To compare folders in XYplorer we can use the sync select feature. This allows us to select files and folders within a folder based on what files and folders are present in another folder.
To use the sync select feature, press F10 to enable double list panes. Browse each of the list views to a folder you want to compare with the other and go to panes>sync select. Choose your criteria and click ok.
Let's explore our options here and how we can best set up XYploer to effectively present the results.
While there is a feature suggestion with mockup for a compare feature directly in the list view on the XYplorer forums, it doesn't seem to be implemented. So, the feature we are directed to for comparing folders in XYplorer is sync select.
I suggest that you enable dual panes before using sync select. You can do so by pressing F10, by pressing the double white rectangle icon in the toolbar or by going to Panes>Dual panes.
While not mandatory, I also suggest that you toggle vertical panes while using sync select. You can do this by unchecking horizontal panes also located in the panes menu.
Next, make sure that one of your panes is selected and you know wich one is the selected one. Select a pane by clicking on the tab you want to have open in that pane.
You can reach sync select by going to Panes>Sync select from the main menu. When chosen, a new window pops up giving us a handful of options of how to sync.
As of version 24.40, these options are available:
Each of them has a description right in the interface. For example, select matches will select all items that have a duplicate in the pane that is not selected while select newer will select all items that match and have a more recent modified date.
Note that the selection occurs in the pane that is selected.
Another way to compare folders is to simply search for duplicates. If you open the Info panel by pressing F12 or by going to Window>Show Info panel you will open a new panel aat the bottom of the XYplorer interface.
Here you can go to find files and you will see numerous new tabs appear on a second row.
If you open the dupes tab, you will find options for finding duplicates. But first you need to go to the folder you want to search and select that list view.
Next, you can find duplicates by name, content, date or size. There is also an option for finding images that might be similar but not identical.
The limitation of finding duplicates is that we can only search one folder. This means that if we use this feature to compare, the folders that we want to compare need to be located as subfolders in the same parent folder.
You can read more about finding duplicates here:
Related content: How to find duplicate and similar files using XYplorer
In this article we covered how to use the sync select feature to compare folders in XYplorer. It is a basic feature with limited options, but it does the job.
An alternative is to look for duplicate files using the find files feature located in the info panel. However, this is a more limited approach when comparing since we can't directly compare two separate folders. Instead, the folders need to both be located under the same parent folder.
I hope this was helpful and thanks for your time.
