> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://beyondcompare.gitbook.io/project/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://beyondcompare.gitbook.io/project/text-compare/how-to-use-regular-expressions-in-beyond-compare-to-ignore-trivial-differences-like-timestamps.md).

# Ignore Trivial Differences, Like Timestamps

During a Text Compare session it is often convenient to ignore things like dates and times. Beyond Compare can do this by creating a rule for what is Unimportant, using a Regular Expression.  In the example  below, if you wanted to ignore Lines 1 and 2, you can write an appropriate RegEx for each.  Then when you press the *Minor* key, any differences which you defined as Unimportant Differences will lose their color highlighting.  Also,  in a Text Compare Report, they can be ignored.

![](https://1446155253-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LXUX-uoaZJ8T4qyEc-x%2F-LnP95I5TRtmLkoR_pH_%2F-LnP9KM1kO6KJMPMLIpE%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=147ccfdc-7977-4cac-bd4a-a371a0d16c99)

First, from the Rules button, choose: `Rules->Importance->[+]->`[`#`**`RegEx`**](https://twitter.com/hashtag/RegEx?src=hash)

Then add these rules to ignore the following lines: 

Line 1: \d\d\d 

Line 2: Date/Time:. 

Line 7: IP Address:*.*\d+.\d+.\d+.\d+.\*

![](https://1446155253-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LXUX-uoaZJ8T4qyEc-x%2F-LnP95I5TRtmLkoR_pH_%2F-LnPBCHmhrNYiRVg7jZP%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=684d885f-15d8-440d-acde-3d0c2789c57a)