Paste
Dedup
Del Empty
Sort
Trim
Copy| A | B | C | D | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | |||||
| 2 | |||||
| 3 | |||||
| 4 | |||||
| 5 | |||||
| 6 | |||||
| 7 | |||||
| 8 | |||||
| 9 | |||||
| 10 | |||||
| 11 | |||||
| 12 | |||||
| 13 | |||||
| 14 |
| A | |
|---|---|
| 1 |
PasteDedupDel EmptySortTrimCopy| A | B | C | D | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | |||||
| 2 | |||||
| 3 | |||||
| 4 | |||||
| 5 | |||||
| 6 | |||||
| 7 | |||||
| 8 | |||||
| 9 | |||||
| 10 | |||||
| 11 | |||||
| 12 | |||||
| 13 | |||||
| 14 |
| A | |
|---|---|
| 1 |
Often, you need more than just a visual comparison of two Excel spreadsheets - you need a list of matching rows that you can save to a separate file or send to a colleague.
In this step-by-step guide, we'll show you how to do that in just a few seconds.
In our example, we'll use two lists of laptop models and create a new file containing only the rows that appear in both lists.
To get started, drag and drop two files from File Explorer onto this page. Place one file in the left panel and the other in the right panel.
You can also paste data directly into the tables using the clipboard. This option is especially useful if your spreadsheets are stored in Google Sheets or use a format other than XLSX or CSV.
In our example, it looks like this:
You can skip this step if your table does not contain a header row. However, it is important to get accurate results. The header row gives xlCompare the field names from your table, while the key column tells the application which field should be used to match rows between the two tables.
Click the HDR marker next to the row number. The selected row will be highlighted in blue.
In our example, the first row in each table is the header row.
What if there is no header row? Simply skip this step - it will not affect the comparison result.
Click the KEY marker in the column header. The selected column will be highlighted in blue.
In our example, we use the SKU column as the key field. This field uniquely identifies each row in the table.
In more advanced cases, the key can consist of multiple fields, such as first name and last name.
What if you are not sure which field to use as the key? Just skip this step. In that case, xlCompare will use a different algorithm to find differences between the tables.
Click the Compare button located below the two tables to run the comparison and instantly see the results on the screen.
All differences between the two tables will be highlighted with colors for easy review.
Result is the following:
Above the comparison report, you will see the Legend, which displays the number of matching and different rows.
Select Equal, and xlCompare will display only the rows that are completely identical in both tables.
That's exactly what we need.
The online version of xlCompare does not save files directly to your disk. Instead, it allows you to copy the resulting table and paste it into a new Excel file or Google Sheets document.
This is a simple and familiar way to transfer data between spreadsheets - even for beginners.
Right-click anywhere inside one of the tables.
Click Select All in the context menu.
Right-click again and select Copy.
Done! The selected data is now stored in your clipboard.
You can now paste it directly into Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets.
You can also use keyboard shortcuts instead of the context menu:
As you can see, the entire task can be completed in just a few clicks.
Even if you are highly experienced with Excel formulas, functions, and advanced features, getting the result with 5–6 mouse clicks is faster and easier.
The online version of xlCompare is a fast and free way to compare Excel spreadsheets. So why does the website also offer a paid desktop application?
The desktop version includes a range of advanced features designed for professional and enterprise use:
The xlCompare desktop application is a professional solution for businesses and enterprise users who work with Excel spreadsheets as part of their daily operations.
Compare XLSX Files Online Step-by-Step
Step-by-step instruction on comparing Excel files for difference online using xlCompare.com. In a few seconds you will have your job done!
How to compare two Excel sheets for matching data
If your goal is to find matching rows in two Excel spreadsheets, xlCompare offers a fast and simple solution that takes only a few seconds ...
How to compare two excel sheets and find missing rows
Tasks like these should not be done manually - the risk of human error is too high. The online application xlCompare automates this process and solves the problem in seconds ...
How do I find the values that are in one column but not in the other
xlCompare can do this automatically in just a few clicks. It's one of the easiest ways to find differences between values in two Excel columns ...
