Skipping Positional Data - Is It Possible?

[Cobol Jim]

Is there a way for me to filter out differences in a specific position in a file? For example, I have a four byte field in position 6-9. I don't care if it's different because I know it can/will be. There are times I may have 500 differences, 300 of which are in position 6-9. I know that and I don't care, but I still have to step through them all. Is there a way for me to filter those out?

Thanks

Jim

[Aaron]

Hello,

Is this a plain text file, in column positions 4-6? If so, you can define a grammar element for those positions, and then mark it as an Unimportant Difference.

Here's a kb article that goes into more detail with a video:
http://www.scootersoftware.com/suppo..._unimportantv3

Please note, once it is defined as unimportant it will show up as Blue/Unimportant. You will need to enable "Ignore Unimportant Differences" in the toolbar to disregard/hide unimportant changes.

[Cobol Jim]

I did everything the video said but the diffs did not turn blue. Also, how does it know which columns I want?

[Aaron]

If you click the cursor (blinking) into the column positions 6,7,8,9, in the lower status bar of the individual pane, we show the detected grammar element. Does it say Default Text or the name of the custom grammar element?

If it says Default Text, the grammar element is not matching or applied. Example files and your Support.zip (Help menu -> Support; Export) can be emailed to [email protected]
If you email us, please include a link to this forum post for reference.

If it says the grammar name, it needs to be unchecked (made unimportant) in the Session Settings, Importance tab.

[Aaron]

In addition,

The grammar element can be defined as a "Columns" type, which numerically counts from the left to the right, and is defined by the position. Is that the type you are using?

[Cobol Jim]

I got it Aaron. Thanks for all your help!!

[Cobol Jim]

But WAIT!! Put that checkbook away there's more!!

Is it possible to set up more than one column definition? Example - I want to ignore cols 3-6 and 10-12 in the same line?

[Aaron]

Yup. Create one ColumnGrammar with the definition of 3-6, and another with 10-12.

You can even give the grammar the same name (such as String = " " and String = ' ')
That way, only "String" or "ColumnGrammar" appears once in the Session Settings, Importance list. Unchecking it makes all "ColumnGrammar" or "String" unimportant.