COMP-D.DO documentation for
COMP-T.BA and COMP-N.BA
text file comparison programs
by James Main Kenney


COMP-T.BA (for the Tandy TRS-80 Model 100, Tandy 102, and Tandy 200) and COMP-N.BA (for the NEC PC-8201A and NEC PC-8300) display two text (.DO) files on adjacent lines.  The lines scroll automatically from right to left until a difference between the files appears or a key is pressed; any key will then step the lines and automatic scrolling will resume if the next characters are identical.  If the lines are identical, only the top line is printed to the screen, increasing the scroll rate.  Stopping on a difference can be disabled or re-enabled; while disabled, automatic scrolling can be started for either line or both; while enabled, either line or both can be stepped manually.

Enter the names of the two text files to be compared.  At either filename prompt (only), the program may be exited by pressing the Menu key (Tandy F8 or NEC SHIFT-f5) or by a blank entry: pressing only ENTER (return key) without a filename.  After the filenames have been entered, exit to Menu by pressing the ESCape key while the scrolling is stopped.

Use the arrow (cursor) keys after a stop:

Up <down> arrow key: step top <bottom> line only; hold to scroll; use to realign text after an unequal difference.

Left <right> arrow key: disable <enable> stopping on a difference; use to get past large differences.  After pressing the left arrow key, pressing a vertical arrow key will cause an individual line to scroll automatically.

SHIFT-up <down> arrow key: jump the top <bottom> line 32 characters.

SHIFT-left <right> arrow key: jump both lines 32 <400> characters.

CTRL-up <down> arrow key: close and reopen the top <bottom> line file.

CTRL-left arrow key (Tandy only) or CTRL-right arrow key (all models): close and reopen both files.