Model comparison

The model comparison gives you the opportunity to compare the current version with the updates that have been made.

Where can I find the model comparison?

After clicking on Changes in the right sidebar of the diagram view, you will see the option to select a stage and version for comparison with the active version. If you are assigned to the either Author, Editor or Administrator role, you can select all stages for comparison. If you are assigned to the Reviewer role, you can only view the changes to the Preview and Publication stages.

The screenshot shows you a drop down menu, where you have the opportunity to select a specific stage.

You can also select a version from the archive to display the corresponding changes in the respective version.

Note

You can only click on the latest version of the stages you are currently not in. In your current stage, the “Latest version” selection is not clickable because this is the active version of your stage.

The screenshot shows you a drop down menu, where you have the opportunity to select a specific archived version.

When you have selected the stage and version for comparison, click on the “Show Differences” button. A list of all objects that have been added, removed or changed in diagram compared to the active version is shown.

The screenshot shows the list of changes which contains objects that have been added resp. removed compared to the last version of the diagram.

If the name of the object is not maintained in your content language, it will be displayed in your alternative language. The object appears in the list with the hint “no content”, if the name of a changed object has not been maintained in your content and alternative language. You can find more about this topic in the chapter multilingualism.

When and how is a symbol marked?

To see a change in the diagram, you have to click on it in the list.

The screenshot shows the pointer on a change so you can click on it and see the differences in the diagram.

Then the object will be marked in the list and in the diagram. A green mark stands for added and a yellow mark for changed.

The screenshot shows the marked changes in different colors in the list and diagram.

Note

Deleted elements are only listed and will not be shown in the diagram.

If you check out and then check in a diagram in which you only rearrange elements, this will also be saved in the archive as a comparison version. However, when you want to compare this version with the active one, you will be notified that no changes have been made.

The screenshot shows a display that there have been no changes made in the selected version.

How can I see which attribute has changed?

To view the details of a specific change, you need to hover your mouse pointer over the change you want to have an overview of. On the right side of the entry, an open changes icon appears. To view the change, click on this icon.

The screenshot shows the symbol for "open changes".

Note

The open changes icon only appears at entries of already existing entities. If an entity was newly added or deleted, the open changes icon does not appear.

Note

Changes in external function allocation diagrams will not appear, only changes in internal allocation diagrams will be considered.

Upon clicking the open changes icon, a chart will open listing the changes to the selected element. In the left column, you will see the changed changes made, while in the right column, you can compare the differences between the current version and the archive.

The screenshot shows a chart of the made changes compared to the current version.

Relationship attributes within an entity are not visually represented. Nevertheless, the corresponding entities are listed under Changed. When you open these changes in the chart, you will see the row Required input(s) and the respective adjustments.

The screenshot shows a chart of the made changes compared to the current version which contain chips.

Note

The gray markings represent chips, which refer to linked objects or diagrams.