Directory FingerPrinter (abbreviation: dfp) is a CLI (dfp.exe), which creates and compares directory fingerprints: a directory fingerprint is the aggregate of all names, timestamps, sizes, and hash sums of files within a specified directory.

The main purpose and intention of dfp is to recognize any changes to any directory and/or compare two directories, containing mostly non-text files, without the need for any versioning management software like git or subversion, etc.

Contents

• Contents
• Introduction
• How does the comparison look like?
• Usage and Syntax:
• 1. Parameters
  • 1.1 Self-Parameters
  • 1.2 Parameters Combination Synonyms:
  • 1.3 All Parameters:
• 2. Help Parameters:
• 3. Version Parameters:
• 4. Calculation:
  • 4.1 Filter parameters:
  • 4.2 Hash/Checksum Options:
  • 4.3 Report Level Options:
  • 4.4 Display Options:
  • 4.5 Save Options:
• 5. Compare:
  • 5.1 Type of Comparison:
  • 5.2 Ignore Options:
• 6. Extensions List:
  • 6.1 Delimeters/Separators:
  • 6.2 Example:
• 7. Filenames:
  • 7.1 Filename formats of saved fingerprint files:
  • 7.2 EXAMPLES:
• 8. Save/Load Parameters:
  • 8.1 Saving Parameters (to file)
  • 8.2 Loading Parameters (from file)
• 9. Usage Examples
  • 9.1 Calculation
    • Show FP of only toplevel files in current directory:
    • Process only assemblies (will ignore anything else than *.dll, *.exe):
    • Process only *.json, *.txt, *.xml and *.yaml files:
    • Ignore *.log and *.ini and hidden files:
    • Show use SHA256 algorithm, don't show header:
    • Show FP for all files (recursive) in C:\MyDir:
    • Save FPF as *.dfp into 'C:\MyDFP Files\Test':
    • Save FPF as *.csv into 'C:\MyDFP Files\Test':
  • 9.2 Compare:
    • Compare directories "C:\MyDir1" to "C:\MyDir2" and print result in color:
    • Compare two FPFs with different formats and print verbose result:
    • Compare FPF 'temp\fingerprint.dfp' with directory C:\MyDir but ignore file timestamps:
• 9. Error Codes
• 10. Symbols and Colors

Introduction

What is a "directory fingerprint"?
A directory fingerprint is the aggregate of all names, timestamps, sizes, and hash sums of files within a specified directory.

What can I do with the directory-fingerprinter dfp.exe?

• View a detailed list of files in a directory (including versions of assemblies and hash sums).
• Save the fingerprint of a directory for comparing and detecting changes in the future.
• Compare two folders.
• Compare two directory fingerprints.
• Compare a fingerprint (file) against a directory or vice versa.

How can I use dfp.exe?
By calling it in the prompt (cmd/console) as shown below:

C:\> dfp --versions -d c:\MyBinaries
-------------------------------------------------
 Name                            | Version
-------------------------------------------------
 CheckNet.exe                    | 1.0.1.0
 dfp.dll                         | 1.0.2
 dfp.exe                         | 1.0.2
 DirectoryFingerPrinting.dll     | 1.0.0.0
 log4net.dll                     | 2.0.8.0
 Newtonsoft.Json.dll             | 12.0.3.23909
 nuget.exe                       | 5.7.0.6726
 

 C:\> dfp --versions -d c:\MyBinaries
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Name                            | Hashsum (SHA1)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 CheckNet.exe                    | eba4ceb1cd17caed003ea8b34cec36de5d7ebd63
 dfp.dll                         | 01f2a6785ee2015d252e79c17bdca5b312423c38
 dfp.exe                         | 7636abe0730ce3af6b0d12080636e9bf3c6cb54d
 DirectoryFingerPrinting.dll     | e55e52aadc1e62b5e6b385b657395235f7dfd5a7
 log4net.dll                     | 92683e4fb8d3c7a544dce21e12f24dcc8b600e9c
 Newtonsoft.Json.dll             | 1248142eb45eed3beb0d9a2d3b8bed5fe2569b10
 nuget.exe                       | 6d2302dc9c562078b1c089372c078d5cd589a59a


C:\> dfp -ao -icd -ila -d C:\SomeDirectory
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Name                            | Modified at         | Size    | Version      | Hashsum (SHA1)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 CheckNet.exe                    | 2021-11-20 15:24.30 | 239616  | 1.0.1.0      | eba4ceb1cd17caed003ea8b34cec36de5d7ebd63
 dfp.dll                         | 2023-05-20 06:07.58 | 53760   | 1.0.2        | 01f2a6785ee2015d252e79c17bdca5b312423c38
 dfp.exe                         | 2023-05-20 06:08.00 | 115200  | 1.0.2        | 7636abe0730ce3af6b0d12080636e9bf3c6cb54d
 DirectoryFingerPrinting.dll     | 2023-05-20 05:40.12 | 27648   | 1.0.0.0      | e55e52aadc1e62b5e6b385b657395235f7dfd5a7
 log4net.dll                     | 2017-03-08 18:26.22 | 276480  | 2.0.8.0      | 92683e4fb8d3c7a544dce21e12f24dcc8b600e9c
 Newtonsoft.Json.dll             | 2019-11-08 23:56.44 | 700336  | 12.0.3.23909 | 1248142eb45eed3beb0d9a2d3b8bed5fe2569b10
 nuget.exe                       | 2021-02-23 19:16.54 | 6661528 | 5.7.0.6726   | 6d2302dc9c562078b1c089372c078d5cd589a59a


C:\> dfp -d C:\SomeDirectory
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Name                            | Created at          | Modified at         | Last Access at      | Size     | Version      | Hashsum (SHA1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 CheckNet.exe                    | 2023-09-11 15:41.00 | 2021-11-20 15:24.30 | 2024-04-01 13:48.32 | 239616   | 1.0.1.0      | eba4ceb1cd17caed003ea8b34cec36de5d7ebd63
 delreg.cmd                      | 2023-09-11 15:41.00 | 2020-12-01 21:34.50 | 2024-04-01 13:48.32 | 14478    |              | c1de89c2b434452d849c7ca4a320e3848133b330
 dfp.deps.json                   | 2023-05-20 06:08.00 | 2023-05-20 06:08.00 | 2024-04-01 13:48.32 | 3246     |              | 67506dcb6863bd96b14b9ec3099db9e47538bb09
 dfp.dll                         | 2023-05-20 06:07.58 | 2023-05-20 06:07.58 | 2024-04-01 13:48.32 | 53760    | 1.0.2        | 01f2a6785ee2015d252e79c17bdca5b312423c38
 dfp.exe                         | 2023-05-20 06:08.00 | 2023-05-20 06:08.00 | 2024-04-01 13:48.32 | 115200   | 1.0.2        | 7636abe0730ce3af6b0d12080636e9bf3c6cb54d
 dfp.runtimeconfig.json          | 2023-05-20 06:08.00 | 2023-05-20 06:08.00 | 2024-04-01 13:48.32 | 253      |              | 9160a009cb381e044ba4c63e4435da6bfeb9dc6d
 DirectoryFingerPrinting.dll     | 2023-05-20 05:40.12 | 2023-05-20 05:40.12 | 2024-04-01 13:48.32 | 27648    | 1.0.0.0      | e55e52aadc1e62b5e6b385b657395235f7dfd5a7
 google.cmd                      | 2023-09-11 15:41.00 | 2021-01-06 18:44.42 | 2024-04-01 13:48.32 | 1446     |              | 72b50e74d7b3182ab0d55a6225db60185986ff39
 License.txt                     | 2023-05-13 17:30.10 | 2023-05-13 17:30.10 | 2024-04-01 13:48.32 | 35149    |              | 31a3d460bb3c7d98845187c716a30db81c44b615
 log4net.dll                     | 2023-09-11 15:41.00 | 2017-03-08 18:26.22 | 2024-04-01 13:48.32 | 276480   | 2.0.8.0      | 92683e4fb8d3c7a544dce21e12f24dcc8b600e9c
 Manual.pdf                      | 2023-09-11 15:41.00 | 2020-03-03 14:00.29 | 2024-04-01 13:48.32 | 75018    |              | 0626f4842d46baa750b5bad7bd2acdcf13607534
 Newtonsoft.Json.dll             | 2023-09-11 15:41.00 | 2019-11-08 23:56.44 | 2024-04-01 13:48.32 | 700336   | 12.0.3.23909 | 1248142eb45eed3beb0d9a2d3b8bed5fe2569b10
 nuget.exe                       | 2023-09-11 15:41.00 | 2021-02-23 19:16.54 | 2024-04-01 13:48.32 | 6661528  | 5.7.0.6726   | 6d2302dc9c562078b1c089372c078d5cd589a59a

How does the comparison look like?

There are three modes to list the differencies:

• Essential (default)
• Informative
• Verbose Section 4.3 contains more details. Here is an output example for using the "--report-informative" or short "-ri" parameter:

- File2.txt (File removed)
- Sub_Dir\File4.txt (File removed)
~ Sub_Dir\File6.txt (Hashsums differs)
+ File3.txt (File added)
+ Sub_Dir\File5.txt (File added)

Usage and Syntax:

Call dfp.exe in console as follow:

dfp ( (HELP | VERSION) | (CACLULATION | COMPARE ) [PARAMETERS]+ )

1. Parameters

1.1 Self-Parameters

These parameters output the help text or license/version information about dfp.exe:

Parameter	Examples (short)	Description
--help	dfp -h	Displays help text
--version	dfp -v	Displays version information about dfp.exe

1.2 Parameters Combination Synonyms:

These parameters are synonyms for multiple parameters, so in most cases you type less:

Parameter	Examples (short)	Description
--checksums	dfp --checksums	Displays only checksums of files
--sizes	dfp --sizes	Displays only sizes of files
--versions	dfp --versions	Displays available versions of assemblies (*.dll, *.exe)

1.3 All Parameters:

Parameter	Examples (short)	Description
--assemblies-only	dfp -ao --directory .\	Processes only *.dll and *.exe files
--directory	dfp --directory .\	Specifies the base directory for calculations
--help	dfp -h	Displays help text
--ignore-timestamps	dfp -its -d .\	Ignores all timestamps of files
--ignore-size	dfp -is -d .\	Ignores file sizes (in bytes)
--ignore-creation-date	dfp -icd -d .\	Ignores created-at-timestamp
--ignore-last-modification	dfp -ilm -d .\	Ignores last-modification-at-timestamp
--ignore-last-access	dfp -ila -d .\	Ignores last-access-timestamp
--ignore-version	dfp -iv -d .\	Ignores versions (only *.dll and *.exe files)
--ignore-checksum	dfp -ics -d .\	Ignores hashsums
--ignore-hidden-files	dfp -ihf -d .\	Ignores hidden files
--ignore-access-errors	dfp -iae -d .\	Ignores access violation errors
--ignore-case	dfp -ic -d .\	Compares filenames case insensitive
--recursive	dfp -r -d .\	Searches recursive
--positive-list	dfp -p -d .\ -x "json,txt,xml,yaml"	Specifies positive list of extensions
--negative-list	dfp -n -d .\ -x "log,md" -ihf	Specifies negative list of extensions
--extensions	dfp -x "json,txt,xml,yaml" -d .\	Specifies list of extensions
--use-crc32	dfp -crc32 -d .\	Uses CRC32 algorithm
--use-md5	dfp -md5 -d .\	Uses MD5 algorithm
--use-sha1	dfp -d .\ -sha1	Uses SHA1 algorithm (DEFAULT)
--use-sha256	dfp -d .\ -sha256	Uses SHA256 algorithm
--use-sha512	dfp -d .\ -sha512	Uses SHA512 algorithm
--report-essential	dfp -re -d .\	Prints only +/-/~ and filename
--report-informative	dfp -ri -d .\	Prints essential with matter of change (human friendly)
--report-verbose	dfp -rv -d .\	Prints everything
--print-colored	dfp -pc -d .\	Prints result in colors (red = removed, blue = added, yellow = changed)
--no-header	dfp -nh -d .\	Suppresses header printing
--no-format	dfp -nf -d .\	Prints unformatted DFP
--print-sorted-ascendent	dfp -asc -d .\	Prints fingerprints sorted by filepaths/filenames ascendant
--print-sorted-descendent	dfp -desc -d .\	Prints fingerprints sorted by filepaths/filenames descendant
--print-only-filename	dfp -pof -d .\	Prints filenames instead of relative paths
--save	dfp -s "C:\MyDFP Files\Test" -d "C:\MyDir" --recursive	Saves calculated fingerprint to file
--format-dfp	dfp -dfp "C:\MyDFP Files\Test" -d "C:\MyDir" -r	Saves fingerprint in *.dfp format
--format-xml	dfp -xml "C:\MyDFP Files\Test" -d "C:\MyDir" -r	Saves fingerprint in *.xml format
--format-json	dfp -json "C:\MyDFP Files\Test" -d "C:\MyDir" -r	Saves fingerprint in *.json format
--format-csv	dfp -csv "C:\MyDFP Files\Test" -d "C:\MyDir" -r	Saves fingerprint in *.csv format
--compare-directories	dfp -cd "C:\MyDir1" "C:\MyDir2"	Compares two directories
--compare-fingerprints	dfp -cf "temp\fingerprint1.dfp" "temp\fingerprint2.json"	Compares two fingerprints
--compare	dfp -c "temp\fingerprint.dfp" "C:\MyDir"	Compares a fingerprint against a directory
--load-options	dfp -lo "options.txt" -d .\	Loads options from a file
--save-options	dfp -so "options.txt" -d .\	Saves options to a file
--checksums	dfp --checksums	Displays checksums
--sizes	dfp --sizes	Displays sizes
--versions	dfp --versions	Displays available versions
--version	dfp -v	Displays version information about dfp.exe

2. Help Parameters:

PARAMETER:	SHORT:	DESCRIPTION:
--help	-h or /?	Shows this help text.

3. Version Parameters:

PARAMETER:	SHORT:	DESCRIPTION:
--version	-v	Shows version and copyright information.
--versions		Shows only versions of assembly files.

4. Calculation:

4.1 Filter parameters:

PARAMETER:	SHORT:	DESCRIPTION:
--directory	-d	Base directory for calculating fingerprints.
--recursive	-r	Search recursive.
--assemblies-only	-ao	Processes only *.dll and *.exe files (anything else will be ignored).
--ignore-hidden-files	-ihf	Ignore hidden files.
--ignore-access-errors	-iae	Ignore access violation errors.
--extensions	-x	List of extensions (read EXTENSION_LIST in section 6!).
--positive-list	-p	EXTENSION_LIST is positive list (files will be included).
--negative-list	-n	EXTENSION_LIST is negative list (files will be excluded).

4.2 Hash/Checksum Options:

PARAMETER:	SHORT:	DESCRIPTION:
--use-crc32	-crc32	CRC32.
--use-md5	-md5	MD5.
--use-sha1	-sha1	SHA1 (DEFAULT).
--use-sha256	-sha256	SHA256.
--use-sha512	-sha512	SHA512.

4.3 Report Level Options:

PARAMETER:	SHORT:	DESCRIPTION:
--report-essential	-re	Prints only +/-/~ and filename (DEFAULT).
--report-informative	-ri	Prints essential with matter of change (human friendly).
--report-verbose	-rv	Prints everything.

4.4 Display Options:

PARAMETER:	SHORT:	DESCRIPTION:
--print-colored	-pc	Prints result in colors (red = removed, blue = added, yellow = changed).
--no-header	-nh	No header will be printed.
--no-format	-nf	Prints unformatted DFP.
--print-sorted-ascendent	-asc	Prints fingerprints sorted by filepaths/filenames ascendent.
--print-sorted-descendent	-desc	Prints fingerprints sorted by filepaths/filenames descendent.
--print-only-filename	-pof	Prints filenames instead of relative paths.

4.5 Save Options:

PARAMETER:	SHORT:	DESCRIPTION:
--save	-s	Saves calculated fingerprint to file (read section 7.1!).
--format-dfp	-dfp	*.dfp (DEFAULT)
--format-xml	-xml	*.xml
--format-json	-json	*.json
--format-csv	-csv	*.csv (separated with ';').

5. Compare:

5.1 Type of Comparison:

PARAMETER:	SHORT:	DESCRIPTION:
--compare-directories	-cd	Compares two directories.
--compare-fingerprints	-cf	Compares two FPFs.
--compare	-c	Compares a FPF against a directory.

5.2 Ignore Options:

PARAMETER:	SHORT:	DESCRIPTION:
--ignore-case	-ic	Compares filenames case insensitive.
--ignore-timestamps	-its	Ignores all timestamps of files.
--ignore-creation-date	-icd	Ignores created-at-timestamp.
--ignore-last-modification	-ilm	Ignores last-modification-at-timestamp.
--ignore-last-access	-ila	Ignores last-access-timestamp.
--ignore-size	-is	Ignores filesizes (in bytes).
--ignore-version	-iv	Ignores versions (only *.dll and *.exe files!).
--ignore-hashsum	-ihs	Ignores hashsums.

6. Extensions List:

Single- or double-quoted list of separated file-extensions, without asterisk ('*') and/or dot ('.'), like:\

• 'dll exe xml' or 'dll,exe,xml' or 'dll;exe;xml'
  or
• "dll exe xml" or "dll,exe,xml" or "dll;exe;xml"

6.1 Delimeters/Separators:

You can separate the extensions with following delimeters:

• Semicolorn (';')
• Comma (',')
• Space (' ')

6.2 Example:

"config,dll,exe" or "config;dll;exe" or "config dll exe".

7. Filenames:

7.1 Filename formats of saved fingerprint files:

yyyy-MM-dd_HH.mm.ss. (csv | dfp | json | xml)

7.2 EXAMPLES:

2023-08-15_00.00.00.csv
2023-09-11_08.46.11.dfp
2023-12-31_23.59.59.xml

8. Save/Load Parameters:

Since dfp provides many options, you may want to save them once and use them later just by loading them, instead of typing them again and again.

PARAMETER:	SHORT:	DESCRIPTION:
--load-options	dfp -lo "options.txt" -d .\	Loads options from a file
--save-options	dfp -so "options.txt" -d .\	Saves options to a file

8.1 Saving Parameters (to file)

For saving currently used parameters, just add the parameter --save-options or short -so followed by a filepath when you call dfp, like this:

C:\> dfp --recursive --directory "C:\Directory\SubDir\Release" --assemblies-only --ignore-timestamps --ignore-size --ignore-hashsum --print-colored --save-options "C:\dfp-opts-for-Release.json"

or by using short parameter-names:

C:\> dfp -r -d "C:\Directory\SubDir\Release" -ao -its -is -ihs -pc -so "C:\dfp-opts-for-Release.json"

8.2 Loading Parameters (from file)

After you have saved the paramters (as described in 8.1), you only need to use 2 parameters to load all other parameters:

C:\> dfp --load-options "C:\dfp-opts-for-Release.json"

or by using short parameter-name:

C:\> dfp -lo "C:\dfp-opts-for-Release.json"

9. Usage Examples

9.1 Calculation

Show FP of only toplevel files in current directory:

dfp --directory .\
dfp -d .\

Process only assemblies (will ignore anything else than *.dll, *.exe):

dfp --directory .\ --assembly-only
dfp -d .\ -ao

Process only *.json, *.txt, *.xml and *.yaml files:

dfp --directory .\ --positive-list --extensions "json,txt,xml,yaml"
dfp -d .\ -p -x "json,txt,xml,yaml"

Ignore *.log and *.ini and hidden files:

dfp --directory .\ --negative-list -extensions "log,md" --ignore-hidded-files
dfp -d .\ -n -x "log,md" -ihf

Show use SHA256 algorithm, don't show header:

dfp --directory .\ --use-sha256 --no-header
dfp -d .\ -sha256 -nh

Show FP for all files (recursive) in C:\MyDir:

dfp --directory "C:\MyDir" --recursive
dfp -d "C:\MyDir" -r

Save FPF as *.dfp into 'C:\MyDFP Files\Test':

dfp --directory "C:\MyDir" --recursive --save "C:\MyDFP Files\Test"
dfp -d "C:\MyDir" -r -s "C:\MyDFP Files\Test"

Save FPF as *.csv into 'C:\MyDFP Files\Test':

dfp --directory "C:\MyDir" --recursive --save "C:\MyDFP Files\Test" --format-csv
dfp -d "C:\MyDir" -r -s "C:\MyDFP Files\Test" -csv

9.2 Compare:

Compare directories "C:\MyDir1" to "C:\MyDir2" and print result in color:

dfp --compare-directories "C:\MyDir1" "C:\MyDir2" --print-colored
dfp -cd "C:\MyDir1" "C:\MyDir2" -pc

Compare two FPFs with different formats and print verbose result:

dfp --compare-fingerprints "temp\fingerprint1.dfp" "temp\fingerprint2.json" --report-verbose
dfp -cf "temp\fingerprint1.dfp" "temp\fingerprint2.json" -rv

Compare FPF 'temp\fingerprint.dfp' with directory C:\MyDir but ignore file timestamps:

dfp --compare "temp\fingerprint.dfp" "C:\MyDir" --ignore-timestamps
dfp -c "temp\fingerprint.dfp" "C:\MyDir" -its

9. Error Codes

Following error codes are returned after cli executable has terminated. You can output them in prompt/cmd by:

echo %errorlevel%

Error Code	Description
0	OK (no error).
1	No parameters.
2	Missing parameter.
3	Unknown parameter.
4	Internal error.
5	Illegal value.
6	Single parameter.
7	File already exists.
8	Writing fingerprint file failed.
9	File not found.
10	Directory not found.
11	Calculate, save, and compare at once are not provided.
12	Illegal/Unknown fingerprint file extension.
13	Unequal hashsum algorithms.

10. Symbols and Colors

Symbol	Color	Meaning	Description
+	$${\color{blue}Blue}$$	New/Added	New file found
-	$${\color{red}Red}$$	Removed	File is missing
~	$${\color{yellow}Yellow}$$	Changed	File has changes