affinity files comparison

[laurent32]

Sometimes, when we work on important files, we have a logical tendency to keep multiple versions of the files, just in case something wrong happens… I'm sure you know what I mean…

We might end up with file v1, file v2, file vn… and/or file v1 copy, file copy, and so on…

And some days later we look at the modified dates of the files to be sure to have the "good" version… but that's not always good…

And it often isn't that obvious to find that "good" version, even more if you work a lot… on different jobs…

So I think it would be GREAT to have an app (a function ? utility ?) that could show us the differences between 2 files…

Maybe something that could show up the differences between 2 history lists ?

I'm sure plenty of us have had that sort of problem…

Do you have some solutions to share ?

Solutions other than "be well organized"… or "look at the code…" would be greatly appreciated…

Have I missed something in that great affinity suite ?

Thanks

[v_kyr]

Well, there are some third party tools which can do and perform a diff also based on bitmap images. - For example ...

• Does "diff" exist for images? <-- *** gives a good common overview
• ImageMagick compare
• Araxis merge - Comparing image files
• ... etc.
• ... a Google search after the topic will show more possibilities for images ...

For the Affinity format files, either Serif would have to offer a "compare and show the diff" function, or some third party tool would need here to have the capabiöity to fetch out and then compare the preview bitmap thumnail images inside of Affinity files!

[thomaso]

7 minutes ago, v_kyr said:

 third party tools which can do and perform a diff also based on bitmap images

Wouldn't the layer blend modes "Difference" or "Divide" applied to an image of version A placed on version B do the same within Affinity?

[v_kyr]

31 minutes ago, thomaso said:

Wouldn't the layer blend modes "Difference" or "Divide" applied to an image of version A placed on version B do the same within Affinity?

You have to try for those blend modes. - Personally I would trust more plain pixel based (...pixels added/removed/recolored etc.) file comparisons.

[laurent32]

My first post concerned more afpub files… that often include plenty more objects (layers) than other affinity files because in reality you import afdesigner and afphoto files in a afpub file => number of layers in a afpub file could be "enormous" and so 2 afpub files are ever more difficult to differentiate…

Difficult for a human brain but not difficult for a computer…

I would effectively love a new function in affinity…

Hey affinity team… I know you're more than busy but… wouldn't it be nice ????