# Managing files to compare

<nav id="bkmrk-subtopics-how-to-res" role="navigation">#### **Subtopics**

<div id="bkmrk-how-to-restart-and-r">1. [How to restart and reload files](https://lhc.advantest.com/link/104#bkmrk-how-to-restart-and-r-1 "Restarting the comparison process or reloading files may be required when you have additional or updated input data.")
2. [How to filter license data](https://lhc.advantest.com/link/104#bkmrk-how-to-filter-licens "Filtering allows you to reduce the amount of displayed license data.")
3. [How to view and sort data](https://lhc.advantest.com/link/104#bkmrk-how-to-view-and-sort "Toggling between list and matrix views views plus sorting data columns allows you to improve readability or display data according to your needs.")
4. [How to save resulting files](https://lhc.advantest.com/link/104#bkmrk-how-to-save-resultin "The License Renewal Comparison Tool displays the result of the comparison process in several tabs, for example the Matched tab. You can save each tab in a .csv spreadsheet file.")
5. [How to view and save the log file](https://lhc.advantest.com/link/104#bkmrk-how-to-view-and-save "The License Renewal Comparison Tool provides a log file which lists all files you loaded and any issues during the comparison process.")

</div></nav>The License Renewal Comparison Tool requires the following input files:

<div id="bkmrk-one-or-more-license-">- One or more license server inventory file or files (`*.txt`) generated by the getOrderNumbers tool.
- Portal download file of already renewed licenses (`<kbd class="userinput">Renewed-*-<var class="varname">date</var>.csv</kbd>`)

</div>Optionally, you can load the portal download file of still to be renewed licenses (`<kbd class="userinput">To-Be-Renewed-*-<var class="varname">date</var>.csv</kbd>`).

The comparison tool processes these files against the data in the Product Number Key tab. This data is provided with the yearly updated version of the tool (see [How to install and start the Comparison Tool](https://lhc.advantest.com/books/fnp-license-renewal/page/installing-and-updating-the-comparison-tool "The License Renewal Comparison Tool is written in Java and can be run on a PC running Microsoft (MS) Windows, or on a Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) workstation, including a V93000 system controller or an RHEL workstation serving as a FLEXlm license server.")).

<div id="bkmrk-license-server-inven"><section class="section">### License server inventory .txt files

In most cases you will have a single license server inventory file (getOrderNumbers output file).

This is the case if your licensing setup consists of a single FLEXlm license server, if it is a three-license-server redundancy configuration, or for multiple independent license servers in a network. For these configurations you will have one license server inventory file showing the installed licenses for all license servers.

Only in case of multiple license servers in independent networks you will have one license server inventory file per network. In this case you must run the [getOrderNumbers tool](https://lhc.advantest.com/books/fnp-license-renewal/page/getordernumbers-tool "The getOrderNumbers tool provides you with a complete list of the licenses installed on your license servers. This output is one of the files required by the License Renewal Comparison Tool and helps you with the annual license renewal process.") on a server in each network.

You must use a `.txt` file name extension for each file, for `example <kbd class="userinput">license-inventory-server01.txt.</kbd>`

</section><section class="section">### Renewed-\*-<var class="varname">date</var>.csv files

You must visit the License Renewal Portal before running the Comparison Tool. The portal allows you to download a record file which lists the already renewed licenses (`<kbd class="userinput">Renewed-*-<var class="varname">date</var>.csv</kbd>`).

</section><section class="section">### To-Be-Renewed-\*-<var class="varname">date</var>.csv files

The License Renewal Portal also allows you to download record file of still to be renewed licenses (`<kbd class="userinput">To-Be-Renewed-*-<var class="varname">date</var>.csv</kbd>`). This file as it provides insight, in case the renewal process does not run as smooth as expected.

</section><section class="section">### Collect in single directory

The License Renewal Portal writes both .csv record files into a `<kbd class="userinput">License.zip</kbd>` file. For further processing you need to extract them.

Advantest recommends to create a single directory or folder, for example `<kbd class="userinput">verigy-license-renewal-<var class="varname">year</var></kbd>`, and collect all these files in this directory. If all input files are available in your local file system, you can run the Comparison Tool stand-alone in off-line mode.

The directory of your collected input files may look as follows:  
  
`verigy-license-renewal-2009/license-inventory-server01.txt`  
`verigy-license-renewal-2009/Renewed-*-<var class="varname">date</var>.csv`  
`verigy-license-renewal-2009/To-Be-Renewed-*-<var class="varname">date</var>.csv`

</section></div><nav id="bkmrk-related-information-" role="navigation">## Related information

<div class="ri"><div>[Installing and updating the Comparison Tool](https://lhc.advantest.com/books/fnp-license-renewal/page/installing-and-updating-the-comparison-tool "The License Renewal Comparison Tool is written in Java and can be run on a PC running Microsoft (MS) Windows, or on a Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) workstation, including a V93000 system controller or an RHEL workstation serving as a FLEXlm license server.")</div><div>[getOrderNumbers tool](https://lhc.advantest.com/books/fnp-license-renewal/page/getordernumbers-tool "The getOrderNumbers tool provides you with a complete list of the licenses installed on your license servers. This output is one of the files required by the License Renewal Comparison Tool and helps you with the annual license renewal process.")</div>---

</div># How to restart and reload files

Restarting the comparison process or reloading files may be required when you have additional or updated input data.

<section class="section">## About this task

If you restart the process, you follow the prompts of the License Renewal Comparison Tool and reload the files as requested. (See the procedure instructions below.)

You can also reload single files individually or load additional license server inventory files. In this case click <span class="menucascade">**<span class="uicontrol">File</span><abbr title="and then"> &gt; </abbr>**<span class="uicontrol">**Open..**.</span></span>and select the required files.

In both cases, once the last required file is loaded, the Comparison Tool automatically reprocesses the currently loaded files and displays the result.

</section><section>## Before you begin

To restart the comparison process or to reload updated files, the Comparison Tool must be running and you must have completed the comparison process at least once. Make sure you have the additional or updated files available. If not, you cannot complete the task and the Comparison Tool will close.

</section><section>## Procedure

1. To restart the comparison process, click **<span class="menucascade"><span class="uicontrol">File</span><abbr title="and then"> &gt; </abbr><span class="uicontrol">Restart</span></span>**. The Portal Export Available dialog appears and asks you to load the portal export file of renewed licenses (<kbd class="userinput">Renewed-\*-<var class="varname">date</var>.csv)</kbd>.
2. If you have the required portal export file click **<span class="uicontrol">Yes</span>**. The Select Renewal Portal Export File dialog appears.
3. Navigate to the directory containing the portal export files, and double-click the `<kbd class="userinput">Renewed-*-<var class="varname">date</var>.csv</kbd>` file. The Comparison Tool's main window changes to two tabs and a dialog prompts you to optionally load the portal export file of un-renewed and unassigned licenses (`<kbd class="userinput">To-Be-Renewed-*-<var class="varname">date</var>.csv</kbd>`).
4. If you have the <kbd class="userinput">`To-Be-Renewed-*-<var class="varname">date</var>.csv` </kbd>file click **Yes** and load the file. If you Do not have the file click **No**. In both cases the next dialog appears and asks you to load your license server inventory `<kbd class="userinput">*.txt</kbd>` files.
5. If you have the license server inventory `<kbd class="userinput">*.txt</kbd>` files click **<span class="uicontrol">Yes</span>**. A select dialog appears.
6. Click the `<kbd class="userinput">*.txt</kbd>` file containing your license server inventory data (for example, <kbd class="userinput">my\_licenses.txt</kbd>) and **<span class="uicontrol">Open</span>**. You can also press **<span class="uicontrol">Shift</span>** or **<span class="uicontrol">Ctrl</span>** and select multiple files to load. An additional tab opens in the Comparison Tool's main window and the Additional Server Inventory Files? dialog appears.
7. If you have any additional license server inventory `<kbd class="userinput">*.txt</kbd>` files click **<span class="uicontrol">Yes</span>** and proceed as before to load the files. If you have no additional files click **<span class="uicontrol">No</span>**.

</section><section class="section">## Results

The Comparison Tool's main window now shows up to seven tabs, and displays the Matched tab in the foreground.

---

# How to filter license data

Filtering allows you to reduce the amount of displayed license data.

<div><section class="section">### About this task

To reduce the amount of displayed data you can filter the data either based on

- customers,
- license server host IDs,
- order IDs,
- product descriptions, or
- license expiration dates.

To sharpen the focus even further you can also combine these filter parameters.

</section><section>### Before you begin

All required files must be loaded and the Comparison Tool must have completed the comparison process.

</section><section>### Procedure

1. To filter based on product descriptions, for example, click **<span class="menucascade"><span class="uicontrol">Filter</span><abbr title="and then"> &gt; </abbr><span class="uicontrol">Filter Using Product Descriptions</span></span>**. The filter dialog appears. On the left it shows the included items, on the left the excluded items.
2. To move an individual parameter to the right to be excluded, click first the parameter then click **<span class="uicontrol">&gt;</span>**. To move one to the left to be included, select it and click **<span class="uicontrol">&lt;</span>**.
3. To move all parameters to the right, click **<span class="uicontrol">&gt;&gt;</span>.** To move all to the left, click **<span class="uicontrol">&lt;&lt;</span>**.
4. To complete the filtering and close the dialog click **OK**.

</section><section class="section">### Results

The selected filter parameters are applied and the Comparison Tool shows a reduced amount of data in all tabs.

The filtering parameters will stay applied until you exit the tool or click **<span class="menucascade"><span class="uicontrol">Filter</span><abbr title="and then"> &gt; </abbr><span class="uicontrol">No Filtering</span></span>**.

</section><section>### Example

<div class="p"><figure class="fignone">[![12.png](https://lhc.advantest.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-10/scaled-1680-/gWo12-png.png)](https://lhc.advantest.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-10/scaled-1680-/gWo12-png.png)</figure>---

</div># How to view and sort data

Toggling between list and matrix views views plus sorting data columns allows you to improve readability or display data according to your needs.

<div><section class="section">### About this task

You can toggle the view of the tabs

- Renewed\_in\_Portal
- To\_Be\_Renewed\_in\_Portal (if data loaded)
- License\_Server\_Output

Data columns can be sorted in list views that show the raw data without coloring. The current sort column is marked by a green arrow, pointing either upwards (ascending) or downwards (descending).

Colored matrix views are fixed and cannot be sorted. In this matrix view, you can display tool tips with a product description for each product number.

</section><section>### Before you begin

You must have loaded all files and the tool must have completed the comparison before you can toggle views or sort data.

</section><section>### Procedure

- To toggle a view: Right-click a supported tab and click **<span class="uicontrol">Toggle ... View</span>**.  
    The tab switches either from a colored matrix view to a list view or vice versa.
- To sort a data column: In a list view click any data column header. The whole table is rearranged based on the alphanumerical sort order of this column. A green arrow indicates the sorted column.
    
    The first click produces an ascending order, a second click produces a descending order. The third click brings it it back to its original order.
- To display tool tips: In a colored matrix view move the pointer over a product number in the header. The appearing tooltip displays the more familiar product description.

</section><section>### Example

<div class="p"><figure class="fignone">[![13.png](https://lhc.advantest.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-10/scaled-1680-/13-png.png)](https://lhc.advantest.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-10/scaled-1680-/13-png.png)</figure>---

</div># How to save resulting files

The License Renewal Comparison Tool displays the result of the comparison process in several tabs, for example the Matched tab. You can save each tab in a .csv spreadsheet file.

<section class="section">### About this task

Saving the comparison results allows you to view the .csv files in a spreadsheet software like MS Excel.

</section><section>### Before you begin

The Comparison Tool must be running and must have completed the comparison at least once.

</section><section>### Procedure

1. To save the contents of a tab, click the tab to bring it to the foreground.
2. Click **<span class="uicontrol">Save As...</span>.**A save dialog opens. Default location is your home directory. Default file name is the name of the tab plus the current date and time: <kbd class="userinput">Nameyymmddhhmm.csv</kbd>, for example <kbd class="userinput">`Matched200901210915.csv`  
      
    </kbd>
3. To accept the default location and file name click **<span class="uicontrol">Save</span>**.

</section><section class="section">## Results

The result file is saved and ready to be opened in a spreadsheet software.

</section><section>## Example

<div class="p"><figure class="fignone">[![14.png](https://lhc.advantest.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-10/scaled-1680-/14-png.png)](https://lhc.advantest.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-10/scaled-1680-/14-png.png)</figure>---

</div># How to view and save the log file

The License Renewal Comparison Tool provides a log file which lists all files you loaded and any issues during the comparison process.

<div><section class="section">### About this task

Checking the log file will give you confidence that the comparison process ran successfully without errors. In case of errors you can review the log file for information. This file may also be requested by Advantest support personnel to debug any tool issues.

</section><section>### Before you begin

The Comparison Tool must be running and must have completed the comparison at least once.

</section><section>### Procedure

1. To view the log file click **<span class="menucascade"><span class="uicontrol">Help</span><abbr title="and then"> &gt; </abbr><span class="uicontrol">Show Log</span></span>**. A dialog window displays the log file.
2. To save the log file click **<span class="uicontrol">Save As...</span>**. The default location is your home directory. The default file name is `RenewalLog.txt`.

</section><section>## Example

Your log file may look as follows:

```
Tuesday, October 21, 2008 - 11:33 AM
    >>>> Logging Started <<<<

Tuesday, October 21, 2008 - 11:33 AM
        V93000 License Renewal Utility, Version 2009 (build 20080805.2211)

Tuesday, October 21, 2008 - 11:33 AM
Copyright(c) 2008, 2009 Verigy Limited, Verigy US Incorporated, All Rights Reserved.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008 - 11:33 AM
Loaded Verigy Products with Features File: products_with_features.csv

Tuesday, October 21, 2008 - 11:34 AM
Loaded Portal License Renewal Export File: Renewed_<var class="varname">name</var>-<var class="varname">date</var>.csv

Tuesday, October 21, 2008 - 11:34 AM
Loaded Portal To-Be-Renewed License Export File: To-Be-Renewed_<var class="varname">name</var>-<var class="varname">date</var>.csv

Tuesday, October 21, 2008 - 11:35 AM
Loaded Server Inventory File: license-inventory-server01.txt
```

</section></div></section></section></div></section></div></section></nav>