[SOLVED] Compare and highlight string differences

Hi All,

I'd like to compare 2 string fields on a record and highlight the difference between them if a difference exists. Ideally, I'd display the 2 fields on the row with a 3rd field that shows the string and the offending character formatted with color. Another option would be to indicate the integer position where they diverge so the user could count from the beginning of the string. Identical string lengths with transposed characters are especially tricky to spot the differences.

Any ideas? WebFOCUS, jQuery, or javascript ideas are all welcome.

Thanks,

Norb

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Norb Eckert,

prod:7.6.9, win2k3 mre, caster, bid, devstudio 7.6.9

Posts: 242 | Location: Minneapolis | Registered: February 16, 2006

Dan Satchell

Virtuoso

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Possible WebFOCUS solution:

DEFINE FILE CAR
 STRING1/A25 WITH COUNTRY    = 'a1b2c3d4e5f6g7h8i9j0';
 STRING2/A25 WITH COUNTRY    = 'alb2c3d4E5f6g7h8i9jO';
 DIFF_FLAG/A9                = IF (STRING1 EQ STRING2) THEN 'Same' ELSE 'Different';
 STR2_OUT/A120V WITH COUNTRY = '';
-REPEAT :ENDREPEAT1 FOR &I FROM 1 TO 25
 STR1_CHAR/A1 = SUBSTR(25,STRING1,&I,&I,1,'A1');
 STR2_CHAR/A1 = SUBSTR(25,STRING2,&I,&I,1,'A1');
 STR2_OUT     = IF (STR1_CHAR EQ STR2_CHAR) THEN (STR2_OUT || STR2_CHAR)
                ELSE (STR2_OUT || '<b><font color=red>' || STR2_CHAR || '</font></b>');
-:ENDREPEAT1
END
-*
TABLE FILE CAR
 PRINT STRING1 STRING2 STR2_OUT DIFF_FLAG
 WHERE RECORDLIMIT EQ 1 ;
END

EDIT: Added the '/' to the closing bold tag, which was missing.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Dan Satchell,

WebFOCUS 7.7.05

Posts: 1213 | Location: Seattle, Washington - USA | Registered: October 22, 2007

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Norb Eckert

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Dan - OMG!!!!! That's awesome. This is going to work very well.

There's gonna be a little something extra for you in your check this week!

Thanks,

Norb

prod:7.6.9, win2k3 mre, caster, bid, devstudio 7.6.9

Posts: 242 | Location: Minneapolis | Registered: February 16, 2006

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Dan Satchell

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Just remember that your output field (STR2_OUT in my example) must be large enough to contain all of the extra characters generated by the addition of the bold and font color tags - 30 characters are added to the output string every time there is a difference.

WebFOCUS 7.7.05

Posts: 1213 | Location: Seattle, Washington - USA | Registered: October 22, 2007

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Norb Eckert

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Dan,

Just wanted to let you know that I added a variant of your code to a fex that runs hourly each day and it worked beautifully to highlight the string differences. The users are squealing with delight! I told them I couldn't have done it without this forum and you.