Method of comparing two data tables and displaying the results without source formatting

A computer system having a computer with a display output and a computer memory for selectively displaying formatting of a comparison between a first data file representing a first version of a data table and a second data file representing a second version of the data table, the data table including at least one cell, the computer system comprising:

• a module adapted by logic to store in the computer system the first data file representing the first version;
• a module adapted by logic to store in the computer system the second data file representing the second version;
• a module adapted by logic to generate in the computer memory a comparison output data structure having comparison output data that is produced by a comparison of the first version and the second version, the comparison output data structure organized on a cell by cell basis so that each cell in the comparison output data table is represented by at least one corresponding record in the comparison output data structure, the comparison output data structure further having source formatting data organized on a cell by cell basis and comparison formatting data organized on a cell by cell basis, the source formatting data being separated from the comparison formatting data;
• a module adapted by logic to receive an input value encoding a display formatting selection for the comparison output data structure, the display formatting selection causing one or more formatting elements of the comparison output data structure to change between a hidden state and a displayed state;
• and
• a module adapted by logic to, based on the input value,
• generate and store a display output data set using the comparison output data structure, and
• express or not express in the display output data set the source formatting data or the comparison formatting data.