FMDiff Is A FileMaker® Pro Developer Tool
It's a "First of its Kind" application to
- compare FileMaker Pro files against backups or clones
- unveil up to now unknown details about your files
- check for obvious and hidden file corruption
- run super-fast!
FMDiff Compares FileMaker Pro Files And Lists Differences ^
If your solution suddenly exhibits strange behavior, how do you find out what happened to the files? How much time would you have to invest?
With FMDiff the basic test is done within minutes. Simply compare your backup or "Good Clone" against the solution. You immediately can tell whether anything has changed and where, either due to human or hardware error.
FMDiff compares your current solution against a previous one (or a Clone) and reports the differences. For the first time it is now possible to verify that the internal file structure (tables, fields, relations, etc.) is the same as at the time of delivery. This is especially important for sensitive areas like accounting or healthcare.
FMDiff Unveils Secret Information About FileMaker Pro Files ^
Was this file ever Recovered? How many times? This is very important to know when you have to judge about the quality and sanity of a solution.
When was the file originally created? Every file has an internally stored time stamp that does not change when a file is Cloned or Recovered. This time stamp can serve to identify "an original" and is a means to prove ownership.
With what versions of FileMaker Pro or Server has a file ever been opened? On what platforms and system version was it run? How many times has it been opened with what version? This can help to track down version related errors.
FMDiff Tests For Damages ^
FMDiff knows whether your FileMaker Pro files are still intact. While comparing it checks the file's structure to be "well-formed". The licensed version of FMDiff even performs additional tests for ascending IDs and correct block lengths. This is something that even the native FileMaker Recover command does not always straighten out, which may lead to subsequent malfunctions or crashes.
The combination of keeping a good copy (one that never crashed) and using FMDiff to compare it against the installed solution can be considered currently the best possible security measure.
How Does FMDiff Work? ^
FMDiff is a stand-alone application (Windows and Mac) that does not depend on other applications, plug-ins, or a Database Design Report (DDR). It reads the original files, that's why it is so fast. Open FMDiff and drag the files to compare onto its window and click Compare. Seconds later your browser shows the difference report and all file information. Files with several hundred megabytes take a few minutes.
Who Needs FMDiff? ^
The short answer is: anyone who is in charge of ordering, developing, hosting, maintaining, or auditing FileMaker solutions will need FMDiff. These include
- Database developer
- Internet Service Provider
- IT manager or responsible party
- SOX (Sarbanes-Oxley) Compliance Auditor
FMDiff serves to document an ongoing solution development. At one and the same time the programmer and the customer have a means to prove and inspect the progress at regular intervals. It shows the exact number of changes that were applied to specific sections within the structure.
What File Versions Will FMDiff Compare? ^
FMDiff is able to read FileMaker files of type .fp5 and .fp7, this includes the latest version 9.0v3. Only files of the same type may be compared against each other.
Download FMDiff ^
Download FMDiff for your platform. It comes as free FMDiff Community Edition which only shows the first 10 differences of every section, the rest is listed 'anonymously' i. e. all names and IDs are shown as asterisks (*). It can be upgraded to FMDiff Standard by purchasing a license number from within the application or at our web store. You need an internet connection and a credit card.
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Any information about FMDiff is subject to change without notice.
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