About Comparing Models (Detailed or Quick)

Comparing two models consists in comparing two 3D shape representations using geometric or topological criteria.

The two models to compare should not contain any duplicate or embedded faces. Such faces will be ignored (considered as in NoShow) and a warning will appear. Clean the models (see Checking Connections Between Surfaces).

You will:

  • Open the original model, start Compare and open the comparison model within this command.
  • Set the comparison options.
  • Optional: Preview the comparison: Both models are loaded and analyzed to detect duplicate or embedded faces. The result is then computed and displayed.
  • Optional: Define the final result option via a Merge Options (whenever a Preview has been done or not).
  • Decide to create the result data either in a new 3D Part or in the original 3D shape representation.
  • Click OK:
    • If no preview has been done yet, both models are loaded and analyzed. Then the result is computed and created according to the Merge options (last modified or default ones).
    • If a preview has been done, the result is created according to the Merge Options (last modified or default ones).

    You are given the choice between two comparison methods:

    • Quick
    • Detailed.

    Let us consider this examples with a topological change (bottom right surface split into two faces) and one geometrical change:
    • Original model:

    • Comparison model:

The Quick method will consider a topological change as a difference, and will find the geometrical change.

The Detailed method will find the areas that differ:

  • The Detailed method with no Topological comparison will find only the geometrical change.

  • The Detailed method with Topological comparison will find the geometrical and the topological change.

Important:
  • The Quick method enables a quicker detection of the faces that are different (because their supporting surfaces are different). However, as it is a less precise comparison, some identical faces may not be detected, whereas they are detected when the Detailed option is selected. The Quick mode is sufficient for most cases, but you may need a more thorough comparison for some models. In that case, use the Detailed method and note that the comparison will be more time-consuming.
  • For a better result, we recommend that you open both models and set the In Work Object at the relevant level in both models, preferably the PartBody that corresponds to the final stage of the design, or at least the same level of design if you do not want to compare the whole models. Save your models and start the Compare command.