Future features
What would make your next comparison easier? Here are the additions we’re considering. Open a group to see the ideas and an example of how each could help.
Help us choose what comes next.
Have another idea, or see one here you would use? Contact us and tell us what you’re comparing. Hearing how a feature would help you can move it higher on our list.
These are future ideas, not features in the current version. Considering means work has not started. We’ll mark an idea In development when we begin and add its version under Completed when it ships. Plans may change; release dates are not set.
See what’s available today · Updated
Matching Excel dataFind the same records when rows, columns, or layouts change.6 ideas
| Enhancement & example | Development | Completed |
|---|---|---|
Match Excel rows by IDAn updated asset list arrives in a different order. Match the asset numbers to see what was added, removed, or changed. Comparing cells by position would still be available. Interested in this? Tell us | Considering | Not yet |
Match using more than one columnA customer has several invoices. Use customer number and invoice number together to find the right row. Flag missing or duplicate IDs instead of guessing. Interested in this? Tell us | Considering | Not yet |
Match columns by headingThe Revenue column moved from C to F. Compare it with Revenue in the older file. Save a mapping if someone renamed it to Sales. Interested in this? Tell us | Considering | Not yet |
Choose sheets, tables, or rangesOnly the Summary tab matters today. Compare that tab or a selected block of cells, including two sheets inside the same workbook. Interested in this? Tell us | Considering | Not yet |
Recognize inserted and moved rows or columnsSomeone inserted a row near the top of a report. An optional alignment mode would help separate that insertion from the unchanged rows below it. Interested in this? Tell us | Considering | Not yet |
Compare an Excel table with a CSV exportCheck that a system export contains the same records and values as your Excel list. This would compare data; CSV files do not contain Excel formatting. Interested in this? Tell us | Considering | Not yet |
Choosing what to checkMore control over the differences that matter to you.4 ideas
| Enhancement & example | Development | Completed |
|---|---|---|
More precise ignore rulesIgnore the report date in Summary!B2, but still catch a changed number or formula everywhere else. Combine a sheet, range, and type of change in one rule. Interested in this? Tell us | Considering | Not yet |
Different tolerances for different columnsAllow a tiny rounding difference in percentages while requiring counts and account numbers to match exactly. Interested in this? Tell us | Considering | Not yet |
Optional text cleanupTreat “North” and “ north ” as the same when spaces and capitalization do not matter to your check. Keep the original text available to inspect. Interested in this? Tell us | Considering | Not yet |
Show how much a number changedSales went from 100 to 125. See “+25” and “+25%” next to the old and new values instead of working it out yourself. Interested in this? Tell us | Considering | Not yet |
Reports and reviewExplain changes, keep your findings, and check the output itself.7 ideas
| Enhancement & example | Development | Completed |
|---|---|---|
An Excel change reportSend a colleague one workbook listing added, removed, and changed records, with IDs, locations, and before-and-after values. Interested in this? Tell us | Considering | Not yet |
A detailed HTML comparison reportShare the findings from a single comparison in a file that opens in a browser. The recipient would not need Workbook Compare Pro installed. Interested in this? Tell us | Considering | Not yet |
Reopen previous comparisonsOpen last week’s results with the settings and file details used for that check, without running the comparison again. Interested in this? Tell us | Considering | Not yet |
Review marks and notesMark a difference as reviewed and add a note such as “New tax rate approved” so you remember why that change was expected. Interested in this? Tell us | Considering | Not yet |
Show only changed rows or columnsA sheet has 5,000 rows and three changed. Hide the unchanged areas while keeping nearby rows for context. Interested in this? Tell us | Considering | Not yet |
Basic report checksCheck for missing tabs, required columns, blank IDs, duplicates, expected row counts, or selected totals—even when you do not have an older file. Interested in this? Tell us | Considering | Not yet |
More workbook detailsLook for changes to comments, notes, chart settings, pivot definitions, and external connections. For example, flag a chart that now points at a different range. Interested in this? Tell us | Considering | Not yet |
Files, folders, and repeated checksBuild on projects, regression suites, and command-line comparisons.8 ideas
| Enhancement & example | Development | Completed |
|---|---|---|
Pair files with different dates in their namesMatch Sales_October.xlsx with Sales_November.xlsx in two report folders. Ask you to choose if more than one file could be the match. Interested in this? Tell us | Considering | Not yet |
Include or exclude files before comparingCompare files named Report_*.xlsx while skipping temporary files and archive folders, without opening those skipped files. Interested in this? Tell us | Considering | Not yet |
Compare one baseline with several outputsCheck the same approved report against outputs from three software versions without setting up each pair separately. Interested in this? Tell us | Considering | Not yet |
Move projects more easilyYour report folder moved to a new drive. Choose its new home once instead of correcting each saved file path. Interested in this? Tell us | Considering | Not yet |
Keep a history of comparison runsSee which checks passed on Monday, which changed on Tuesday, and when a difference first appeared. Interested in this? Tell us | Considering | Not yet |
Schedule checks inside the appSet a saved comparison to run each morning using a simple screen in the app. Command-line scheduling is already available today. Interested in this? Tell us | Considering | Not yet |
Results for automated build systemsHave a software build show a failed report check automatically, using JSON or JUnit results instead of someone reading the report by hand. Interested in this? Tell us | Considering | Not yet |
Watch a folder for new outputStart a saved check when a finished report arrives in a folder. Wait until the file is ready so a half-written report is not compared. Interested in this? Tell us | Considering | Not yet |
Statistical dataCompare research datasets as well as the reports they produce.2 ideas
| Enhancement & example | Development | Completed |
|---|---|---|
SPSS datasets (.sav and .zsav)Compare two survey datasets by respondent ID. Find changed answers, added cases, and changes to variable labels or missing-value definitions. We would investigate .sav first, then compressed .zsav support. Interested in this? Tell us | Considering | Not yet |
Stata and SAS datasetsCompare .dta, .sas7bdat, and .xpt datasets to find changed records and variable information. Each format would need its own compatibility checks. Interested in this? Tell us | Considering | Not yet |
More file typesOther files you may want to check alongside Excel reports.9 ideas
| Enhancement & example | Development | Completed |
|---|---|---|
Macro-enabled Excel (.xlsm)Compare the workbook without running its macros. Initially, flag whether the macro component changed; showing the exact VBA edits would be a further step. Interested in this? Tell us | Considering | Not yet |
Text reports and logs (.txt and .log)Compare two analysis logs to find a new warning or changed output line alongside the Excel reports from the same run. Interested in this? Tell us | Considering | Not yet |
Analysis and query scriptsSee the lines that changed in SPSS syntax (.sps), R, SQL, or Python scripts, with readable code highlighting. Interested in this? Tell us | Considering | Not yet |
JSON and XML exportsCompare fields and values in structured exports. For example, find a changed product price while ignoring an export timestamp you chose to exclude. Interested in this? Tell us | Considering | Not yet |
OpenDocument spreadsheets (.ods)Compare spreadsheets saved by LibreOffice without first converting both files to Excel format. Interested in this? Tell us | Considering | Not yet |
Parquet datasetsCheck whether records or column types changed in an analytical dataset saved as Parquet. Large-file handling would be an important part of this work. Interested in this? Tell us | Considering | Not yet |
PDF reportsFind changed wording or figures in a published report. Comparing extracted text and comparing the appearance of whole pages would be separate options to investigate. Interested in this? Tell us | Considering | Not yet |
Images and chart exportsCompare two exported charts or report images to spot a changed label or bar. Controls would help separate real changes from small rendering differences. Interested in this? Tell us | Considering | Not yet |
Legacy and binary Excel (.xls and .xlsb)Check older or binary Excel workbooks directly, rather than saving them as .xlsx first. These formats would need separate compatibility work. Interested in this? Tell us | Considering | Not yet |
Bigger ideas for laterBroader additions we would explore if enough users need them.5 ideas
| Enhancement & example | Development | Completed |
|---|---|---|
Apply selected changes to a workbookChoose a few approved changes and save them into a new workbook, with a clear review step before writing anything. Interested in this? Tell us | Considering | Not yet |
Compare three versionsTwo people changed copies of the same workbook. Compare both with the original to separate their edits and flag changes that conflict. Interested in this? Tell us | Considering | Not yet |
Recalculate formulas during a checkInvestigate checking a formula’s calculated result when the workbook has no saved value. Today we compare formula text and saved values without recalculating; a calculation engine would be a major addition. Interested in this? Tell us | Considering | Not yet |
Choose files from cloud storageChoose a file from OneDrive, SharePoint, or Google Drive and download a local copy for comparison. Any connection would be optional and explicitly authorized. Interested in this? Tell us | Considering | Not yet |
Word documents and PowerPoint slidesCheck report text in a .docx file or changes in a .pptx presentation alongside the spreadsheet used to create it. Text and layout comparison would need separate investigation. Interested in this? Tell us | Considering | Not yet |
Something missing? Email support@workbookcomparepro.com. A real example of what you need helps us plan the right addition.