# Compare Files This pre-built action, located under the **@Generic Element**, instructs Avo Assure to compare the contents of two specified files (e.g., .txt, .xml, .json). It calculates the number of differences between the files and stores the result in a dynamic variable.
**Syntax** **Input Value:** `;;` {% hint style="warning" %} **Note:** By default, the final argument in the above syntax is **all** and will store all file’s content in the dynamic variable and if final argument is written as **Selective** then dynamic variable will display selective data of file. {% endhint %} | Argument | Description | | -------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |

(Required)

| Provide file path to the original file which you want to compare against | |

\
(Required)

| Provide file path that needs to be compared with the original. | |

\
(Optional)

Selective/All if provided:
• Selective → compares only specific parts
• All → compares the entire content of both files

| **Output Value:** | Argument | Description | | ---------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------- | |

\
(Required)

| This variable holds the result of the content comparison. | |

\
(Optional)

| This variable stores the status as **true** or **false** | **Example 1** **Compare two files and identify differences**\ \ The **Compare Files** action takes the value from the Input Value column (e.g., **C:\Files\BaseFile.txt;C:\Files\UpdatedFile.txt;All**) and compares the original file with the file to be compared. The result of the comparison is stored in the **{Comparison}** variable, and the action status is saved in the **{Status}** variable with the following possible values: * **True** –if the files are compared successfully * **False** – if the files are not compared

**Example 2** **Performs comparison between two files to identify differences in content**\ \ The **Compare Files** action takes the value from the Input Value column (e.g., **C:\Files\original.txt;C:\Files\updated.txt;Selective**) and compares the content of the specified files. When the comparison type is set to **Selective**, only selected parts of the files (e.g., **specific lines or paragraph**) are compared. The result of the file comparison is stored in the **{Comparison}** variable, while the execution status is stored in the **{Status}** variable, with the following possible values: * **True** – if the files match based on the selected comparison mode. * **False** – if any differences are found or an error occurs.