Compare Word or PDF documents in C#

High-fidelity .NET 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 .NET 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 .NET API, you can easily compare documents and obtain the differences in the desired output format. Our C# library is fully self-contained and does not rely on any external tools or services. All document processing features are implemented in this powerful C# 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 C# 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 C#

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, C# 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 .NET 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 .NET library, financial professionals can automate the comparison of financial statements, detect anomalies, and streamline compliance processes, enhancing operational efficiency

Compare two documents programmatically in C#

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 .NET, 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 C# 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 C# code snippet below:

Compare documents in C#
Upload the compared file
Run code
Upload the second file to compare
Select the target format from the list
dotnet add package Aspose.Words
Copy
using Aspose.Words;

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

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

docA.Compare(docB, "Author Name", DateTime.Now);
docA.Save("Output.docx");
Run code

How to compare two text files in C#

  1. Install Aspose.Words for .NET
  2. Add a library reference (import the library) to your C# 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

C# library to compare documents

There are three alternative options to install "Aspose.Words for .NET" onto your system. Please choose one that resembles your needs and follow the step-by-step instructions:

System Requirements

Our product is fully cross-platform and supports all major .NET implementations:

  • .NET ≥ 5.0
  • .NET Core ≥ 2.0
  • .NET Standard ≥ 2.0
  • .NET Framework ≥ 3.5
  • MonoMac
  • MonoAndroid
  • Xamarin

As far as .NET code doesn't depend on the underlying hardware or operating system, but only on a Virtual Machine, you are free to develop any kind of software for Windows, macOS, Android, iOS and Linux. Just make sure you have installed the corresponding version of .NET Framework, .NET Core, Windows Azure, Mono or Xamarin.

We recommend using Microsoft Visual Studio, Xamarin, and MonoDevelop integrated development environments to create C#, F#, VB.NET applications.

Fore more details please refer to Product Documentation.

Most popular file formats for comparison

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