Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

dnGREP VS Directory Monitor

Compare dnGREP VS Directory Monitor and see what are their differences

dnGREP logo dnGREP

dnGrep allows you to search across files with easy-to-read results.

Directory Monitor logo Directory Monitor

Monitor and detect who is making changes to your directories and network shares in real-time.
  • dnGREP Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-04-23
  • Directory Monitor Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-07-31

dnGREP features and specs

  • Open Source
    dnGREP is open-source software, which means it is free to use and its source code is publicly available for inspection, modification, and enhancement.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    dnGREP offers a graphical user interface that makes it easier for users to perform complex search and replace operations without needing to remember command-line syntax.
  • Powerful Search Capabilities
    The tool supports a variety of search options, including regular expressions, XPath, and phonetic search, providing powerful and flexible search functionality.
  • Advanced Features
    It includes advanced features like file encoding support, search inside archives and support for multiple file types, making it a versatile tool for different use cases.
  • Integration with Plugins
    dnGREP can integrate with various plugins, enhancing its functionality and allowing for greater customization based on user needs.

Possible disadvantages of dnGREP

  • Limited Platform Support
    dnGREP is primarily designed for Windows environments, which can be limiting for users who work on other operating systems like macOS or Linux.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While the basic functions are user-friendly, leveraging its advanced features such as regular expressions and XPath searches can require a steep learning curve for beginners.
  • Performance Issues with Large Files
    Users may experience performance issues, such as slow search times, when working with very large files or extensive directories.
  • Limited Community Support
    As a smaller open-source project, dnGREP might not have as large a community or as extensive documentation compared to more widely-used alternatives.
  • Dependency on .NET Framework
    The tool requires the .NET framework to run, which could be an additional overhead for users who do not already have this installed.

Directory Monitor features and specs

  • Real-Time Monitoring
    Directory Monitor provides real-time tracking of changes to files and directories, allowing users to quickly respond to events such as modifications, deletions, or new files being added.
  • Customization Options
    The software offers numerous configuration options, enabling users to set specific monitoring criteria and receive alerts based on their unique needs.
  • Remote Monitoring
    Directory Monitor supports remote monitoring capabilities, allowing users to oversee directory changes over the network, which is beneficial for managing multiple systems.
  • Notification Features
    Users can receive notifications through various channels such as email or system messages, ensuring they are instantly informed of any changes.
  • Log Generation
    The software provides comprehensive logging of directory changes, allowing users to maintain historical records and audit trails for compliance or review purposes.

Possible disadvantages of Directory Monitor

  • Complex Setup
    Users may find the initial setup process challenging, especially if they are configuring advanced features or integrating with other systems.
  • Resource Intensive
    Directory Monitor can be resource-intensive, which may impact system performance, especially on computers with limited processing power or memory.
  • Cost
    The full version of the software may be costly for individual users or small businesses, which could make it less accessible for those with budget constraints.
  • Limited Free Version
    While a free version is available, it offers limited features compared to the paid version, which may not meet the needs of all users.
  • Learning Curve
    Due to its extensive features and options, there may be a learning curve for new users, requiring time and effort to fully understand and utilize the software's capabilities.

Analysis of dnGREP

Overall verdict

  • Yes, dnGREP is a highly effective tool for text searching and manipulation, especially suited for users who require advanced features like regular expressions. Its user-friendly interface and integration with Windows Explorer enhance its functionality, making it a good choice for both casual users and professionals.

Why this product is good

  • dnGREP is a powerful tool for searching and replacing text across multiple files. It supports regular expressions and allows for advanced search options, such as proximity search and exclusion search. The tool integrates seamlessly with Windows Explorer for easy access and provides a user-friendly GUI for managing complex search tasks. Additionally, dnGREP offers features like syntax highlighting, search result export, and search history tracking, making it an efficient choice for users needing robust text search capabilities.

Recommended for

  • Software developers and programmers who need to conduct complex search and replace tasks across codebases.
  • Data analysts and researchers who require effective text searching tools for processing large datasets.
  • IT professionals and system administrators looking for a reliable tool to manage and search configuration files.
  • Writers and editors who want to streamline their workflow by quickly locating and modifying text within documents.

dnGREP videos

No dnGREP videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Add video

Directory Monitor videos

Directory Monitor

More videos:

  • Review - Directory Monitor 2.10.5.2 Trial

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to dnGREP and Directory Monitor)
File Manager
100 100%
0% 0
Note Taking
87 87%
13% 13
Image Optimisation
0 0%
100% 100
Clipboard Manager
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using dnGREP and Directory Monitor. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, dnGREP should be more popular than Directory Monitor. It has been mentiond 9 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

dnGREP mentions (9)

  • IrfanView
    Chipping in dnGrep. Allows to grep inside XLSX and Word files. http://dngrep.github.io/. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Research aid, multiple text file searching.
    You can try Recoll (https://www.lesbonscomptes.com/recoll/pages/index-recoll.html - instant result when searching, but needs indexing first and you might want to donate a little for windows version) or dnGrep (https://dngrep.github.io/ - slower but free and do not need much setup). Source: over 2 years ago
  • What are the best apps you've been using for a long time on Windows?
    DnGrep - TL;DR : grep with less headaches, a gui, and less features. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • IT Pro Tuesday #192 - Windows Search, Fiber How-To, Autopsy Tutorial & More
    DnGrep is a Windows tool that allows you to search text, Word, Excel, PDF and archive files using text, regular expression, XPath and phonetic queries. Features include search/replace, whole-file preview, right-click search in File Explorer and more. Kindly suggested by majkinetor. Source: over 3 years ago
  • What tool(program or cli) did you wish you knew about earlier
    - dnGrep โ€“ Powerful search for Windows - https://dngrep.github.io/. Source: over 3 years ago
View more

Directory Monitor mentions (3)

  • How to take care of your PC?
    If you really have to install trash in your PC, use the combination of https://directorymonitor.com/ and http://p-nand-q.com/download/regdiff.html to keep track of where the program added files, and what registry keys it added or modified, so you can revert them. Source: over 3 years ago
  • What is everyone doing for file server file/folder auditing?
    I purchased a copy of Directory Monitor (directorymonitor.com). Source: about 4 years ago
  • [Princess Trainer] How do you completely reset the game?
    You can use a program called Directory Monitor to pinpoint exactly where changes are being made on your computer. I use whenever I need to locate a save file for any game. You just start it up, make a save in the game, and it will show you where the file was created or modified. Source: about 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing dnGREP and Directory Monitor, you can also consider the following products

DocFetcher - DocFetcher is a portable German/English open source desktop search application.

Folder Monitor - FolderMonitor helps you monitor what happens in a folder.

grepWin - grepWin is a simple search and replace tool which can use PCRE regular expressions to search for...

FolderChangesView - FolderChangesView is a simple tool that monitors the folder or disk drive that you choose and lists every filename that is being modified, created, or deleted while the folder is being monitored

PowerGREP - Quickly search through large numbers of files on your PC or network using powerful text patterns to find exactly the information you want. Search and replace with plain text or regular expressions to maintain web sites, source code, reports, ...

FileActivityWatch - FileAccessErrorView - Show file open / read / write / delete errors on Windows