Is there a way to Diff between two compressed finalbuilder projects. What I am looking for is similar to Araxis Merge where I can compare side by side the action groups and variables that are used. This way if I add a Global Variable to one projects I can then diff it to the compared projects.
Dennis - there’s no way to compare the binary FinalBuilder formatted files, but you should be able to compare the xml based file format in your favorite comparison tool. (and, the binary format is simply a standard zipped version of the xml format).
hth.
Tate,
Thanks So the uncompressed format is really a XML format? Which when uncompressed is 10X the size of the compressed format as I see?
Just thinking it would be nice to have a Tool to compare between any variant of the the finalbuilder projects. I know with our MSI there is A MSI diffing tool to compare a base project to the targeted project to see what are the differences between them. This makes it simpler to update the projects if there is a global change that we have to do.
I understand it is easy to compare between in xml formated version but I was really looking to see if you all have a tool that can be used to compare ANY project format! Especially on variables between projects.
Our work around right now is to open each projects, which will takes times since I am now nearing the 100 project mark. Save as uncompressed, then compare this way. And always work in the uncompressed format. It would be nice to have an Export to XML format instead of this so then we can use that XML format to parse changes into the other projects!
OR
The other way is unzip each compress file to a directory named as the project and compare that way and then compress them back into the orginal package when done! A lot of work on the outside to make it work.
Right now we do a lot of copying and pasting between the Action list. And validating all variables between the packages. In anyway there are no automatic ways to inject property/Variable changes into a package as well as action lists!
Dennis
a FB project diffing tool is on our wish list - but not on the horizon yet.
As for swapping between formats, you can do a save as in the file menu for this. Obviously, if you don’t mind the space consumed by the uncompressed versions, then you can always use the uncompressed format. There is also a setting in Options to change the default format between compressed and uncompressed.
.t8
Tate,
Thanks Let me know when you get one and I will gladly test it out for ya! I know that it would be a great benefit and useful tool when comparing projects! I like the format from within the GUI and with Two monitors it is a little time comsuming to compare but going between packages let say via the Action list the Copy and Paste across works wonders, but I am now doing cosmetic tweaks that could affect a projects that I am building so the finest detail has to be reviewed! Uncompress will be a benefit for a template format where I can pull down make changes to our template. But I am also looking at finished project Comparison where I can generate a report to our staff on the difference between project that are within our build process. It could as simple as a Version # change or a complete change for a different projects with similar component structures!
Again thanks and look forward to what is on the wish list for the future!
Dennis
If you’re frequently working on sets of projects that are very similar, maybe you could consider combining them into one and using variables and control flow logic to handle the small differences?
Just a suggestion: diffing is still useful 
Steve
Steve,
Thanks, yes they might be similar but they are different. What I have is probably 9 actionlist with each projects
Out of the action list We have in the Main Property sets and Variables that get define. Some of these are then used depending of other actions are called.
These I am not to concerned about yet but there are some Standard action list that are used between projects that seem never to change. Yes I could call a standard finalbuilder project from within this project which the second project could house all the stuff and used globally, but they have elected to make each project stand independently. and self contained.
What I am seeing is when we modify one of the global action list in one we want to push the changes to the other projects as we update them. Most of the time some things might be changing/adding/deleting new variables within the project as well as what I have been doing is within the action list deleting the entire action list content and pasting in from the updating project.
As I mentioned above, I may drive to move the said action list content into it's own project and share it globally, which I have done before, but I think this might be a little more risky then containing within a project.
I would love review your recommendation and see if this does work. I know that between my projects there are functionality difference and some do not perform actions that others do.
Another example is to review this is looking at say in an earlier project you incorporated a change and you want to go back review that change compared to your lated project. This is useful as things are added and or deleted. Especially with a GUI tool that is designed to do the compare in the native format.
Comparing these projects using a standard XML diff tool is unreasonable and painful. We’re not editing an XML file, we’re editing an FB project. Please consider including a higher-level diff utility with FB.