General Information

What is Final Pass?

Final Pass is a lightweight folder comparison tool designed specifically for digital techs and photographers to reconcile capture session RAW files with processed output files. It provides a fast, reliable method to verify file completeness between any two folders, making it an essential quality control tool for professional workflows.

How is Final Pass different from other folder comparison tools?

Final Pass prioritizes speed and simplicity by focusing exclusively on file name comparison rather than content analysis. This approach makes it exceptionally fast even with datasets containing tens of thousands of files, while maintaining the accuracy required for professional production environments.

What platforms does Final Pass support?

Final Pass is a native macOS application requiring macOS 13.5 or later.

Can Final Pass compare folders on external drives or cloud storage?

Yes. Final Pass can compare any accessible folders including local drives, external media, network-attached storage, and cloud-synchronized directories.

How to Use

How do I compare two folders?

1. Select folders via drag-and-drop or manual selection using the folder buttons
2. Click Compare to initiate the analysis
3. Review the detailed results in the hierarchical view

What are the comparison modes?

Final Pass offers two distinct comparison strategies (Smart Match is enabled by default):

• Exact Match: Traditional 1:1 file matching where each file must correspond to exactly one file in the comparison folder. Ideal for standard output verification.
• Smart Match: Flexible matching that accommodates 1-to-many relationships, identifying files as unique, matching, or having multiple matches. Perfect for complex workflows with variations or multiple output formats.

You can switch between modes in the Advanced Settings before running your comparison.

Can I save my comparison results?

Yes. Final Pass offers comprehensive export functionality in both PDF and TXT formats. Reports include detailed file statistics, format breakdowns, and customizable production metadata fields for complete documentation.

Folder Selection

What happens if I select the same folder twice?

The application will display an error: "Can't Compare the Same Folder – Please select two different folders to compare."

What happens if I select nested folders?

If one folder is contained within another, you'll receive an error: "Invalid Folder Selection – One folder is a subfolder of the other. Please select folders that are not in a parent/child relationship."

Does Final Pass remember previously selected folders?

When you save a document, Final Pass preserves the folder paths for future reference. However, comparison results are intentionally cleared when the application closes to ensure each analysis reflects the current folder contents.

List View & Results

Does Final Pass modify or move files?

No. Final Pass operates in read-only mode for safety. It provides analysis without altering your files. A right-click context menu offers "Show in Finder" functionality for quick file location.

How does Final Pass handle large folders?

Final Pass has been extensively tested with folders containing tens of thousands of files. The name-only comparison approach ensures consistent performance regardless of file sizes.

Settings & Customization

What does "Ignore File Extensions" do?

This setting excludes specified file types from comparison analysis, useful when certain formats should be omitted from verification.

What is the "Ignore Folders" feature?

This allows you to specify folder names that should be excluded from comparison. Any folders matching these names, along with their entire contents, will be skipped during analysis. Common examples include "CaptureOne" session folders or temporary directories.

What are "Ignore File Name Parts"?

Available exclusively in Smart Match mode, this feature enables you to disregard specific prefixes or suffixes during comparison (e.g., "_proof", "copy_"). This facilitates matching between files with minor naming variations while maintaining core filename integrity.

Can I customize export reports?

Yes. Export reports support comprehensive customization including:

• Production metadata (production name, location, photographer, digital tech)
• Custom information fields definable per project
• Selective inclusion of file summaries, detailed breakdowns, and format analysis
• Choice between PDF for formatted reports or TXT for plain text documentation

Troubleshooting

Why am I getting an error when selecting folders?

• "Can't Compare the Same Folder": You've selected the same folder twice. Please select two different folders to compare.
• "Invalid Folder Selection": One folder is a subfolder of the other. Please select folders that are not in a parent/child relationship.

Why is the Compare button disabled?

The Compare button remains inactive until two valid, distinct folders have been selected.

How can I contact support?

For technical assistance or feature requests, please contact our support team at app-support@thedigi.tech.