How do I extract column 2 or 3 from a CSV?

In the CSV bar under each list, click Col, type the column number (1-based), optionally check Header, then click Apply. You can do this after importing a .csv file or after pasting multi-column text.

Does ListDiff compare every cell in a spreadsheet?

No. It compares lists of values—usually one ID or SKU per line. It is not a full workbook cell highlighter.

Compare CSV exports by ID, not by every cell

Last updated: 2026-09-03

Inventory, CRM, and order systems often dump wide CSV files. You usually only need one key column—SKU, customer ID, or order number—then ask which keys appear in one export but not the other. Paste or upload both sides, extract that column, and read A only / B only.

Extract the ID column (Col N)

Import a .csv file, or paste multi-column text into List A (and later List B).
In the CSV bar under that list, choose Col and type the column number (1 = first column, 2 = second, and so on).
Check Header if the first row is labels like id,name,qty—so those words are not treated as data.
Click Apply. The box should become one value per line.
Repeat for List B, then click Compare lists.

Multi-column CSV uploads usually default to column 1. Use Row only when each full line is already the key you want to compare.

Typical setups

A = last week’s catalog, B = this week’s → B only = new SKUs; A only = removed.
A = CRM customers, B = billing customers → A only / B only = sync gaps.
A = expected order IDs, B = fulfilled IDs → A only = still open.

Before you trust the counts

If a yellow warning mentions hidden characters, strip them—Excel pastes often add non-breaking spaces.
Decide whether leading zeros matter (product codes vs numbers that Excel “fixed”).
Check Dupes tabs—messy exports often repeat the same ID.
Still no overlap? See why two lists don’t match.

Example

Wide rows like SKU-100,Red Shirt,12.00 → extract Col 1 → SKU-100.
A (old IDs): SKU-100, SKU-200
B (new IDs): SKU-200, SKU-300
A only: SKU-100 (gone) · B only: SKU-300 (new)

Paste or upload CSV lists

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Files stay in the browser for comparison. See Privacy. For generic local files without a CSV focus, see compare two local files.

FAQ

How do I compare two CSV files for missing IDs?

Baseline in A, newer in B, Col N + Header if needed, Apply on both sides, then read A only and B only.

How do I extract column 2 or 3?

Click Col, enter the number, Apply. Works on imported CSV and pasted multi-column text.

Does this diff every spreadsheet cell?

No—keys/lists only. For column paste from Excel, see compare two columns.