Collates the copies all at once. Every reading is compared with every
reading of the same meaning on the other copies, and two are taken to
be one where they lie within the window of their pair of copies at
both ends. The readings are then joined nearest pair first, and never
so that one copy would read a joined reading twice.
Collating one copy after another against what was collated before, as
connecting versions does, depends on the order: six copies collated in
their 720 orders give hundreds of different results. Compared all with
all, the result is the same whichever order the copies are given in,
and only the copies themselves decide it.
Collates the copies all at once. Every reading is compared with every reading of the same meaning on the other copies, and two are taken to be one where they lie within the window of their pair of copies at both ends. The readings are then joined nearest pair first, and never so that one copy would read a joined reading twice.
Collating one copy after another against what was collated before, as connecting versions does, depends on the order: six copies collated in their 720 orders give hundreds of different results. Compared all with all, the result is the same whichever order the copies are given in, and only the copies themselves decide it.