> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.coherent.global/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.coherent.global/whats-new/release-history/2025-09.md).
# 2025-09
| UAT release | Production release |
| ----------------- | ------------------ |
| 15 September 2025 | 06 October 2025 |
This month, we've added a new File Compare tool to Coherent Assistant (no more tedious spreadsheet checks) and expanded Spark's connection options.
## New: Instantly Compare Excel Workbooks
Comparing spreadsheets manually takes time—and it’s easy to miss important changes.
With File Compare, now available in Coherent Assistant, the process is fully automated. Our tool instantly detects all differences in values, formulas, and text between two workbooks and generates a detailed report that highlights each change. That means you can verify updates at a glance and collaborate with confidence.
**Your privacy is our priority!** Because all processing happens locally on your machine, your files never leave your computer.
Try File Compare in Coherent Assistant [now](https://appsource.microsoft.com/en-us/product/office/wa200006757?tab=overview)!
## New: External Connections with Spark
#### 🔗 XConnector now available via Hybrid Runner
Our [XConnector](https://docs.coherent.global/xconnector/introduction-to-xconnector) feature allows Spark to connect to external services during calculations - unlocking use cases like accessing network databases or external resources. Previously, this required an active connection with the Coherent Spark environment. With this release, [XConnector](https://docs.coherent.global/xconnector/introduction-to-xconnector) is now supported via the [Hybrid Runner](https://docs.coherent.global/hybrid-runner/introduction-to-the-hybrid-runner), enabling local deployments to benefit from these capabilities too.
#### 🧠 Nodejs22 transforms support for external services
The [Nodejs22 transform](https://docs.coherent.global/spark-apis/transforms-api/transform-types/nodejs22) lets users write JavaScript to orchestrate Spark APIs and build custom API flows. We’ve now added support for calling external services directly from these transforms. This opens up exciting possibilities to combine external data sources with Spark services - creating more dynamic solutions for complex integration requirements.
## Other Enhancements
* The Excel file comparison process has been reworked to support larger more complex files.
* Systematic test case generation will generate fewer permutations by default for numeric ranges.
## Version number
`v8.36.0`
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