# Compare a local file to a remote file

Use the Compare tab of the Transfer Utility dialog box to compare a local file to a remote file. The local file is a valid FactoryTalk View Machine Edition Station runtime file (.mer) located on the computer that is running ME Transfer Utility, or on a computer connected to that computer by a network. The remote file is a valid FactoryTalk View Machine Edition Station runtime file (.mer) located on a remote MobileView, PanelView Plus 7, PanelView Plus 6, PanelView Plus, PanelView Plus Compact, or PanelView Plus CE terminal connected to the local computer by a network.

## To compare a remote file to a local file

1. On the Compare tab of the Transfer Utility dialog box, from the FactoryTalk Linx communications tree in the Select remote terminal area, select the remote terminal whose runtime application file you want to compare to the local file.
2. From the Remote storage type list, select the kind of storage the file is stored in on the terminal.
3. In the Remote file box, specify the remote file to be compared. Click the Browse button to browse for the file.
4. In the Local reference file box, specify the local file to be compared. Click the Browse button to browse for the file.
5. Click Compare.

The remote file is uploaded and saved to a temporary location on the computer running ME Transfer Utility. Once the upload is completed, the uploaded file is compared to the specified local file using a simple binary comparison. The utility then reports that the files are identical or different. When the comparison is finished, the uploaded file is deleted automatically.

## See also

About ME Transfer Utility

Options on the Compare tab

Keywords: compare, local, remote