# How can i compare a whole directory with PDF files using i-net PDFC?

**URL:** <https://faq.inetsoftware.de/t/how-can-i-compare-a-whole-directory-with-pdf-files-using-i-net-pdfc/18>\
**Category:** i-net PDFC\
**Created:** [October 31, 2014, 9:35am UTC](https://faq.inetsoftware.de/t/how-can-i-compare-a-whole-directory-with-pdf-files-using-i-net-pdfc/18 "2014-10-31T09:35:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![TorstenRietzel](https://faq.inetsoftware.de/user_avatar/faq.inetsoftware.de/torstenrietzel/32/14_2.png) [@TorstenRietzel](https://faq.inetsoftware.de/u/TorstenRietzel)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2014, 9:35am UTC](https://faq.inetsoftware.de/t/how-can-i-compare-a-whole-directory-with-pdf-files-using-i-net-pdfc/18/1 "2014-10-31T09:35:46Z")

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I need to compare a batch of multiple PDF files and export out the comparison result in a report. I would like to compare all the PDF files at once using command line. The PDF files has the name name, but are placed in two different directories. Will i-net PDFC support this? Which licence is required?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![TorstenRietzel](https://faq.inetsoftware.de/user_avatar/faq.inetsoftware.de/torstenrietzel/32/14_2.png) [@TorstenRietzel](https://faq.inetsoftware.de/u/TorstenRietzel)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2014, 9:38am UTC](https://faq.inetsoftware.de/t/how-can-i-compare-a-whole-directory-with-pdf-files-using-i-net-pdfc/18/2 "2014-10-31T09:38:33Z")

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Using command line or (Java/.NET) API you can compare a batch of multiple PDF files, e.g. the PDF files with the same name in two folders using the following command:

```
java -jar java/PDFC.jar -p "folder 1" "folder2" 

```

With the -p command line parameter you can create a PDF file containing the comparison result for each pair of PDF files like you can see it in the i-net PDFC GUI.

For more information please refer to the Command Line section in the documentation:

> **[i-net PDFC - Intelligent Document Comparison and Content Analysis](https://www.inetsoftware.de/en/i-net-pdfc/)**
>
> Transform your PDF workflows with i-net PDFC's intelligent document comparison. Content-aware analysis reveals every change. Download free trial today!

A Plus license is required to use the i-net PDFC on the command line and/or to use it’s API:  
[i-net PDFC - Intelligent Document Comparison and Content Analysis](https://www.inetsoftware.de/products/pdf-content-comparer#licensing).

During the evaluation period you can use all features using the trial license.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![TorstenRietzel](https://faq.inetsoftware.de/user_avatar/faq.inetsoftware.de/torstenrietzel/32/14_2.png) [@TorstenRietzel](https://faq.inetsoftware.de/u/TorstenRietzel)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2025, 3:29pm UTC](https://faq.inetsoftware.de/t/how-can-i-compare-a-whole-directory-with-pdf-files-using-i-net-pdfc/18/3 "2025-08-08T15:29:49Z")

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Using the [task planner](https://docs.inetsoftware.de/pdfc/help/taskplanner) of the i-net PDFC server it is possible to automatically compare all files in two folder that have the same sub-path and file association in both folders, see: [Batch Comparison](https://docs.inetsoftware.de/pdfc/help/taskplanner.job.comparebatch/p/batch-comparison). Different [trigger](https://docs.inetsoftware.de/pdfc/help/taskplanner.trigger/p/trigger) can be used to start the comparison task.