In short: Choose alignment behavior that matches the workbook change you are reviewing.
Smart
Smart Alignment fingerprints sheets, rows, and columns, anchors unique content, and realigns insertions or deletions. Both original addresses remain attached to every difference.
Basic
Basic compares A1 to A1 and every other identical address. Use it when address movement itself is the change you need to audit.
Table
Table mode matches records by business keys such as SKU, customer ID, or email. It is designed for reordered datasets rather than formatted workbook models.
Comparison scope and tolerances
Comparison options stay visible on the file-selection screen. Every sheet is included by default; uncheck only sheets you want to skip. If the same sheet was renamed, manually pair its previous and new names.
- Excluded range: choose a sheet, then enter its first and last cells in A1 notation
- Relative tolerance: enter a percentage such as 1 or 2.5
- Set absolute tolerance, whitespace, and case rules in the same area