Output document version differences in headless mode

[NicolasRaoul]

The LibreOffice UI lets you compare different versions of a document.

I am developing a document management server that holds ODT/ODS/ODP files and shows the files via a web interface. I would like to allow online users to see what has changed in a document from their web browser, without having to download the file nor install LibreOffice.

I could have my server automatically launch the LibreOffice UI, compare the versions, take screenshots while scrolling, and send them to the web client. But that sounds brittle and memory-consuming. Is there a more elegant way, ideally in headless mode?

I am open to any format (PNG/HTML/etc) as long as it visually shows the differences.

[mikekaganski]

I understand that it’s not an answer to your question per se, but it seems that part of your goal (“a document management server that … shows the files via a web interface”) is what LOOL does. It can’t yet do what you want (show differences), so why not join our developers team and implement it for greater good?

OTOH, you could just convert both versions to text (using --convert-to), and use diff to show textual changes (if that’s enough; no formatting changes of course that way)