File Compare

Command-line program that compares multiple files

This article is about the operating system command. For the general concept, see File comparison.

The Microsoft Windows 95 `fc` command

Original author(s)| Mani A. Ulloa[1]
Developer(s)| Microsoft, IBM, Digital Research, Novell
Initial release| 1984, 40-41 years ago
Written in| MS-DOS: x86 assembly language
FreeDOS: C
Operating system| MS-DOS, PC DOS, OS/2, eComStation, ArcaOS, Windows, DR DOS, FreeDOS
Platform| Cross-platform
Type| Command
License| MS-DOS: MIT
FreeDOS: GPLv2+
Website| docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/fc

In computing, `fc` (File Compare) is a command-line program in DOS, IBM OS/2 and Microsoft Windows operating systems, that compares multiple files and outputs the differences between them.[2][3] It is similar to the Unix commands `comm`, `cmp` and `diff`.

## History

[edit]

The `fc` command has been included in Microsoft operating systems since MS-DOS 2.11 (e.g. on the 1984/85 DEC Rainbow release)[4] and is included in all versions of Microsoft Windows.[5] `fc` has also been included in IBM OS/2 Version 2.0.[6]

DR DOS 6.0 includes an implementation of the `fc` command.[7]

The command is also available in FreeDOS. This implementation is licensed under the GPLv2+.[8]

## Functionality

[edit]

`fc` can compare text files as well as binary files.[9] The latest versions[which?] can compare ASCII or Unicode text. The result of comparisons are output to the standard output. The output of `fc` is intended primarily to be human readable and may be difficult to use in other programs.

## See also

[edit]

* Data comparison
* comp (command)
* List of DOS commands

## References

[edit]

1. ^ OS/2 Museum
2. ^ "fc Microsoft Docs". Microsoft.com. Retrieved 2019-06-20.
3. ^ "Fasthelp". Technet.microsoft.com. 20 February 2014. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
4. ^ Rainbow MS-DOS Version 2.11 Documentation : Digital Equipment Corporation October 1984
5. ^ MS-DOS and Windows command line fc command
6. ^ OS/2 2.0 Redbooks Volume 2 - DOS and Windows Environment (GG24-3731)
7. ^ DR DOS 6.0 User Guide Optimisation and Configuration Tips
8. ^ "FreeDOS 1.2 Updates Package - fc (FreeDOS Base)". Ibiblio.org. 2005-01-10. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
9. ^ FC - file compare - Windows CMD - SS64.com

## Further reading

[edit]

* Cooper, Jim (2001). Special Edition Using MS-DOS 6.22, Third Edition. Que Publishing. ISBN 978-0789725738.
* John Paul Mueller (2007). Windows Administration at the Command Line for Windows Vista, Windows 2003, Windows XP, and Windows 2000. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-0470165799.

## External links

[edit]

Wikibooks has a book on the topic of: Guide to Windows Commands

* fc | Microsoft Docs
* Open source FC implementation that comes with MS-DOS v2.0

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