Document Comparison Skill
This skill compares two documents to find substantive differences, errors, or inconsistencies. It is particularly useful for legal contracts, financial reports, or revised document versions.
Usage
# Compare two specific files
/compare-docs file1.docx file2.docx
# Compare with specific focus
/compare-docs file1.docx file2.docx --focus "financial data"Workflow
- Input Verification:
- Verify both input files exist. - Determine file type (.docx,.pdf,.md,.txt).
- Content Extraction:
- If files are .docx, use pandoc to convert them to Markdown for clear text analysis. pandoc -t markdown "file1.docx" -o "file1.md" pandoc -t markdown "file2.docx" -o "file2.md" - If files are .pdf, use available PDF reading tools.
- Analysis & Comparison:
- Read the extracted content. - Compare the documents section by section or key-value by key-value. - Focus Areas: - Numbers & Dates: Check for discrepancies in financial figures, dates, percentages, and quantities. - Key Clauses: Identify added, removed, or modified clauses (especially in legal/contractual contexts). - Definitions: Check for changes in defined terms. - *Note:* Ignore minor formatting changes unless explicitly requested.
- Report Generation:
- Create a Markdown report (comparison_report.md) structured as follows: - Summary: Brief overview of the comparison result. - Critical Differences (High Risk): Data mismatches, missing clauses, conflicting obligations. - Substantive Changes: Changes in meaning or scope. - Stylistic/Format Changes: (Optional) Brief mention of layout or phrasing changes that don't alter meaning. - Recommendations: Actionable advice based on findings.
- Output formatting & Delivery:
- Convert the Markdown report to a professional .docx document using pandoc. pandoc "comparison_report.md" -o "Comparison_Report.docx" - Open the file: Automatically open the generated document so the user can view it immediately. - On macOS: open "Comparison_Report.docx" - On Windows: start "Comparison_Report.docx" - On Linux: xdg-open "Comparison_Report.docx" - Inform the user of the report location.
- Cleanup:
- Remove temporary intermediate files (e.g., converted.md files) to keep the workspace clean.
Example Output Structure
Comparison Report
1. Executive Summary
...
2. Key Discrepancies
| Item | File A Value | File B Value | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $10M | $12M | Significant |
| ... | ... | ... | ... |
3. Detailed Clause Analysis
...