Notepad++ is a free text and code editor for Microsoft Windows operating system. Users can compare two files in Notepad++ side by side with a compare plugin. It shows multiple differences with different colors. The compare plugin works better for source code rather than simple text. In this article, we will show you the method through which you can easily compare two files in Notepad++.

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Compare Two Files Easily in Notepad++

Using the Compare Plugin

There is a specific compare plugin in Notepad++ to compare two files. However, it is not available by default and you need to download it manually through the plugin manager. The latest Notepad++ uses Plugin Admin as a plugin manager. If you are using an outdated version of Notepad++, then simply update it or install the Plugin Manager manually . Compare plugin will do a comparison through the lines.

A few of the symbols/signs that you will find for lines after using the compare plugin have different meanings as stated below:

  • Added (+) : This sign will show the lines that only exist in the new file and not in the old file.
  • Deleted (-) : The minus sign will show the lines that do not exist in the new file, but are only present in the old file.
  • Moved (⇳) : The stream that appears once in another file, but in a different location.
  • Changed (≠) : Most of the lines will be similar but with some changes that are highlighted in a different color.

The compare plugin is limited and may not provide the features that you are looking for in Notepad++. Anyway, follow the below steps to check it out:

  1. Open your Notepad++ by double-clicking on the shortcut. You can also search for Notepad++ through the Windows search feature and open it.
  2. Click on the Plugins menu in the menu bar and choose the Plugins Admin option. Opening plugin manager
  3. Search for the Compare plugin in the list of plugins. Select the plugin and click on the Install button. Installing plugin manager
  4. It will ask you to restart the Notepad++ to install the Compare plugin. Click on the Yes button to approve the action.
  5. Once the Notepad++ is restarted, the Compare plugin will be installed.
  6. Now open two files that you want to compare. You can do it by clicking on the File menu and choosing the Open option, then selecting the files that you want to open. Note : You can also simply drag and drop files to the Notepad++ to open them.
  7. After that, click on the Plugins menu, choose the Compare option, and then click on the Compare in the sub-menu. Using the compare plugin
  8. It will compare the two files and show the differences between them.
  9. You can also click on the Plugins , then Compare , and choose the Settings option to further configure Compare plugin options. The colors for differences can be changed for Compare plugin too.
  10. To close the comparison of files, click on the Plugins menu again, choose the Compare , and then click on the Clear Active Compare or Clear All Compares option. Clearing the comparison

How to Fix “Printer is in an error state” Issue?

The error “ WinRAR Error: Next Volume Is Required ” usually appears when you’re extracting a multi-part RAR archive and WinRAR can’t find (or can’t correctly identify) the next file in the sequence . This often happens when a volume is missing , stored in a different folder , or renamed in a way that breaks the archive’s expected order .

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In this guide, we’ll go over the most reliable fixes confirmed by affected users, along with what each method is doing behind the scenes so you can choose the right one for your situation.

Important: To extract multi-volume archives, you should always start extraction from the first file in the set. This is usually file.part1.rar , or (in older sets) the main .rar file that comes before .r01 , .r02 , and so on.

1. Download and Place the Missing RAR File

WinRAR needs all parts of a multi-volume archive to complete extraction. This error usually appears when one of the volumes in a set like .part2.rar , .r01 , .r02 , .001 , and similar naming formats is missing . Downloading the missing volume and placing it in the same folder as the other parts allows WinRAR to continue extracting normally .

  1. Look at the error message or review the list of archive parts in the folder.
  2. Identify which volume is missing (for example, part2.rar , .r02 , .001 , etc.).
  3. Go back to the website or source where you downloaded the archive.
  4. Locate and download the exact missing file using the same naming format as the others.
  5. Make sure the new file name matches the pattern of the rest. Example: If you have file.part1.rar and file.part3.rar , the missing one must be file.part2.rar .
  6. Move the downloaded missing volume into the same folder as the other archive parts.
  7. Confirm that all parts are in a single folder before extracting.
  8. Right-click the first file in the series (usually part1 or the main .rar file) and select Extract Here or Extract to Folder .
  9. WinRAR should now detect all volumes and continue extraction normally .

2. Manually Browse & Select the Next Volume

Use this method only if the next volume already exists , but WinRAR is failing to detect it automatically. This can happen due to incorrect naming , the file being in a different location , or a temporary file access issue. Manually browsing helps WinRAR locate the correct volume and resume extraction without interruption .

  1. Right-click the first file in the series (usually .rar or part1.rar ) and select Extract Here or Extract to Folder .
  2. When WinRAR cannot find the next volume, it will show the “ Next Volume Is Required ” message.
  3. A small window will appear, allowing you to manually select the next volume .
  4. Use the file explorer window to locate the folder where the other archive parts are saved.
  5. Select the next part based on the naming order (example: select file.part2.rar after file.part1.rar ).
  6. Make sure the selected file matches the naming format of the archive (no extra characters like (1) and no mismatched numbering).
  7. WinRAR will resume extraction using the selected volume .
  8. If additional volumes are missing or stored separately, WinRAR may prompt you again. Repeat the same process until extraction completes.

3. Rename the RAR files in Order

WinRAR relies on a proper naming sequence (such as file.part1.rar , file.part2.rar , file.part3.rar ) to extract multi-volume archives. If a file is named incorrectly, contains extra characters, or is out of order, WinRAR may fail to locate the next volume and show this error. Renaming the files correctly helps WinRAR follow the sequence and extract the archive without interruptions .

Note: Renaming only changes the file name , not the file contents. The goal is to restore the correct sequence so WinRAR can detect the next volume.

  1. Go to the folder where all the RAR files are saved.
  2. Make sure all parts of the archive are present and stored in the same folder .
  3. Check how the parts are currently named . Common patterns include:
file.part1.rar, file.part2.rar, file.part3.rar
file.rar, file.r01, file.r02, file.r03
  1. Look for files that don’t match the expected numbering pattern (for example, file.part01.rar , file.part1(1).rar , or unrelated names).
  2. Rename each file so it follows the same order without extra characters or mismatched numbering. Example:
Incorrect: file.part1.rar, file.part3.rar, file.part2(1).rar
Correct: file.part1.rar, file.part2.rar, file.part3.rar
  1. Make sure the text before the number is exactly the same for all files.
  2. Only the last part number should change.
  3. Right-click the first file in the series (usually part1.rar or the main .rar file) and select Extract Here .
  4. WinRAR should now recognize the sequence and continue extraction normally .

If you still get the same prompt: the archive set is likely incomplete (a part was never downloaded or was removed), or one of the volumes is corrupt and must be re-downloaded from the original source.