Copilot in OneDrive offers a powerful file comparison feature, but can it handle PDFs? While Microsoft doesn’t explicitly state PDF support, Copilot’s ability to analyze document content suggests it likely can compare two PDF documents. This article explores Copilot’s comparison capabilities and how it can be a valuable tool for various document review tasks.
Comparing Files with Copilot in OneDrive
Copilot allows users to compare up to five files simultaneously in OneDrive, highlighting differences and similarities. This feature streamlines tasks like contract analysis, document versioning, and job application reviews. While image and video comparisons aren’t currently supported, Copilot excels at analyzing text-based documents.
How Copilot’s Comparison Works
Copilot analyzes various file attributes, including:
- Date and Time: Identifies discrepancies in creation and modification timestamps.
- Title and Author: Compares authorship and document naming conventions.
- Content Summary: Analyzes the text within documents to pinpoint key differences and similarities in content. This capability suggests potential compatibility with PDF document comparison.
- Location and Key Participants: For collaborative documents, Copilot can identify where files are stored and who has contributed.
Leveraging Copilot for Document Review
Copilot’s comparison feature offers numerous benefits for various scenarios:
- Contract Analysis: Quickly identify changes between contract versions.
- Job Application Review: Efficiently compare resumes and cover letters.
- Document Versioning: Track revisions and collaborate seamlessly.
- Legal Document Review: Pinpoint discrepancies across related documents.
- Financial Report Analysis: Compare statements from different periods or entities.
- Comparing Quotes: Analyze quotes from various vendors.
Using Copilot to Compare Files
To use Copilot’s comparison feature:
- Access OneDrive: Visit onedrive.com and log in with your work, school, or personal Microsoft account. Note: Copilot is rolling out to Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscribers.
- Select Files: Choose up to five files for comparison.
- Activate Copilot:
- Click the Copilot button in the command bar and select Compare files.
- Alternatively, select the files, click the More actions (…) menu, then choose Copilot > Compare files.
- Review Results: Copilot will present a comparison in the panel, allowing further interaction and questions.
Optimizing Copilot’s Performance
For the best results, provide specific and detailed questions to Copilot. The more context you provide, the more accurate and insightful the comparison will be. While PDF support isn’t explicitly confirmed, the content analysis capabilities strongly hint at its potential for comparing two PDF documents. As Microsoft continues to develop Copilot, explicit PDF support may be announced in the future. For now, leveraging Copilot’s powerful comparison features can significantly improve efficiency in various document review tasks.
