how to compare total file

Question

Suppose i have 2 config files such as: file 1:

smtpd_sasl_auth_enable = yes
broken_sasl_auth_clients = yes
smtpd_sasl_authenticated_header = yes
virtual_gid_maps = static:5000

File 2:

virtual_gid_maps = static:5000
broken_sasl_auth_clients = yes
smtpd_sasl_authenticated_header = yes

if you see carefully, you'll see together have a line begin with virtua_gid_* but file 1 have it in end of file but file 2 have it head of file.

Suppose i have 2 files with same lines with difference positions , but positions not important for me, to be or not to be is important.

HOW CAN I COMPARE MY FILES?

Answer 1

If the positions are not important, you can sort the files and then, perform a diff. You will have to save the sorted files in temporary area.

sort file1 > /tmp/file1
sort file2 > /tmp/file2
diff /tmp/file1 /tmp/file2

You may also want to try vimdiff instead of diff.

Answer 2

If the files have only simple <name> = <value> lines into (like your example) you can do something like this:

$ cat file1 | sort > /tmp/sortedfile1
$ cat file2 | sort > /tmp/sortedfile2
$ diff /tmp/sortedfile1 /sortedfile2

This will work as long there is the same number of spaces around =

Answer 3

You can avoid using temp files if you use sub shells:

diff <(sort fileA) <(sort fileB)

Another useful program is meld which is a very nice GUI for diff.