Web Resource Compare — User Guide
Overview
Web Resource Compare compares web resource content between two Dataverse environments using a syntax-highlighted diff view. It supports HTML, CSS, JavaScript, XML, and JSON files, with both side-by-side and unified diff modes.
Prerequisites
- Two active connections to Dataverse environments
- Read access to web resources in both environments
Getting Started
- Select Web Resource Compare from the sidebar
- Select the Source and Target environments
Workflow
1. Choose Environments
- Source — The reference environment (e.g. Production)
- Target — The environment to compare against (e.g. Development)
2. Browse and Filter Web Resources
The plugin loads all web resources from the source environment. Use the filter controls to narrow the list:
| Filter | Description |
|---|---|
| Search by name | Type part of the file name or path |
| Type filter | Filter by file type: JavaScript, HTML, CSS, XML, JSON, Image |
3. Select a Web Resource
Click a web resource in the list to load it from both environments and display the diff.
The diff view shows:
| Element | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Green highlighted line | Line added in source (not in target) |
| Red highlighted line | Line removed from source (present in target) |
| White line | Identical in both environments |
4. Switch Diff View
Toggle between:
- Side-by-side — Source on the left, target on the right, aligned by line
- Unified diff — Single column showing additions and removals inline
5. Search Within the Diff
Use the search bar above the diff panel to find specific text. Matching occurrences are highlighted across both panels.
6. Export Differences
Click Export to download:
- Source file — Raw content from the source environment
- Target file — Raw content from the target environment
- Diff report — CSV listing each differing line with line number, source value, and target value
Tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Validate deployments | Run after deploying a solution to confirm the correct file versions were deployed |
| Check for unintended changes | Compare Dev to Production to spot any files that were modified directly in Production |
| Minified files | Minified JavaScript will show as a single long line difference — compare source maps or unminified files where available |
| Use unified view for review | Unified view is easier to read for large diffs; side-by-side is better for small targeted comparisons |
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Resolution |
|---|---|
| Resource not found in target | The web resource may not have been deployed to the target — check the solution deployment |
| Diff shows identical but content differs | The file may be minified differently — compare the source (unminified) versions |
| Load fails for one environment | Your account may lack read access to web resources in that environment |
| Image files show no diff | Binary files cannot be diffed as text — download both files and compare manually |