How to compare files in notepad

The steps to use Notepad to compare files include: Open multiple instances of Notepad. Load the files to compare. Place windows side by side. Use the Compare tool (available in Windows 10 and 11). Manually compare text differences. Find differences using find and replace. Document the discrepancy for further review.

Steps to compare files in Notepad

Notepad is a simple text editor built into the Windows operating system. Although it has limited functionality, it can still be used to compare two text files.

Steps:

1. Open multiple instances of Notepad: In the Windows taskbar, right-click the Notepad icon and select New Window" to open a new Notepad instance. Repeat this operation to create a second instance.
2. Load the files you want to compare: In each Notepad instance, browse and select the text file you want to compare by clicking the File > Open menu option.
3. And place them side by side: Place Notepad windows side by side so that you can view both files at the same time.
4. Use the Compare tool (Windows 10 and 11 only): For Windows 10 and 11 users, there is a built-in Compare tool that automatically highlights differences in files . Click File >Compare to use this tool.
5. Manual comparison: If there is no "Compare" tool, you need to compare files manually. Carefully look through both files line by line and look for any differences, whether it's the text itself, the number of lines, or spaces.
6. Using Find and Replace: You can use Notepad's Find and Replace feature to find differences by clicking Edit >Find. Enter the text or pattern you want to find in Find what and click Find Next to locate the differences in the files.
7. Record Differences: Once you find differences, you can record them by highlighting them or writing them down. To avoid confusion, it's best to comment the differences in each file in its own Notepad instance.

By following these steps, you can use Notepad to efficiently compare two text files. Note that Notepad only performs text comparisons, not formatting or other factors.

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