Diff Directories: Add hash of files respecting the current Ignores setting of files

[tatra603]

Hello, developers,

I have one more feature request to Diff Directories. Current implementation of Diff Files used by Diff Directories greatly enables many Ignore settings (like Node/Type, Namespaces/Prefixes, Order, Nodes by XPath...) like no other tool can. Based on this Ignores Diff Directories produces produces report in HTML (XML, JSON...).

The RFE is following: Would it be possible to produce hash (e. g. SHA-256) for files respecting all Ignore settings and save it into report next to path, datetime...? So not hash of file as is on filesystem (or on filesystem inside ZIP archive), but hash of virtual file after applying all of Ignore settings.

Why? Currently oXygen performs differences between two directories. But let imagine, that configuration (XML, JSON, YAML, text) files are deployed to more (3*3*16 in my case) directories and or ZIP archives (with thousands files inside them). Having such path and hash of files after applying all of Ignoring settings inside report would greatly enable multiple diff in some tool like SQL database (union minus intersect). No other tool can do such fine Ignore settings like oXygen does.
Or now, as I am writing these lines, this should not be task for Diff Directories (Files), but just simple report (path, hash for each file and user, Ignore settings, datetime of report in the report header) of one Directory and or ZIP archive after applying Ignore settings. So no differences would be performed, just simple report with computed hash after applying Ignore settings. Diff then would be a task for user to do diff according his needs. This would greatly speed the task (no diff) and no GUI interpretation should not be necessary.

I know, you must love all my crazy RFEs... Best regards, Stepan

[teo]

Hi Stepan,

I've registered your request for a more detailed analysis first.
At first glance, it doesn't seem to be anything intrinsically related to Diff directories, but rather a new tool.
Something like 'Semantic Fingerprint Report' or 'Normalized Hash Report'.

Regards,
Teo

[tatra603]

Hi, Teo,

yes, You are right, that it should be a new tool (new menu item in oXygen? and new utility within oXygen Scripting?). I tied it to the Diff (to better explain it) because:

• Configuration could be inherited and the same like in Options -> Preferences -> Diff -> File Comparsion and the same command line parameters and command line configuration file.
• Process of "Ignore" configuration could the same.
• Calculation of hash for each file after applying of "Ignore" is the core, new thing of this RFE.
• Exporting (saving) into reports (HTML, XML, JSON, CSV...) could be very similar to current Diff Dirs reports (just one side, no diff in fact, but very close output).

But it is absolutely up to You, I provided just hints, wishes of the user.
Regards, Stepan

P. S. Have You already registered request from any user of JSON (YAML) Ignore into Options -> Preferences -> Diff -> File Comparsion in the same logic like XML Ignore for:

• Order (Ignore item order). Or does it already oXygen treat different item orders as the same document?
• Ignore items by JSON Path?

Or should I ask for this in separate Forum thread?

[teo]

Hi Stepan,

No separate request is needed.
In the task created in JIRA for a RFE, we always post additional comments from users, links to the respective forum topics are always available, etc.
Following the analysis, for complex tasks we generally add specific subtasks or create distinct ones.

Regards,
Teo