Compare Word files in C#

Powerful C# library to compare Word documents and detect even small differences

Compare two Word files in C# using our difference checker. With our high-fidelity .NET API, you can find the difference between compared Word documents and export the results to a convenient file format.

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With this native .NET API, you can easily compare Word 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. It eliminates the need for external dependencies, providing a comprehensive set of Word processing functionalities within a single .NET package.

On this landing page, we bring you a live demo of the Word comparison in action, coupled with an illustrative C# example. It compares the contents of Word 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. Experience firsthand how easy it is to compare two documents by uploading Word files to the interface, choosing the desired output format, and getting the differences between Word documents marked with 100% accuracy.

Compare Word using C#

Sometimes it may not be clear if a Word file has been modified, and manually comparing two versions of a document can be a daunting task. Conversely, there are times when you're sure the Word document has changed, but visually identifying the updated sections becomes overwhelming. The Word comparison is an increasingly sought-after procedure, particularly within automated document workflows. Let's explore typical scenarios where automated Word comparison can be highly valuable:

  • Version Control and Collaboration. When multiple contributors are working on the same Word file, programmatic document comparison helps identify changes made by different individuals
  • Legal and Compliance. In the legal industry, accurate comparison of legal contracts, agreements, or regulatory documents is crucial. Automated Word file comparison ensures precise detection of any modifications, additions, or omissions, helping legal professionals maintain compliance and mitigate legal risks
  • Quality Assurance and Testing. Software development often involves handling extensive documentation, such as requirements, specifications, and test cases. By automating Word comparison, .NET developers can easily detect discrepancies between versions, ensuring consistency and accuracy throughout the development process
  • Content Management and Publishing. In content-driven industries, like publishing or journalism, maintaining consistency across different versions of articles, manuscripts, or books is essential. Comparing Word documents programmatically allows authors and editors to quickly spot differences and ensure the integrity of their content, facilitating efficient publishing workflows

Find differences in Word files in C#

As you can see, programmatic Word comparison offers immense benefits in various domains, enabling streamlined workflows, enhanced collaboration, and increased productivity. With this C# API, you have the power to harness these advantages seamlessly within your .NET projects. Try out our live demo by uploading two Word documents, selecting the target format to highlight the differences, and examining the C# code example. This C# snippet demonstrates how to find differences between Word files and save the results in the required format.

An important point: the compared Word documents should not have revisions before calling the comparison method. You must first accept all the revisions.

Compare two DOCX files using 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 Word in C#

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

C# library to compare Word 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.

Other supported file formats

You can perform compare operation for other file formats:

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