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Feb 7, 2013 - This week we continue exploring new features in Excel 2013. This post is brought to you by Chad Rothschiller, a Program Manager in the Excel. About Us Learn more about Stack Overflow the company. I would like to compare two Excel spreadsheets. Both have the same columns, in the same order, but not the same rows. I have a spreadsheet with 1,000 rows and 50 columns including a unique ID for each row and personal data (address, phone number, etc.).
Unlike previous versions of Excel, Excel 2013 separates each workbook into its own window, enabling you to simultaneously view all spreadsheets. Each window appears separately on Windows 8’s taskbar, so you can quickly select the appropriate workbook. If these windows are grouped in the taskbar, then Windows 8’s taskbar configuration is the culprit. However, if you’re using Excel 2010, grouping could also be caused by Excel’s settings.
Windows 8's Taskbar
1.
Right-click on a blank area of the taskbar and select 'Properties.'
2.
Click the 'Taskbar Buttons' drop-down menu and select 'Never Combine.'
Excel 2010 Settings
1.
Click 'File' and select 'Options.'
3.
Check 'Show All Windows in the Taskbar' in the Display section.
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Taylor, C.. 'How to Stop Excel From Grouping Windows.' Small Business - Chron.com, http://smallbusiness.chron.com/stop-excel-grouping-windows-71981.html. Accessed 07 June 2019.
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I would like to compare two excel spreadsheets. I have found many Windows-based solution but nothing for Mac OS X.Are you aware of
- a build-in way to perform a diff (didn't find much in the help)
- a standalone tool (for Mac)
- an online tool (data is not sensitive, comparing in the cloud would be no problem)
At the moment the only solution I got is exporting to a comma separated file and compare with diff on the command line. I was thinking to write a small Perl script but before investing too much time I wanted to be sure I am not missing a simpler option.
MatteoMatteo
4 Answers
Usually what I would do is copy the Excel spreadsheets into Word, then use Word's Merge Documents feature (might have been Merge/Compare or simply Compare Documents previously to 2011) to see the differences between them. Depending on how big your spreadsheet is, however, that might not work for you.
zpletanzpletan
There is a Mac version of Araxis Merge, which is an excellent program for comparing and merging mange kinds of files, and folders of files.
Its History page seems to suggest that it does compare Excel files on Mac.
There's a 30 day evaluation, so you could try it out and see if it does what you need.
(I have no affiliation with the company - am just a very frequent user of the Windows version of the tool)
Clare MacraeClare Macrae
You can compare 2 Excel sheets with highlighting the differences (update, new, removed) cells and rows without using any formula using Dose for Excel Add-In:
Ralf SwangRalf Swang
You might want to try this tool. It does the job and it's free.http://www.nunobrum.com/excelcomparator.html
It works in Windows and on MAC OSX. It's based on a VBA macro running in the native Excel Application, so it doesn't need any installations.Only suffice to enable the Macros and it works. Contrary to other Excel comparators, this one also enables you to compare different sheets of the same workbook or, different ranges of the same sheet. Compares Values or Formulas.This tool annotates the differences directly on the sheets you are comparing, and offers the possibility of navigating through the differences on the Report sheet.
Note: the author of this answer is also the author of this donationware software.
Nuno BrumNuno Brum