Compare Word or PDF documents in Java

High-fidelity Java library to compare two documents in PDF, Word, HTML, TXT, MD and other formats

Using our programming API, you can compare two files and find the difference between them. In other words, our Java library is a powerful file difference checker. After using Document Comparison API, you can get the result and save it in DOCX, PDF, DOC and some other formats.

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With this native Java API, you can easily compare documents and obtain the differences in the desired output format. Our Java library is fully self-contained and does not rely on any external tools or services. All document processing features are implemented in this powerful Java solution for a hassle-free experience.

Document comparison is a highly sought-after procedure, particularly within automated document workflows. Whether you're working with legal documents, version control systems, or content management systems, the document comparison API for Java can be a game-changer. It compares the contents of documents both at the character level and at the word level. Even if only a single character has been changed, the entire word will be marked as modified. This allows you to detect the smallest changes that would be invisible to the human eye.

Compare Word, PDF, web documents using Java

There are occasions when you find yourself unsure about whether a document has been modified, and the process of manually comparing two versions of the document can be quite challenging. On the flip side, there are instances where you are confident that the document has been changed, but the task of visually locating the updated areas becomes exceedingly difficult. Let's explore some typical scenarios where automated document comparison can be incredibly useful:

  • Legal Industry. Automating the comparison of contracts, agreements, and legal briefs can save valuable time and ensure accuracy, allowing legal teams to focus on more critical tasks
  • Software Development. With this API, Java developers can effortlessly compare source code, requirements documents, and technical specifications, facilitating efficient version control and streamlined communication
  • Quality Assurance. In industries such as publishing and content creation, ensuring consistency and accuracy across multiple document versions is crucial. This Java solution empowers QA teams to automatically compare drafts, manuscripts, or user manuals, pinpointing discrepancies and facilitating error-free document production
  • Financial Services. Financial institutions deal with extensive documentation, including reports, statements, and contracts. With Java library, financial professionals can automate the comparison of financial statements, detect anomalies, and streamline compliance processes, enhancing operational efficiency

Compare two documents programmatically in Java

By integrating automatic document comparison into your workflows, you gain the ability to programmatically compare documents, extract differences, and instantly get results in the desired output format. Whether you're a seasoned developer or just getting started with Java, our comprehensive code snippets and online demonstration will guide you through the process.

Try out our live demo by uploading two documents, selecting the target format to highlight the differences, and examining the Java code snippet displayed on the screen. This example demonstrates in detail how to perform document comparison programmatically and obtain the results in the required file format.

An important point: the compared documents should not have revisions before calling the comparison method. You must first accept all the revisions. We have already taken care of this nuance in the Java code snippet below:

Compare documents in Java
Upload the compared file
Run code
Upload the second file to compare
Select the target format from the list
import com.aspose.words.*;

Document docA = new Document("Input1.docx");
Document docB = new Document("Input2.docx");

// There should be no revisions before comparison.
docA.acceptAllRevisions();
docB.acceptAllRevisions();

docA.compare(docB, "Author Name", new Date());
docA.save("Output.docx");
Run code

How to compare two text files in Java

  1. Install Aspose.Words for Java
  2. Add a library reference (import the library) to your Java project
  3. Load two documents to compare
  4. Accept all revisions before calling the compare() method
  5. Call the compare() method to compare two docs
  6. Call the Save() method, passing an output filename with required extension
  7. Get the result of compression as a separate file

Java library to compare documents

We host our Java packages in Maven repositories. 'Aspose.Words for Java' is a common JAR file containing byte-code. Please follow the step-by-step instructions on how to install it to your Java developer environment.

System Requirements

Java SE 7 and more recent Java versions are supported. We also provide a separate package for Java SE 6 in case you are obliged to use this outdated JRE.

Our Java package is cross-platform and runs on all operating systems with JVM implementation, including Microsoft Windows, Linux, macOS, Android and iOS.

For information on optional package dependencies, such as JogAmp JOGL, Harfbuzz font engine, Java Advanced Imaging JAI, please refer to Product Documentation.

Most popular file formats for comparison

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