Adjusting comparison sensitivity Leave feedback

GroupDocs.Comparison allows to adjust comparison sensitivity to achieve the necessary balance between file comparison speed and accuracy. Possible comparison sensitivity values range is from 0 to 100.

• Minimal value - the minimal value is 0. Setting sensitivity to a minimal value provides the fastest comparison speed, but it may produce worst comparison quality.
  If there is at least one common letter in two compared words then these words will not be treated as fully inserted and deleted
• Value by default  - the default value is 75. Comparison occurs when the percentage of deleted or inserted elements in relation to all elements does not exceed 75%.
• Maximum value - the maximum values is 100. Comparison occurs at any length of a common sub-sequence of two compared objects. This option provides the best quality, but slowest comparison speed.

For better understanding about how comparison algorithms work let’s suppose we have two strings:

We will highlight removed text parts with red and inserted parts with blue color. So, these strings have two common sub-sequences: “is” word and 4 space symbols.

Common sub-sequence is - " is " and its length is 6 symbols (there are 4 space symbols in it).
Length of inserted sub-sequence is 13 symbols - Jackagladcalf
Removed sub-sequence length is 17 symbols - Itourequitypoetry
Lets calculate percent of removed and inserted symbols: (17 + 13) / (17 + 13 + 6) * 100 = 83%

Case 1. If SensitivityOfComparison = 80% comparison of these two strings will produce the next result:
Jack is a glad calfIt is our equity poetry

Because calculated percent of removed and inserted symbols equals 83% and it is bigger than value of SensitivityOfComparison equals 80% then this common sub-sequence will be not taken into account.
The first string considered completely removed and the second string considered completely inserted. The same results will be produced for any calculated percent less than 83%.

Case 2. If SensitivityOfComparison = 85%, comparison of these two strings will produce the next result:
JackIt is aour gladequity calfpoetry

Common sub-sequence was found, because 85% > 83%. The same results will be produced for any calculated percent bigger than 83%.

Here are the steps to compare files with specific comparison sensitivity:

• Instantiate Comparer object with source file path or stream;
• Call add method and specify target file path or stream.
• Instantiate CompareOptions object with desired setSensitivityOfComparison value;
• Call compare method and pass CompareOptions object to method;

The following code snippet demonstrates how compare files with specific sensitivity:

You may easily run the code above and see the feature in action in our GitHub examples:

• GroupDocs.Comparison for Java examples, plugins, and showcase
• GroupDocs.Comparison for .NET examples, plugins, and showcase
• Document Comparison for Java App Dropwizard UI Modern Example
• Document Comparison for Java Spring UI Example
• Document Comparison for .NET MVC UI Example
• Document Comparison for .NET App WebForms UI Modern Example

Along with full-featured Java library we provide simple, but powerful free Apps. You are welcome to compare your DOC or DOCX, XLS or XLSX, PPT or PPTX, PDF, EML, EMLX, MSGand other documents with free to use online GroupDocs Comparison App.