File comparison question

Re: File comparison question

On 29 Sep 2003 08:09:00 -0700, bweissbo@lucent .com (Bill W.) wrote:
[color=blue]
>I'm teaching myself VB6. As a first project, I've decided to work on
>a Window's version of the Unix command, "diff" -- with a few twists.
>But being unfamiliar with VB, I am unsure as to how to best compare
>two files and/or directories.
>
>A byte-by-byte comparison would probably be best but slow, correct?
>What about computing a CRC for each file and then compare those. any
>faster?[/color]
Calculating a CRC involves reading every byte
- there is also (a very small) possibility of error[color=blue]
>OR
>Compare file-sizes, and create/access times. Would that be a reliable
>enough comparison?[/color]
File sizes are Ok - create/access datetimes are irrelevant[color=blue]
>
>Any thoughts, comments, suggestions, pointers to sample code, etc.
>welcome.
>
>Bill W[/color]