Can you use File Compare to compare 2 Word documents?

[ccamardella]

I couldn't find instructions specific enough that I could understand. I know it's me, but, I tried to point to the Word EXE as the program in Settings > Programs> Compare Files, but it is not working. I used parameters "File 1" and "File 2" from the dropdown, then highlighted two word files in the directory. When I click on File > Compare files, I continue to get the same error of "Please define external program: Settings->Programs->Compare files"
Has anyone ever been successful with this? Thanks!

[Karol]

After activating the menu item "File → Compare files..." or the shortcut "Ctrl+Alt+V" the content of two selected text files is compared

As the help say - with this function you can compare only the text files. DOCX are not the text files.
You can try to convert docx to txt and then compare.

[Timon]

Use WinMerge to compare word, excel and many other types of files without any convertion

Filter (you can select any file extensions, that you want to compare, I use the following): *.rtf;*.docx;*.docm;*.xlsx;*.xlsm;*.pptx;*.pptm;*.doc;*.xls;*.ppt;*.sxw;*.sxc;*.sxi;*.sxd;*.odt;*.ods;*.odp;*.odg;*.wj2;*.wj3;*.wk3;*.wk4;*.123;*.wri;*.pdf;*.mht;*.eml;*.dll;*.exe;*.dat
Program: C:\Program Files\WinMerge\WinMergeU.exe
Parameters: %FileCompare1% %FileCompare2%

Just now compared 2 doc files and it works fine (of course, just text is displayed, without design, as it is in the Word file)

To compare all other file types I use PSPad

[ccamardella]

Hi Timon:
I just now see that there was a reply to my thread.
Thank you! It works!

Use WinMerge to compare word, excel and many other types of files without any convertion

Filter (you can select any file extensions, that you want to compare, I use the following): *.rtf;*.docx;*.docm;*.xlsx;*.xlsm;*.pptx;*.pptm;*.doc;*.xls;*.ppt;*.sxw;*.sxc;*.sxi;*.sxd;*.odt;*.ods;*.odp;*.odg;*.wj2;*.wj3;*.wk3;*.wk4;*.123;*.wri;*.pdf;*.mht;*.eml;*.dll;*.exe;*.dat
Program: C:\Program Files\WinMerge\WinMergeU.exe
Parameters: %FileCompare1% %FileCompare2%

Just now compared 2 doc files and it works fine (of course, just text is displayed, without design, as it is in the Word file)

To compare all other file types I use PSPad