Comparing Two Folders and its Subfolder batch file

Question

I have two folders that contain all the same files and subfolders, but the conents inside each file may have changed. I want to write a batch file that will search through each

Answer 1

I modified a batch file I wrote for a CD process that should meet your need. It

• takes 2 directory trees and compares each file in each tree
• creates a list of the file differences (named File_differences.txt in the output folder)
• and creates a folder with a diff file for each non-matching object

If both directory structures are under the same parent, then all you need to do is update the first 8 variables in the script. If the directory trees have different parents, then read through the scripts comments. Particularly lines 14, 38 and 46.

:: This script compares the contents of 2 trees
:: set a workspace location for the script outside of the trees being reviewed
set home=D:\path\to\batch_file_home
set Input=D:\path\to\batch_file_home\Input_Files
set Resource=D:\path\to\batch_file_home\Resource_Files
set Output=D:\path\to\where your want to view your\Output_Files

set environment=D:\path\to\parent directory containing the different tree structures (if they do not share a parent, then make this the drive)
:: the next 3 lines are only needed if you want to predefine multiple directories for comparison 
set Prod=production
set QA=test
set Dev=branches\dev
:: If you remove the 3 lines above, then you need to replace the 2 below variables with values
:: If the trees are not under the same parent, then include the full path for Tree A and B below
set Tree_A=%Prod%
set Tree_B=%QA%
:: if you already have an object list, place it in the Input folder and remove lines 24 through 35 of this script
set Object_List=Object_List_minus_Direcotries.txt
set Output_File=File_differences.txt

if exist %Output%\%Output_File% del %Output%\%Output_File%
if exist %Output%\Differences\*.txt del %Output%\Differences\*.txt
if exist %Resource%\* del /q %Resource%\*

:: since you state the objects in both trees are always the same, I have not included a comparison to verify the 2 trees match
:: this section identifies the contents of Tree A
cd %environment%\%Tree_A%
dir /b /s > %Resource%\Complete_Tree_A_Object_List.txt

:: Next, remove the objects that are directories
setlocal enabledelayedexpansion
for /f "tokens=*" %%p in (%Resource%\Complete_Tree_A_Object_List.txt) do (
  dir /a:d /b %%p 2>nul >nul && (set object_type=folder) || (set object_type=file)
  echo !object_type!
  if !object_type!==file echo %%p >> %Resource%\%Object_List%
  )

:: in the object list, remove the parent tree from the path
:: if the Trees are not under the same parent, then comment out the below 6 lines
powershell -command "(Get-Content %Resource%\%Object_List%) -replace '\\','/' | set-content %Resource%\%Object_List%"
powershell -command "(get-content %Resource%\%Object_List%) | Foreach {$_.TrimEnd()} | Set-Content %Resource%\%Object_List%"
set remove_parent_prefix=%environment%\%Tree_A%
set remove_parent_prefix=%remove_parent_prefix:\=/%
powershell -command "(Get-Content %Resource%\%Object_List%) -replace '%remove_parent_prefix%/','' | set-content %Resource%\%Object_List%"
powershell -command "(Get-Content %Resource%\%Object_List%) -replace '/','\' | set-content %Resource%\%Object_List%"

:: the below loop assumes both Trees are under the same parent.  If this is not the case, replace the cd %environment% line with cd %home%
:: when the Trees are not under the same parent, set home to the root location, example cd D:\ 
setlocal enabledelayedexpansion
for /f "tokens=*" %%x in (%Resource%\%Object_List%) do (
  set Diff_File=%%x
  set Diff_File=!Diff_File:\=-!
  cd %environment%
  fc %Tree_A%\%%x %Tree_B%\%%x > "%Output%\Differences\!Diff_File!-%Output_File%"
  for %%a in ("%Output%\Differences\!Diff_File!-%Output_File%") do for /f %%b in ('find /c /v "" ^< "%%a" ') do if %%b LSS 3 del "%%a"  
  for %%R in ("%Output%\Differences\!Diff_File!-%Output_File%") do if not %%~zR lss 1 (
   echo %%x >> %Output%\%Output_File%
  )
  for %%R in ("%Output%\Differences\!Diff_File!-%Output_File%") do if %%~zR lss 1 (
     del "%Output%\Differences\!Diff_File!-%Output_File%"
  )
)
endlocal

:: Clean up Resources.  If you want to review the temp files used to create the report, comment out the below line
if exist %Resource%\* del /q %Resource%\*