Spreadsheet Comparison

Need help with
a comparison?

Start with the symptom below. Most comparison problems become clearer when the export, key and mappings are checked separately.

A file will not import

  1. Confirm that it is a CSV, XLS, XLSX, Numbers or ODS file and that the extension matches the actual format.
  2. For Excel, select a worksheet containing one table with a header row. Encrypted or unsupported workbooks may need a separate, unencrypted export.
  3. Check the Excel import limits. A worksheet’s declared range can extend beyond the visible data.
  4. For CSV, inspect quoting and encoding in the application that generated the file. A comma inside a value must not become a new column.

Keep the original file and create a working copy when cleaning an export. An import error should be resolved before you interpret any comparison results.

Too many records look changed

Check the row key first. It should identify the same record on both sides and remain stable through the changes you want to find. Next review mappings: two fields with the same header can still describe different amounts, dates or statuses.

Inspect a known record in the complete row view. Compare leading zeros, date strings, saved formula values and fields intentionally excluded. Review column mapping and key selection before changing the underlying data.

A record appears only in one file

Confirm that both exports cover the same scope, date range and record types. A missing record may have been filtered out, placed on another worksheet or assigned a changed identifier. “Only in one file” describes the comparison under the selected key; it does not establish why the source differs.

If several records share the key, inspect the whole group. The duplicate-key guide explains incomplete keys and repeated identical records.

A license will not activate

Paste the complete signed license into Lifetime license… in the app menu, then choose Activate license. Check that no part was omitted and that the license was issued for this app.

If the app says activation is not configured, quit any older copy and install the current release. Open the app from Applications and check its version in the About window. If the problem continues, contact us with the error message and purchase email address. Do not share your license publicly.