Which is the best way of comparing large Excel sheets?

[ionut]

Hello,

I would like to compare 2 Excel csv files (the first sheet of both) and come up with the best solution which can be applied to large csv files as well(more than 65535 rows and 100 columns). Reading the help file and the forum's posts I have seen 2 methods of spotting the difference between the file:

1. move all the values from the .csv to arrays and compare the arrays; I am afraid this solution is time and CPU expensive

2. use string instead of arrays - seems a more rapid choise

Are there any elegant solutions? I would like a sort of function able to return 1 in case the Excel file are identical or a report with the differences in case the files are not identical.

Thank you,

Ionut

[Juvigy]

I think comparing the filesize and the file check sum would be better solution.

[water]

I would do it the way Juvigy suggests:

First compare the files: Size, creation date/time, last changed date/time, checksum

Then compare the content: To compare two text files and return the delta there are many tools out there like WinDiff, WinMergeetc. that do it fast and efficient

I use WinMerge in several of my AutoIt scripts and it works just fine.

Edited July 6, 2010 by water