Comparing an Inventory with FileWatcher

Introduction

This article provides a step-by-step guide to comparing an inventory generated by FileWatcher. To be able to complete this guide, you will need access to the windows command prompt and an inventory created by FileWatcher.

About this example

This guide uses the inventory generated in the Creating an Inventory with FileWatcherarticle. In that article an inventory was created as follows:

• The folder in which the FileWatcher application is stored is D:\Testing
• The files and folders that were inventorised are stored in D:\Testing\FolderToInventory
• The folder into which the inventory was saved is D:\Testing\MyInventories

This resulted in an inventory file of Inventory-18-Jan-2019_113221.xml being saved in D:\Testing\MyInventories.

This article demonstrates the standard method of comparison where an inventory is compared against the original folder. FileWatcher also support comparing an inventory against a different folder.

Method

The simplest form of comparison is where FileWatcher does a compare based upon the information stored in the inventory file. For example, if the inventory contains the following entry:

<inventoryItem>
    <type>File</type>
    <fullPath>D:\Testing\FolderToInventory\03_hd.png</fullPath>
    <relativePath>03_hd.png</relativePath>
    <size>1707208</size>
    <created>18/01/2019 11:26:37</created>
    <lastModified>16/05/2011 23:36:23</lastModified>
    <checksum>A0766BB2869543D8EB4DF610DF962EADF2D60AE0B1E7657E980057813DCE455E</checksum>
</inventoryItem>

FileWatcher will look for, and compare against, a file with the path D:\Testing\FolderToInventory\03_hd.png.

Step 1: Enter the comparison command

Open a command prompt. This may done either by click searching for "Command Prompt" or pressing Windows Key + R and entering "cmd" and then pressing enter.

Enter the command for this

FileWatcher /COMPARE /CI "D:\Testing\MyInventories\Inventory-18-Jan-2019_113221.xml"

In the example above, the arguments are:

• /COMPARE - tells FileWatcher to run a comparison operation
• /CI - the path to the reference inventory file.

Step 2: The comparison runs

Once you hit enter, FileWatcher will start the comparison process. Depending on the size of both the original inventory and inventory folder, this may take some time depending on available system resources.

During this process, FileWatcher will write a verbose output of what it is doing to the console and also to the comparison log file. In the example below, the comparison has found no changes.

25 JAN 2019 16:37:28     Information    Writing log to 'InventoryCompare-25-Jan-2019_163728.log'
25 JAN 2019 16:37:28     Information    No comparison target defined, defaulting to 'D:\Testing\FolderToInventory' as defined in the base or reference inventory.  Comparison mode changed to fullPath.
25 JAN 2019 16:37:28     Information    Generating temporary inventory for folder 'D:\Testing\FolderToInventory'
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    Successfully generated inventory for folder 'D:\Testing\FolderToInventory'
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    Found matching entry 'D:\Testing\FolderToInventory'
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - created datetimes match (18-Jan-2019 11:26:37)
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - lastModified datetimes match (18-Jan-2019 11:26:56)
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Filesizes match: 5.14 MB
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Checksums match:
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Result: folder unchanged
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    Found matching entry 'D:\Testing\FolderToInventory\03_hd.png'
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - created datetimes match (18-Jan-2019 11:26:37)
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - lastModified datetimes match (16-May-2011 23:36:23)
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Filesizes match: 1.63 MB
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Checksums match: A0766BB2869543D8EB4DF610DF962EADF2D60AE0B1E7657E980057813DCE455E
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Result: file unchanged
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    Found matching entry 'D:\Testing\FolderToInventory\04_hd.png'
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - created datetimes match (18-Jan-2019 11:26:37)
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - lastModified datetimes match (16-May-2011 23:36:50)
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Filesizes match: 1.76 MB
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Checksums match: 995D98D2D085E2530E78B8C3EC279FA2C4469C5E58B7F571C41982E327D852D6
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Result: file unchanged
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    Found matching entry 'D:\Testing\FolderToInventory\05_hd.png'
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - created datetimes match (18-Jan-2019 11:26:37)
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - lastModified datetimes match (16-May-2011 23:37:51)
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Filesizes match: 1.76 MB
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Checksums match: 995D98D2D085E2530E78B8C3EC279FA2C4469C5E58B7F571C41982E327D852D6
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Result: file unchanged
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    Found matching entry 'D:\Testing\FolderToInventory\Classic Fine Art'
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - created datetimes match (18-Jan-2019 11:26:37)
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - lastModified datetimes match (18-Jan-2019 11:26:37)
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Filesizes match: 1.77 MB
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Checksums match:
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Result: folder unchanged
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    Found matching entry 'D:\Testing\FolderToInventory\Classic Fine Art\A_Bar_at_the_Folies-Bergere_(Manet).jpg'
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - created datetimes match (18-Jan-2019 11:26:37)
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - lastModified datetimes match (08-Feb-2008 00:16:41)
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Filesizes match: 203.30 KB
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Checksums match: 1F034E98228CE91A2F8540648FC562CCD538C5D1F71F0C3E4AEDBC8211437BEC
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Result: file unchanged
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    Found matching entry 'D:\Testing\FolderToInventory\Classic Fine Art\A_Vanitas_Still_Life_(Claesz).jpg'
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - created datetimes match (18-Jan-2019 11:26:37)
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - lastModified datetimes match (08-Feb-2008 00:17:52)
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Filesizes match: 105.31 KB
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Checksums match: 0F4DD093C504E6A2755A818F3701E765541B71A35BB860575940E9E03619076C
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Result: file unchanged
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    Found matching entry 'D:\Testing\FolderToInventory\Classic Fine Art\A_Young_Girl_Reading_(Fragonard).jpg'
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - created datetimes match (18-Jan-2019 11:26:37)
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - lastModified datetimes match (08-Feb-2008 00:17:32)
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Filesizes match: 185.51 KB
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Checksums match: BC8C85C95EA95B492795DA98A658EC059E95B978FDCC4A91685555E534E80F34
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Result: file unchanged
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    Found matching entry 'D:\Testing\FolderToInventory\Classic Fine Art\Adoration_of_the_Magi_(Mantegna).jpg'
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - created datetimes match (18-Jan-2019 11:26:37)
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - lastModified datetimes match (08-Feb-2008 00:18:11)
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Filesizes match: 199.68 KB
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Checksums match: 32AB43FDE36C455C41C1EE84AACA159DE471F7795AF5415196FCDEEE1E9C82FB
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Result: file unchanged
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    Found matching entry 'D:\Testing\FolderToInventory\Classic Fine Art\Alexander's_Victory_(Altdorfer).jpg'
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - created datetimes match (18-Jan-2019 11:26:37)
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - lastModified datetimes match (08-Feb-2008 00:18:25)
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Filesizes match: 264.67 KB
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Checksums match: 4CC2468933C22BA82E6F266784588A7A6465275348D2F0FA412C8E0C86ED1390
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Result: file unchanged
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    Found matching entry 'D:\Testing\FolderToInventory\Classic Fine Art\American_Gothic_(Wood).jpg'
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - created datetimes match (18-Jan-2019 11:26:37)
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - lastModified datetimes match (08-Feb-2008 00:17:19)
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Filesizes match: 185.07 KB
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Checksums match: 0272AAE3167526FCAEEFD4169CA8B3F6FFE43918330C4BF760AAED859267AE36
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Result: file unchanged
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    Found matching entry 'D:\Testing\FolderToInventory\Classic Fine Art\Aristotle_Contemplating_the_Bust_of_Homer_(Rembrandt).jpg'
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - created datetimes match (18-Jan-2019 11:26:37)
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - lastModified datetimes match (08-Feb-2008 00:16:46)
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Filesizes match: 189.24 KB
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Checksums match: 232D2C082D059FE8B2F0AEDC37FC54CC4E370C658E68347683413D42B383E7E8
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Result: file unchanged
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    Found matching entry 'D:\Testing\FolderToInventory\Classic Fine Art\Bathing_at_Asniers.jpg'
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - created datetimes match (18-Jan-2019 11:26:37)
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - lastModified datetimes match (08-Feb-2008 00:19:52)
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Filesizes match: 240.38 KB
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Checksums match: AD30BCE18057AA5ACBF2D4FAB2CCDA3A9E2D75520039E9D4C42C6869618239E7
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Result: file unchanged
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    Found matching entry 'D:\Testing\FolderToInventory\Classic Fine Art\Thumbs.db'
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - created datetimes match (18-Jan-2019 11:26:37)
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - lastModified datetimes match (08-Feb-2008 00:23:23)
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Filesizes match: 240.00 KB
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Checksums match: 6D9E368A90D4CD284A7BF5BE420C38B31137E851EEF7199C331BFCF03F2CB318
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Result: file unchanged
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    Comparison completed, duration 109 milliseconds
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Unchanged Entries
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Folders: 2
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Files: 12
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Total: 14
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Changed Entries
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Folders: 0
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Files: 0
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Total: 0
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Missing Entries
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Folders: 0
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Files: 0
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Total: 0
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Unknown Entries
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Folders: 0
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Files: 0
25 JAN 2019 16:37:29     Information    - Total: 0

Additional Information

You may also compare an inventory against a different folder.