Comparing PDF documents is a common task when collaborating on projects or tracking changes. This allows users to quickly review and understand what has been modified, added, or removed between revisions. Effective PDF comparison streamlines the review process and ensures all stakeholders are aligned on the latest document content.
In this article, you will learn how to compare two PDF documents using Python and the Spire.PDF for Python library.
Install Spire.PDF for Python
This scenario requires Spire.PDF for Python and plum-dispatch v1.7.4. They can be easily installed in your Windows through the following pip command.
pip install Spire.PDF
If you are unsure how to install, please refer to this tutorial: How to Install Spire.PDF for Python on Windows
Compare Two PDF Documents in Python
Spire.PDF for Python provides the PdfComparer.Compare() method allowing developers to compare two PDF documents and save the comparison result to another PDF document. Here are the detailed steps.
- Load the first PDF document while initializing the PdfDocument object.
- Load the second PDF document while initializing another PdfDocument object.
- Initialize an instance of PdfComparer class, passing the two PdfDocument objects are the parameter.
- Call Compare() method of the PdfComparer object to compare the two PDF documents and save the result to a different PDF document.
- Python
from spire.pdf.common import *
from spire.pdf import *
# Load the first document
doc_one = PdfDocument("C:\\Users\\Administrator\\Desktop\\PDF_ONE.pdf")
# Load the section document
doc_two = PdfDocument("C:\\Users\\Administrator\\Desktop\\PDF_TWO.pdf")
# Create a PdfComparer object
comparer = PdfComparer(doc_two, doc_one)
# Compare two documents and save the comparison result in a pdf document
comparer.Compare("output/CompareResult.pdf")
# Dispose resources
doc_one.Dispose()
doc_two.Dispose()
Compare Selected Pages in PDF Documents in Python
Instead of comparing two entire documents, you can specify the pages to compare using the PdfComparer.PdfCompareOptions.SetPageRanges() method. The following are the detailed steps.
- Load the first PDF document while initializing the PdfDocument object.
- Load the second PDF document while initializing another PdfDocument object.
- Initialize an instance of PdfComparer class, passing the two PdfDocument objects are the parameter.
- Specify the page range to compare using PdfComparer.PdfCompareOptions.SetPageRanges() method
- Call PdfComparer.Compare() method to compare the selected pages and save the result to a different PDF document.
- Python
from spire.pdf.common import *
from spire.pdf import *
# Load the first document
doc_one = PdfDocument("C:\\Users\\Administrator\\Desktop\\PDF_ONE.pdf")
# Load the section document
doc_two = PdfDocument("C:\\Users\\Administrator\\Desktop\\PDF_TWO.pdf")
# Create a PdfComparer object
comparer = PdfComparer(doc_two, doc_one)
# Set page range for comparison
comparer.PdfCompareOptions.SetPageRanges(1, 3, 1, 3)
# Compare the selected pages and save the comparison result in a pdf document
comparer.Compare("output/CompareResult.pdf")
# Dispose resources
doc_one.Dispose()
doc_two.Dispose()
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