EXcompCEL

EXcompCEL is a Application that compares Spread Sheet Files (XLS, XLSX and ODS).

To create this Application was triggered by Web requests on my Blog Post
Struebi Online - Compare Excel Sheets
where i refer to the Open Source Excel Add-In Spreadsheet Compare.

But i wanted to have a Tool with the functionality of Spreadsheet Compare,
but without having MS Excel or Open Office installed and not implemented with VBA.
It is a Java Swing Application. It has been tested under Windows and Ubuntu Linux with Java SE.

Regards,

Detlev Struebig

License and Notice

I put this Project under Public Domain

The Application uses Apache License Version 2.0 licensed LIBs

Web Links

• EXcompCEL Homepage
• Download Latest Version
• EXcompCEL project summary page
• Open Discussion
• Struebi Online.de

Feature List

• Compare MS Excel (.XLS and .XLSX) Spread Sheets and Open Office (.ODS) Spreadsheets.
• Drag and Drop for Files and Folders.
• Create a new File as comparison Result or add Report Spreadsheets to reference File.
• It runs on Java JRE and has been tested on Windows and Linux.
• Only need an installed Java SE Runtime Environment (JRE) ( >= 1.6).
• Don't need to have MS Excel or Open Office installed to compare Spread sheet files.

Install and Start

• Download latest Version
• Extract the ZIP File.
  • EXcompCEL.jar
  • log4j.properties
  • lib/commons-logging-1.1.1.jar
  • lib/commons-lang-2.4.jar
  • lib/commons-cli-1.2.jar
  • lib/commons-codec-1.4.jar
  • lib/poi-3.7.jar
  • lib/poi-ooxml-3.7.jar
  • lib/poi-ooxml-schemas-3.7.jar
  • lib/log4j-1.2.15.jar
  • lib/filedrop.jar
  • lib/binding-2_0_6.jar
  • lib/forms-1_3_0.jar
  • lib/validation-2_1_0.jar
  • lib/odfdom.jar
  • lib/xercesImpl.jar
  • lib/dom4j-1.6.1.jar
  • lib/geronimo-stax-api_1.0_spec-1.0.jar
  • lib/xmlbeans-2.3.0.jar
  • lib/xml-apis.jar
  • lib/serializer.jar
  • lib/resolver.jar
• Start Application via
  1. Double Click the File
     EXcompCEL.jar
  2. From Console Prompt with
     java -jar EXcompCEL.jar

Start via Java Web Start

The current Version

If you have downloaded it before, you can check, which Version is currently installed on your System,
by using the Java Webstart Launcher.

javaws -viewer

The Report File will be created on your local machine.

WebStart for Test Versions.

History

v0.81: 2011 January 12

• Upgrade Apache POI Library to 3.7
• BugFix 3139625: on use of ODFDOM. The Method 'OdfTableRow.getCellCount()' seems not to work with large ODF Files.
• INTERNAL: Did some rework on Interfaces, Base Classes and so on.
• On Report Sheet for contains search, don't load Report Sheet for Diff, Font, Format and Type.

v0.8: 2010 November 06

• Add processing of MS XLSX Spread Sheet Files.
• Add processing of Open Office ODS Spread Sheet Files.
• Remove the MS Word File comparison. (It was more a amusing excursion.)
• GUI improvements.
• The comparison process can be stopped.

v0.71: 2010 June 20

• For similar comparison use Metaphone instead of Soundex.
• Bug Fix: #3018469: Use Metaphone instead of Soundex.
• Bug Fix: #3018159: Catch Exception on reading Files and Show Error Message Box.
• Bug Fix: #3018392: Do Changes of Control Values in Model. Not in Control directly.
• Setting Dialog: Folder Chooser starts with current configured Folder. Otherwise with latest used Folder.
• Change Code to prevent the error from Apache POI: "java.lang.IllegalArgumentException: Maximum number of fonts was exceeded"

v0.7: 2010 June 07

• Progress Bar increases more nicely.
• Add Status Bar. Configure Look & Feel and Report Sheets.
• BUG FIX: #3002329: Open Compare File via Button.
• Add compare on similarly with SOUNDEX.
• Add ignore case comparison.
• GUI: Add delete Menu to Popup menu Window on right mouse click on report filename.
• INTERNAL: Change GUI Test Framework from jfcUnit to FEST.

v0.6: 2010 May 10

• Complete Rework of GUI.
  Use JGoodies for Forms, Binding.
• Add Sheet Range comparison.
• Add search for values of reference spreadsheet contains in compare spreadsheet in one Row or one Column.
• Add search for doublet in one Row or one Column. A doublet is a Cell with the same Value and same Position in reference and compare spreadsheet.
• Do not longer use the Setting File 'settings.properties'
• Add compare Cell Formula or its Value.
• GUI: right mouse click on filename of report file opens a popup menu to copy Filename.

v0.5: 2010 February 08

• Add Console Parameter -ds to reset all Settings. It works for GUI and Console Version.
• Add a SysTray to quit Application and open Setting Dialog.
• Add a really simple Word File Comparison.
• LIB: Update Apache POI Libs from Version 3.5 to Version 3.6.
• GUI: Open File use folder name from Input Control or previously used Folder.
• GUI: File open dialog preset with last used File Extension Filter.
• GUI: Save Preferences also on closing via 'Window cross icon'.
• Report: Report Sheets can add to a copy of the Reference Excel File.
• Files: Remove SRC and JavaDoc ZIP File from download. User can get the Source from SVN. JavaDoc is easily created via ANT.

v0.4: 2009 December 21

• Look & Feel is configurable.
• Application can be used as Console Application.

v0.3: 2009 December 18

• Store Main Window Position and Size on exit. Add a new Menu Item Option-Reset to reset to the default Window Size.
• Add Cell Style comparison.
• Add Cell Font comparison.
• Rename Excel File term from Master to reference and Slave to comparer.
• The Dialogs Setting and About are positioned in relation to Main View.
• BugFix #2909659: The last Row/Column has been wrongly ignored.

v0.2: 2009 December 01

• Compare of Cell Types. Additionally a new Report Sheet for the result.
• En- or disable Result Sheets (Diff, Summary, Type). The Sheet 'Sign' is always activated.
• Add Open File Menu Item to easily open existing Result Excel Files in Home Folder.
• Add Open Folder Menu Item. It opens the default System File Explorer.
  It has been tested under Windows and Ubuntu Linux.
• File Chooser for Master/Slave Excel File opens the default Home Folder or the configured Report Folder.
• A Checkbox to set slave file input Control same as master file input Control.
• Add Context Menu for Master/Slave Input Control to Open File.
• Read Formula Cells correctly.

v0.11: 2009 November 21

• Initial Version.
• This Version compares a MS Excel sheet with another one.
• At the end, the User gets a Excel Report File.

Screen shots and descriptions.

The Screen shot shows the Application after startup.
Here you can set the Reference File, which is the File you want to compare with another File.

Use Drag & Drop or File chooser to choose Files.

After choosing a File the Combobox below of each Filename shows the identified Sheet names.
Only one Sheet can be selected.
Options for Spread Sheet comparison:

• Same as Reference
• Compare Formula
• Compare similarly
• ignore Case
• report in copy of reference

When you check 'Same as Reference', the reference File will also used as compare File.
Both Sheets Comboboxes are filled with Sheet names of reference file.
So it is easy to compare Sheets of same File.

Configure the Folder where the Report File will be created.
If nothing is set, the Report File will create in the default Home Folder of the Application.
Use Drag & Drop or Folder Chooser to choose Folder.

Configure the Look & Feel of the Application.

When press the Compare Button, the comparison starts.
When it is finished, below of the Button the Full path Filename of the Report will be shown.
The Filename is clickable to start the default Application to open the Report XLS File.
Copy the Filename with right mouse click on the link.

Type of spreadsheet Compare/Search

The radio choice Common compares the complete range of reference file with the compare file.
Search for Values or Formulas which contains in a Row or Column in compare Sheet.

Search for Values or Formulas which are doublet in a Row or Column in compare Sheet.

Choose Range, to compare a specific Range. Use the coordinates as used in Excel. Like from A:1 to X:30.

Compare Doc Files

Set Doc Files to reference and compare input control to Compare these doc files.

Open Reference / Compare File

Open the file with right mouse click on Input Control of reference or compare File.

Start Console Version

It it possible to start the EXcompCEL Application as Console Version.
The Console Version starts, if there is any Parameter given on Application start.
Without Parameters, the GUI starts up.

java -jar EXcompCEL.jar -h

Report Sheets

Report Sheet 'Sign'

In the Report File, in the Sheet which is called 'Sign',
it shows the Data of the Reference File and all Cells which are different to the Sheet given as Comparer File are marked yellow.

Report Sheet 'Diff'

In the Report File, in the Sheet which is called 'Diff',
it shows the Data of the Reference File and all Cells which are different to the Sheet given as Comparer File are filled additionally with Data from Comparer File but strike out.

Report Sheet 'Summary'

In the Report File, there is a Sheet which is called 'Summary'.
This shows the List of the Excel File which have been compared.
Additionally it gives a List of Cells which are different.
This view is especially helpful when comparing a very filled Sheet where are found less differences.

Report Sheet 'Type'

This Sheet shows the differences of Cell Types.
If the Cell Type differs, than the Cell Type of the Reference and the Comparer Cell will be shown.

Report Sheet 'Format'

This Sheet shows the differences of Cell Format settings.

Report Sheet 'Font'

This Sheet shows the differences of Cell Font settings.