Feature Compare tool does not work as expected

[MalcolmMeyer2]

After two days of debugging the Feature Compare tool in ArcCatalog 10.7.1 and reading through this forum it would seem the tool does not work as expected. It seems way too comprehensive. It would be great if there was a "simple" compare checkbox that would just compare the shapes and attributes...debugging all these errors is just not going to cut it. See workaround below if you are in the same situation.

Workflow:

Import feature into a backup SDE from production SDE

Compare Features with Feature Compare (making sure to change the names of the features so they are both the same)

Sort by ObjectID

If Features are different, delete existing backup and copy new features to backup

Expected Result = Features are the same

Actual Result, features are different

Tried a variety of methods, with a variety of what I consider errors...

FeatureClass: ObjectID 21 is different for Field Shape (Base: Geometry, Test: Geometry).

SpatialReference: Spatial References have different M precision (Base: 0.000000000000, 1.000000000000, Test: -100000.000000000000, 10000.000000000000).
SpatialReference: Spatial References have different Z precision (Base: 0.000000000000, 1.000000000000, Test: -100000.000000000000, 10000.000000000000).

So either the tool does not work properly or the documentation is missing key information for users to use this tool properly.

Similar Questions with no real answers

Feature Compare tool -- why is it comparing geometry? 

Feature Compare explained 

Feature Compare Results 

Feature Compare Tool not working 

feature compare results show fields mismatch but they are identical 

Workaround -

I am exporting to GeoJSON (with esri2open because the built-in tool Features to JSON tool is not 100% consistent), hashing the files and comparing the hashes, super simple and works 100% of the time.

[MicahBabinski]

Nice workaround, Malcolm! I wasn't aware of esri2open but I'm glad I am now.

I wouldn't expect Feature Compare to work too well with OBJECTID as the sort field, since OBJECTIDs are notoriously unstable. Which command or GP tool did you use to import your features into a backup SDE from production SDE? Sometimes the OIDs get scrambled depending on which tool you use. Copy work better than others in my experience.

[MalcolmMeyer2]

Background -

I am new to SDE and want to create an SDE and file backup that only copies over changed files. My process is -

Iterate Features - use Feature Compare to check if they are the same from SDE to backup SDE, if so then do nothing, if not then continue. I don't think the sort field is the problem. I think the tool tries too hard and all I really need is a simple file/table hash. I tried using the "Shape" field as well and got similar errors.