On Sat, Mar 27, 2004 at 10:19:04AM -0600, Larry Williams wrote:
> Use what comes on your computer. At dos prompt type
>
> FC file1 file2

You obviously didn't read what Jan-Erik wrote.

He wants a tool that FUNCTIONALLY compares two hex file, not lexigraphically
compares them. It would need to work something like this:

1) Allocate some memory space for both files (16 bit integer array), then fill
   the space with 0xffff for each value.

2) Open both files and use a typical HEX file read routine to read them into
   the array.

3) Compare the arrays.

So even if the hex file's lines are out of order, or if one head header
information and the other doesn't, they can still compare the same.

>
> simple and free.

Free, but not simple. If you can spare a PIC and you have a programmer, then
you can do the following:

1) Read the first file into your programming software, and program the PIC with
   it.

2) clear the programmer buffer, then read the second file into it.

3) Do a verify on the PIC.

If the files are the same, then the verify should work fine, however if they
are functionally different then the verify will catch it.

Hope this helps,

BAJ
>
> Bill Couture wrote:
> >
> > On Sat, 27 Mar 2004, Jan-Erik Soderholm wrote:
> >
> > > Does anyone know of a tool to compare two HEX files ?
> > >
> > > The problem with using "normal" file compare tools, is that
> > > two HEX files could look different, but they could still be
> > > functional the same. The reason is of course that different
> > > things (memory sections) in the HEX file don't have to come
> > > in any special or fixed order. As when using one HEX file to
> > > flash a part, and then reading back the contents to a new
> > > file.
> > >
> > > I need a tool tool that  knows how to read and interpret
> > > the HEX data from two files and report any differences.
> >
> > How about:
> >    1) Run both files through a disassembler
> >    2) Compare resulting source files
> >
> > While it only supports a limited number of PICs, you can try my
> > PICDIS program (www.picemulator.com) or one of the other disassemblers
> > from my links page.
> >
> > Bill
> >
> > --
> > http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic:
> > [PIC]:,[SX]:,[AVR]: ->uP ONLY! [EE]:,[OT]: ->Other [BUY]:,[AD]: ->Ads
>
> --
> http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic:
> [PIC]:,[SX]:,[AVR]: ->uP ONLY! [EE]:,[OT]: ->Other [BUY]:,[AD]: ->Ads

--
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