Selecting Comparison Elements

To compare or merge model elements, select root elements, change sets or searches from the comparison model.

Note

Note that you can also use the Presets for the selection of the right-hand model, as well as the root elements, change sets and searches.

The Presets also save the current settings in the Filter ribbon group and, for the comparison in Merge mode, the reference point.

Changing the Comparison Model

Prerequisites

To compare or merge the elements of the active model with elements of another model, you must select the other model using the Change model button and log-in. It is sufficient to be logged-in as Guest in the right-hand model.

In Compare mode, the elements can come from the same model or from different models.

For the Merge in the left-hand model - so the copying of changes from the right-hand model - you require access rights in the active model. The elements that you want to merge must come from different models.

Context

The left-hand model is always the active model.

For the comparison of elements, you can use the active model on the right-hand side, or you can select any other model of a running model server of the same Innovator version.

For a merge, you must select a different model on the right-hand side. Merges in the same model are not supported.

If a comparison of two models has already been carried out, an attempt is made to restore the root elements of the last comparison; for a comparison in Merge mode, the reference time might be restored, too.

How to proceed

Select Review>Align>Align Models.

The Align Models editor appears.
If you want to compare elements from different models, click on the Change model button in the right-hand selection.

The Select model dialog appears.
Log-in to the second model.

The login dialog closes and the model name and repository name (shown in parentheses) appear in the selection area.

If a comparison of these models has already been carried out, the root elements of the last comparison are restored; for a comparison in Merge mode, the reference time is restored, too.

Selecting Root Elements

Prerequisites

The root elements to be compared need to have the same element type for them to be able to be compared.

The root elements of the left-hand and right-hand side of a comparison pair are not allowed to be identical.

If the right-hand model is a different model, only elements from this model can be dragged to the selection area as root elements.

Context

The following commands are available for selecting root elements to compare; they can be accessed via the context menu and the icons (in the header of the right-hand model):

Root element

The command adds a row for the new root elements.

A root element can be used as a left-hand or right-hand sided single. A root element can be removed using the icon.

The root elements and all of their subelements are included in the comparison as standard. Subelements can be excluded from the comparison for root elements in a row by deactivating the Include Subelements toggle icon.
Searches left

Searches right

These commands open a dialog where you can find the saved searches from the right or left model.

The elements of the selected searches are basically included without their subelements. However, the subelements of diagrams are included. The comparison elements of other models are also automatically determined for the search elements.
Change sets left

Change sets right

These commands open a dialog where you can find the change sets from the right or left model.

The elements of the selected change sets are basically included without their subelements. However, the subelements of diagrams are included. The comparison elements of other models are also automatically determined for the change set elements. If an element has been deleted in accordance with the change set on the right, then the corresponding comparison element is included if it exists.

You can use the button to have Innovator automatically determine the corresponding root element in another model.

You can compare multiple rows of root elements as well as comparison elements resulting from multiple change sets or searches at the same time. Note that the scope of the analysis increases particularly in the case of a merge.

You can drag model elements from the active model to use them as root elements in the left-hand or right-hand selection area. You can only drag model elements of another right-hand model into the right-hand selection area.

The following applies if you are comparing two models:

If you let an element drop back onto the left-hand side, the system automatically attempts to determine the right-hand side (corresponds to a click on ). If no comparable element can be found, a message appears and the right-hand side remains unchanged.
If you use drag-and-drop to insert a root element on the right-hand side from a different model than that displayed on the right until now, the model is changed automatically. If a comparison of these models has already been carried out, an attempt is made to restore the root element rows of the last comparison; for a comparison in Merge mode, the reference time might be restored, too.

You can use the Start Comparison (Ctrl+D) command to check all comparison pairs to see whether they can be compared (for example, for the same element type). If the comparison cannot be carried out for all comparison pairs, a message appears.

How to proceed

Drag the element of the active model to be compared from, for example, the Model Contents tool window, and drop it into the left-hand selection area. Alternatively, select it from the drop-down list.

The root element is shown in the selection area.
If you want to compare the element with another element in the active model, then repeat the process for the top right-hand area.

The root element is shown in the selection area.
Click on if you want to compare or merge the element with a corresponding element from another model.

If an element can be determined, then it is shown in the selection area.
As an alternative to the automatic determination, you can select the element of the same type to be compared from the other model in the drop-down list of the right-hand selection area or you can drag it from the other model to the right-hand side.

The root element is shown in the selection area.
If you want to automatically determine the comparison elements on the basis of change sets, select Select change sets from the context menu.

The comparison pairs are determined automatically on the basis of the logged elements.
If you want to automatically determine the comparison elements on the basis of searches, select Select searches from the context menu.

The comparison pairs are determined automatically on the basis of the elements found.
If you want to determine other comparison pairs for the comparison, select the Root element command from the context menu in the selection area and repeat the steps above.

You can remove a comparison row with the Remove row context menu command.