Re: Which Diff tool could I use for visually comparing two text files where Word Wrap is possible?

From	debian-user@howorth.org.uk
Newsgroups	linux.debian.user
Subject	Re: Which Diff tool could I use for visually comparing two text files where Word Wrap is possible?
Date	2023-04-01 16:30 +0200
Message-ID	<GfKoV-gCVt-5@gated-at.bofh.it> (permalink)
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rhkramer@gmail.com wrote:
> On Friday, March 31, 2023 11:37:30 PM Susmita/Rajib wrote:
> > Suppose I wrote a book book1.txt. I then send it to an editor who
> > corrects the initial mistakes, altering some lines while doing so,
> > renaming to another file book2.txt.
> > 
> > When I receive the editor's correction, I don't accept them
> > straightaway, but based on his suggestions I change my book1 and
> > edit and alter it further. Diff helps in comparing the two draft
> > editions.
> > 
> > This one cycle could again be repeated.  
> 
> > I checked wdiff and also dwdiff. But they are very bland
> > and very complicated to handle as dwdiff uses a lot of braces with +
> > and - signs, but doesn't present the two files side by side for
> > intuitive/visual comparison.  
> 
> Thanks for the reply!
> 
> I don't remember the name of the utility that I used to use in the
> Microsoft world, but it was very nice in showing changes within lines
> or paragraphs, using underline and crossout (wrong name).  
> 
> Just to create an example, suppose I changed the previious paragraph
> to say "I never used in Linux:" then that utility would show
> something like what I show below.
> 
> Aside: I'm not sure I can show crossout in an email, so will precede
> and end it with "-".
> 
> The utility also showed a vertical line at the beginning of either a
> line or paragraph that had changed.
> 
> I don't remember the name of the utility that I used to use in the
> Microsoft world, but it was very nice in showing changes within lines
> or paragraphs, using underline and crossout (wrong name).  
> 
> 
> | I don't remember the name of the utility that I *never used in
> Linux:* -used to use in the Microsoft world-, but it was very nice in
> showing changes within lines or paragraphs, using underline and
> crossout (wrong name).  

It sounds like you're describing the way Microsoft Word displays
differences between versions. I believe LibreOffice will do something
very much the same.

> I found that very useful for generally text based documents like
> specifications and contracts.
> 
> It did have trouble "resynchronizing" -- I mean, for example, if a
> section of text was not changed but moved a fair distance (for some
> definition of "fair") it often showed that as a deletion of the text
> from the original location and insertion of the (unchaged) text in a
> new location (which wasn't necessarily all bad).
> 
> IIRC, there was another problem that I characterized as trouble with 
> resynchronizing, but, atm, I can't recall any details.
> 
> When I moved to Linux, I looked for a similar utility, and the
> closest I could find (at the time -- possibly 20 years ago) was wdiff.
> 
> I hope you find wnat you're looking for (or maybe even something
> better ;-)
>

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