Diffing two 834 files without crashing Excel
If you work with enrollment files, you know the request: "What changed between last month's 834 and this month's?" The files are 80 MB, 300 MB, sometimes more. Notepad++ freezes, Excel truncates or crashes, and the answer is due this afternoon. This article walks through a method that works with any tool, then shows how I do it with a small free CLI I wrote. All examples use synthetic data. Why…
Comparing two 834 files is a challenging task, especially when dealing with large files that can cause issues when opened in Excel or when using plain text diff tools. This article outlines a method to compare 834 files without crashing Excel, using a small free command-line tool called x12diff.
Open Excel and Import the 834 files
Unfortunately, opening large 834 files in Excel can cause issues, as the software may truncate or crash due to the file size. Instead, use a command-line tool like x12diff to compare the files without the need for Excel.
Use x12diff to Compare the 834 Files
x12diff is a free command-line tool that implements the described method for comparing 834 files. To compare two 834 files, run the following command:
x12diff diff old.834 new.834 --csv changes.csv
This command will output the changes between the two files in a CSV format, making it easier to analyze the differences.
Be Aware of Potential Traps
When comparing 834 files, be aware of potential traps that can lead to incorrect results:
1. Full files versus change files: Carriers may send either a full file (listing every active member) or a change file (listing only members who changed). Be sure to check which type of file you are working with before reporting term counts.
2. Term flags: A member can be termed while still present in the file, which can be indicated by a termination code in a maintenance reason element on the INS segment or a coverage end date in a DTP segment that was not there last month. Check for both scenarios when comparing files.
3. Truncated transfers: If the new file was cut off due to a failed SFTP pull, every member after the cut-off point will appear as missing. Always check the envelope integrity of the files first.
x12diff automatically checks for envelope integrity issues, reporting any inconsistencies and exiting with a code indicating the problem.
Output in a Readable Format
The resulting CSV file can be opened in Excel and filtered to easily view the differences between the two 834 files. The CSV format allows for easy comparison and analysis of the changes, making it an efficient tool for reporting changes in enrollment files.
Written by urgent.news from Dev.to's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
