Compare .xls without Excel?

[Aaron]

Hello,

Beyond Compare requires a copy of Excel to open and compare XLS files using our default format. This format uses a vb script to call to your copy of Excel to open the file and convert it to plain text, in the background, so we can then view it.

If you have another program which can perform this conversion from the command line, BC3 can be configured to use it. We have an example for custom format creation here:
http://www.scootersoftware.com/suppo...rnalconversion

Otherwise, you could also open another program's graphical interface, and use a Save As... to generate a text file, which we can then open.

[JNRII]

Ok, this is the closest thread I can find and there is a very big hole that I am not sure how to fill. I get the .vbs error and need to get rid of it. I am not installing Office. I want to compare files. Just because they are xls or xlsw or ..... is not relevant. How do I make Beyond Compare do the compare without trying to inject Micros#$%s? .vbs? Help please.