usage

The “up arrow” and “down arrow” on the tool bar can be used to skip to each identified difference within the compare.

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