Comparescan User Guide

Getting Started

Using the State File

Comparescan saves data about its configuration into a state file. By default, this file is named

~/.comparescan.state; you can change this name and location by using the -state command-line option.

The state file contains the set of options that you used the last time you ran Comparescan.

This file also stores the warning messages that have previously been displayed, so that they are not repeatedly displayed.

Comparescan automatically updates the state file when you specify different options on the command line or change the options in the Compare Options form. (Click the Options button or select Tools—Compare Options to display the Compare Options form.) The state file does not store any of the comparison results information.

Using the Preferences File

Comparescan saves your Comparescan GUI preferences in a preferences file. By default, this file is named ~/.comparescan.pref; you can change this name and location by using the -pref command-line option.

Comparescan automatically updates the preferences file when you use the Preferences form. (Select File—Preferences to display this form.)

Using X Resources

Comparescan utilizes the resource settings that you set using xrdb or .Xdefaults. Comparescan can also utilize resource settings in an Appdefaults file, but it does not require that you install an Appdefaults file.

Note: If you change a setting in your .Xdefaults file, you must use xrdb to apply the changes to the running X server.

Comparescan uses the following resources and the following default values:

Comparescan*foregroundcolor: #ffff00

Comparescan*backgroundcolor: #6e6e6e

Comparescan*selectcolor: #ff8080

Comparescan*foregroundinactivecolor: #b0b000

Comparescan*dialogmessagefont: -*-helvetica-bold-r-*--14-*

Comparescan*menufont: -*-helvetica-bold-r-*--12-*

Comparescan*buttonfont: -*-helvetica-bold-r-*--14-*

Understanding Comparescan Exit Status Codes

Comparescan exits with either a 0 or a 1 exit status code after performing a comparison. An exit status code of 0 means that no mismatches were found. An exit status code of 1 means that some mismatches were found, some signals were missing, or some other error was detected.