Interpreting Compare Results

The differences in Compare mode are determined from the perspective of two sides of equal weight. Icons support interpretation of compare results.

Interpreting the Results in Compare Mode

Displaying Compare Results

Compare results are displayed using icons.

Note

A tool tip appears explaining the comparison icon when you hover over it with the mouse.

The relevant stereotype icon is displayed directly before the element name.

Interpretation in the Left-Hand Hierarchy Area

Following the comparison, the compared elements are summarized and are displayed in the hierarchy area on the basis of the structure of the left-hand model in the Tree tab.

If two elements are treated as comparable, these are then represented by one node.

Elements are only essentially treated as comparable if they have the same element type and if their owners are considered comparable.

The result structure in the hierarchy area shows a special comparison icon on the left for each node. The icon tells you whether the elements match, do not match, or are present only in the left-hand model or right-hand model.

If both elements have different names, then both names are shown at the node, separated by "<->".

An additional element in front of the stereotype icon also indicates whether the right-hand element has a different owner.

Icons in the first column tell you whether and how the elements differ.

Icon	Meaning
	Both elements are equal.
	Both elements are not equal.
	Element only exists in the left model.
	Element only exists in the right model.

The following status is displayed before the stereotype icons of the elements:

Icon	Meaning
	The right-hand element has another owner.

Note

Please note the following for the comparison of diagrams:

In the hierarchy area, the comparison result of mapped diagrams takes into account the direct properties of the diagrams and the exclusively graphical properties of the diagrams themselves (for example, the size and position of nodes). Logical property differences of the contained diagram elements are not taken into account; instead, they are displayed for these model elements. A name change in a diagram is only taken into account as a difference if it is associated with a change to the node size.

Graphical differences are represented by the Diagram Content property.

The graphical and logical differences of the diagram elements are evaluated and displayed in the comparison window for diagrams.

The comparison takes place exclusively using the elements' UUID. Elements are both nodes and edges.

Icons for filters and the right-hand Differences area are available for a clear overview of the changes.

Interpretation in the Right Properties Area

The properties area contains a table with four columns.

State

This column displays the following icons for the properties with the same meaning as in the hierarchy area.

A property is shown as being different if the value shown is different.
Property

Name of the property. Multiple properties can have the same name, e.g. stereotype properties and labels can be configured with the same name.

Properties can have a 1:n relationship (enumeration properties, e.g. access rights or imported profiles).

In the case of textual properties, enumerations, contained elements, or diagram contents, the selection icon appears on the right of the cell. You can use this to open the comparison window for the property. The comparison window is emptied or updated in accordance with the selection.
Left Value
Right Value

Value of the property in the left-hand or right-hand model.

The type icons before the property values of attached stereotype properties, type system options, labels, and specification texts in the Left Value and Right Value columns are grayed out if they have the default value.

Navigation in the Right-Hand Model

Prerequisites

An element or a property that references an element is selected. The element references an element in the right-hand model.

The selected element is not an enumeration, a contained element or a left-hand single.

Context

You can jump to the right-hand model to view details of an element in the right-hand model or to make adjustments there for the comparison.

The command opens the model editor for the right-hand model and selects the element in the Model Structure.

How to proceed

Select Jump to Right-Hand Model in the context menu.

The model editor for the right-hand model is opened and the element is selected in the Model Structure.