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Participant
October 27, 2023
Question

Compare text content within two InDesign files

  • October 27, 2023
  • 5 replies
  • 2616 views

Hello all,

 

I have heard that since the latest update (October 2023) it should be possible to compare texts from two files. Is this correct? Can someone explain to me where I can find the function?

 

Thus far, I have only been able to find (old) answers from 2020 on this topic, which recommend exporting the files to PDF or using a script. However, I would like to compare the texts directly in Indesign.

 

Many thanks in advance!

5 replies

Barb Binder
Community Expert
Community Expert
October 30, 2023

Hi @Greta33129374tamd:

 

Like Steve and Jeffery, I use Acrobat for this—even with FrameMaker docs which have document compare built in to the software—because of the compare controls. In Steve's screen shot the little gear icon is barely visible at the bottom, but it links to this dialog box which allows you to control what it compares in the list at the bottom:

If you haven't used Acrobat yet for Document Compare, it's definately worth exploring. 
https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/using/compare-documents.html

 

~Barb

~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training
Colin Flashman
Community Expert
Community Expert
October 27, 2023

Definitely not one of the new features of InDesign 2024.

Kasyan Servetsky has a script that can do this in a way, worth checking out: http://kasyan.ho.ua/indesign/all/compare_two_documents.html

Otherwise I use an application called Global Vision at work: https://globalvision.co/ - load the PDF original, and then PDF of the change, and it does a side-by-side comparison. Not cheap though, but definitely required for work I do.

If the answer wasn't in my post, perhaps it might be on my blog at colecandoo!
Inspiring
June 13, 2025

Unfortunately that link doesn't work.

Inspiring
June 16, 2025
quote

Unfortunately that link doesn't work.


By @Thomas_Calvin

 

Both links work for me. What specifically doesn't work?


The first link times out:

Hmmm… can't reach this page

kasyan.ho.ua took too long to respond

Community Expert
October 27, 2023

The PDF method using Acrobat is pretty comprehensive, especially locating changes and discrepancies between documents.

Steve Werner
Community Expert
Community Expert
October 27, 2023

The feature @Jeffrey_Smith refers to is in Acrobat > View > Compare Files and it works quite well:

 

Willi Adelberger
Community Expert
Community Expert
October 27, 2023

I have never heard about such a functionality. I cannot even imagine how it would work. 

Inspiring
June 13, 2025

It's extremely common in text editors for programming. Changed lines may be marked with leading characters, or the application might display one doc on the left, the other in the middle, and finally the result of merging them on the right... with color-coding for added or removed lines.

Steve Werner
Community Expert
Community Expert
October 27, 2023

I've never seen that listed as a feature for the current version - InDesign 2024 (19.0).

What is your source for that information? 

It doesn't sound like a feature I have ever even heard requested for InDesign.

Participant
October 30, 2023

Sorry, I had it confused apparently! It is part of the update of K4 and can only be used in InCopy, so doesn't have anything to do with InDesign. 

 

I was able to find back the article where I read it first (https://vjoon.com/resources/press-releases/k4-version-14/😞

K4 Revision Manager is now a standard feature of K4 at no additional cost 

Whether you‘re an editor-in-chief or communications manager, Newsrooms and communications teams want access to not only the tracked changes, but also the ability to compare different versions. For many K4 customers, K4 Revision Manager has been their tool of choice here for years. Previously a separate module purchase, with version 14 this module becomes an integral part of vjoon K4 at no additional cost.