Comparing Specification Structures and Objects

From the specification details page, you can compare the structure of objects in the same specification or from another specification. You can select both objects for comparison from the current listing, or just select one then click Structure Compare to select the other.

You select the baseline object and the attributes that you want to compare with those of another object. The resulting comparison report shows the content of the compared objects with all differences highlighted in color. You can use the Complete Summary report to perform a line-by-line synchronization of objects between structures.

Note: Sub and downstream requirements may be included or excluded from the comparison based on your preferences. SeeSet Specification Structure Options.

Required responsibilities:

  • Baseline: Leader (when the object is in the Frozen state) or Author

Before you begin:

View the specification. See Specification Detail Page.

  1. Select one object in the specification structure as the baseline for comparison, then:
    1. From the Actions menu, select Structure Compare .
    2. Click next to the Please Select an Object to Compare field.
    3. In the Search Results window, search for and select the object to which you want to compare the previously-selected object, then click Submit.

    Or

    Select two objects in the specification structure, then from the Actions menu, select Structure Compare. The first object selected is the baseline object for the comparison.

  2. In the Structure Compare window, select the remaining Compare Criteria options:

    Comparison OptionDescription
    Matched Based OnThese fields identify which columns will be used as the criteria for matching information at each level. Configure up to three columns. The criteria selected in this section causes the same criteria in the Compare By area to be grayed out. If a level is set to None, then any lower levels will also be set to None. The available options are:
    • None
    • Name
    • Revision
    • Type
    • Relationship Type
    • Status
    • Classification
    • Title
    • Description
    • Priority
    • Content Text
    • Parameter Type
    • Parameter Value
    Compare ByThese fields identify column information that you want to find a match for in both objects. These are the compare columns in the table. You can select one or more columns to compare.
    Expand LevelSelect the number of levels in the specification you want to see expanded in the report.

  3. Click Apply.

    The various reports are generated, with the baseline selection's structure shown on the left and the comparison selection's structure shown on the right.

  4. Select the type of comparison report you want to view:

    Report TypeContents
    Complete SummaryThis report contains all of the columns and data being compared between the selected objects.
    Difference Only ReportThis report contains only the objects that are unique to either the baseline selection's structure on the left or to the comparison selection's structure on the right.
    Common ComponentsThis report contains only the objects that are shared by the compared selections' structures.
    Unique to Left ReportThis report contains only the objects that are unique to the baseline selection's structure.
    Unique to Right ReportThis report contains only the objects that are unique to the comparison selection''s structure.

    The reports are color-coded to indicate your selected comparison criteria and the differences between the compared structures:
    Color Description
    Red Highlights columns that are being compared in the report based on your Compare By criteria.
    Yellow Indicates that the object is unique to the structure and is not present in the other selection's structure.
    Blue Indicates that a particular field value is different from the comparable field value in the other selection.

    In the Complete Summary report, you can synchronize the contents of the objects being compared with each other. You can add objects that are unique to the baseline selection or to the comparison selection to the other's structure.

  5. To synchronize objects between the compared structures, in the Complete Summary report:
    1. Select the check box for the row containing the object that you want to synchronize with the other compared structure.
    2. To synchronize an object in the baseline selection with the comparison selection, click Sync To Right .
    3. To synchronize an object in the comparison selection with the baseline selection, click Sync To Left .
    4. Click Save to make the synchronization permanent.
  6. Close the Structure Compare window when you are finished working with the comparison reports.