# Binary

Let's view two text files, one typed on Windows and the other typed on a Mac.  One is larger than the other.  This is because the invisible line-endings are longer on text files made by PC's.  To get this view: `Session->NewSession->TextCompare`.  Then drag your two files in with a mouse.

![Opening the two files in Text Compare, Beyond Compare displays the appropriate letters.](https://1446155253-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LXUX-uoaZJ8T4qyEc-x%2F-LaH4_oVYTXfCLPLxFWH%2F-LaH4fgfJRN9bRrC1GWS%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=c3b96664-873d-4b3c-82b6-5ff55d6be5b1)

Here are the same two text files, represented as their hexadecimal bytes.  To get this view: `Session->NewSession->HexCompare`.  Then drag your two files in with a mouse.

![Opening the two files in Hex Compare, Beyond Compare shows the hexadecimal bytes](https://1446155253-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LXUX-uoaZJ8T4qyEc-x%2F-LaH4_oVYTXfCLPLxFWH%2F-LaH4ijVvUYg29lXFz-l%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=85be4222-e610-414a-85ad-901b23a40d19)

### Binary check anything:

For on-the-fly binary checking, the bottom window on every page has a right-click binary viewer context menu: 

![](https://1446155253-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LXUX-uoaZJ8T4qyEc-x%2F-LaLcS1QwVa4Pc-CGzaw%2F-LaLccBUB6PkBMVJpV34%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=3f557f81-4566-4ce5-b5a1-7b48ab76f826)

### Students

If you are a hobbyist, or educator, don't worry, you can try all this out without paying anything at first.  Beyond Compare software will run at no cost for a month (30 total days, so probably more than a month). Download Beyond Compare for Mac, Linux, and Windows at [Scooter Software](http://www.scootersoftware.com/download.php) of Madison, Wisconsin.


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# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://beyondcompare.gitbook.io/project/other/binary.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.