Compare 2 fields in separate tables

[ChuckL]

Couldn't find anything on this in searches. It seems like a simple task, but the way I'm thinking seems tedious.

The task:

I want to compare two lists of file names that should be identical (but aren't) to find out where the first difference occurs. I have table A with a field named "a". Ten thousand records with data (a file name) in field "a", alpha sorted. I have another table, B, with 10,000 records alpha sorted in field "b". The contents of these two tables should be identical. What's a simple way to compare record 1 in A with record 1 in B, etc., to find where they differ?

Thanks again, guys.

[comment]

Does the order really matter? You could find all the discrepancies at once by linking the two tables, and adding a calculation field, such as:

Field ≠ Related::Field

Search for 1 in this field to find all records that don't have a matching value in the other table.

[LaRetta]

I would think a search on that calc would be slower since it would be unstored? I would link Field A to Field B. They both are indexable. Then GTRR from table1 to table 2 (it doesn't matter which direction unless the number of records is different then begin in the table with the largest number). Then show omitted to find the records which don't match. Would that work also, Michael?

Since you must go to the trouble of joining, it would eliminate the calc, I think. Good morning!

[comment]

No, the calc is not really required. You could also put the related field on the layout and search for * in it, then show omitted. Using GTRR is likely to be faster than searching on unstored - if the records are indexed. I got the impression this is a one-time thing, so (a) speed wouldn't be so much of an issue, and ( the records wouldn't be indexed yet.