Comparing Structures

You can compare objects like two filtered structures (configuration, attributes or manual filters), two revisions of a same structure, the attributes of a representation with the attributes of an iteration of this representation, the attributes of two iterations of a representation, or two duplicates.

You can also compare two single-root structures that have different roots. The roots are labeled as Mismatched, and the children that can be compared are assigned a compare status.

Important: The Compare Structure command is available from any of the following apps:
  • Functional & Logical Design
  • Systems Architecture Design
  • Part Design
  • Product Structure Design and Product Finder Classic
  • Product Finder
  • System Finder

This scenario describes the comparison of two structures in a Product Finder context. The commands and behaviors are similar in all these apps.

Before you begin: In a Product Finder Classic or System Finder context, the 3D area only displays what has been expanded in the tree. The structure comparison shows different results based on the expanded state of the structures. To get the complete comparison, fully expand the structures.
  1. In a tab, explore and expand a product structure.
  2. From the Compass, click Collaborative Lifecycle.
  3. From the Lifecycle section of the action bar, click Compare Structure .
    If you selected an object in the initial tab, an immersive selection dialog box appears, requesting you to select or query a filter object. If you did not select any object in the initial tab, a Similar Tab Chooser dialog box appears, enabling you to select a second tab.

    Note: When an object of the tree is selected and you are asked to choose a persistent filter or a product for comparison:
    • If the selected object is not the root of a structure, it is explored in a new Product Finder tab. This new tab is used for the comparison.

      If the selected object is the root of a structure, this Product Finder tab is used for the comparison.

    • If you choose with the Content Chooser:
      • A filter: This filter is explored in a new tab, and this new tab is used for the comparison.
      • A product: If this product is the root of another Product Finder tab, this tab is used for the comparison.

        If this product is not the root of a Product Finder tab, this product (with possibly its current filter) is explored in a new Product Finder tab, and this new tab is used for the comparison.

  4. Do one of the following:
    OptionDescription
    Select a filter (in the former case) Search for a filter (for example in the search field, enter filter: *), and then select a filter from the proposed list in the Filter Selection dialog box that appears.
    Select a second tab (in the latter case) Select a tab from the proposed list in the Similar Tab Chooser dialog box.

    Two tabs appear side by side, each one containing one of the structures to be compared:

    • The initial structure (optionally expanded or filtered)
    • The selected persistent filter or the second selected tab

    The comparison result is displayed with different colors in the tree and in the 3D. The Compare status category is activated in the B.I. Essentials panel. It provides the meaning of each color, enabling you to compare the status of different objects. For more information, see Compare Status.

    Important:
    • Only the content displayed in the compared tabs is compared. Attached documents and hybrid children are also compared.
    • The representation of a 3DPart has the same comparison status as a reference.
    • The displayed status is based on the positioning matrix associated with the instances. For example, two instances with same position but different effectivities are seen as identical.
    • When using the Compare Structure command in Part Design, BI Essentials are not available but you can see the characteristics comparison of the representations since the Characteristics Comparison dialog box is automatically displayed.

  5. Optional: In either view, select an instance.
    The instance label is displayed and indicates the instance attributes.
  6. Optional: In the Compare Options dialog box, select the options and actions of your choice:
    OptionDescription
    Same viewpoint If selected, zooming in or out in one of the views applies the same zoom in the other view. By default, this option is selected.
    Export comparison If selected, a report is generated in .csv format, with field separator ",".

    It contains the following fields:

    • Depth: Indicates the depth of an object's structure. For example if the depth of the root is 0, then its child's is 1.
    • Object ID reference
    • Object ID compared
    • Object type
    • Comparison status
    • Comparison information: Gives additional details, for example the difference between attribute values or the historic links between two similar elements (branch or duplication).

    Merged view If selected, a new tree is created, containing both the reference structure, and the compared structure. A new tab appears on the left side of the tree.
    Geometry comparison

    If selected, a 3D comparison of the geometry of the two objects is created.

    Note: The Geometry comparison option is only available if you have a role that includes the Shape Healing app.

    If you have access to more than one type of geometric comparison, the Use image comparison option is available. This allows you to compare the geometry of two objects in 2D. With this option, you can:

    • Resize the image to see a higher level of details. To do so, do one of the following:

      • In the Comparison image size field, enter a new value, or scroll up to the value of your choice.

        Images are created with a 960x960 px size, but you can choose a value between 240 px and 5000 px.

        Note: The larger the image size is, the longer it takes to generate the images and their comparison.

      • Drag the edges or corners of the Image Comparison dialog box, which automatically resizes the image.
        Note: The height/width ratio of the image is not constrained, so if you drag the edges of the dialog box, you might stretch the image horizontally or vertically.

    • Save the image as a PNG file: select the Save to file option, and enter a file path and a file name in the corresponding box. You can also use the Browse icon and browse to the directory of your choice.
    Settings If selected, a dialog box appears, allowing you to change the following settings:
    • Comparison status prioritization: The first status is the status with the highest priority. To modify the order, clock the up or down arrow.
    • Compare reinstantiated objects: If selected, when you compare an object with one of its revisions or branches, and a child instance has been removed from the structure and then readded in the revision or branch, these child instances appear as Changed Revision or Similar, and are compared.

      If cleared, these child instances appear as Added and Removed, and are not compared.

    These settings are kept for the next sessions.
  7. Optional: To compare object characteristics:
    1. In the B.I. Essentials panel, click Selection and select Characteristics comparison.

      For more information, see Characteristics comparison.

      If the compare status is:

      • "Identical": The Characteristics comparison status is "Identical characteristics".
      • "Added/Removed": There is no Characteristics comparison status (that is, no color).
      • Another status: The Characteristics comparison status can be "Identical characteristics" or "Modified characteristics".

    2. Select an object with modified characteristics in the tree or in the 3D.
      A dialog box appears and displays the details of the different characteristics:
      • Attributes of the reference
      • Attributes of the instance
      • "Implements" links
      • "Derived from" links
      • "Derived by" links
      • Effectivities.
      Note: If you export the comparison using the Export comparison option in the Compare Options panel, the characteristics comparison is added to the report.
    3. To choose the filter characteristics, click .

      You can choose between the following options:

      • Show Differences Only: Only the characteristics that differ are shown in the Characteristics Comparison dialog box.
      • Show Identical Only: Only the characteristics that are the same are shown.
      • Show Both Different and Identical: All characteristics are shown.
      You can also choose which characteristic to show in the Characteristics List.

  8. To exit the command, click Close in the Compare Options panel.