Comparing Items

To compare side-by-side complex multi-level hierarchies of Items, Aras Innovator offers the Structure Browser. You can also use it to explore the usage of a single Item.

There are several ways to access the Structure Browser:

• Go the Item Search Grid Page, right-click an Item to be compared, and then click Navigate à Structure Browser.

Figure 198.

• Open the view of an Item to be compared. Click Navigate on the Item toolbar, and then click Structure Browser.

Figure 199.

When you access the Structure Browser, it appears as a new Aras Innovator view showing the Item hierarchy tree where you can see the Number and Revision for each Item.

Figure 200.

In addition to the standard tree navigation features, the following buttons are available in the Structure Browser toolbar:

• Expand All, which opens the whole hierarchy tree.

Figure 201.

• Collapse All, which closes the whole hierarchy tree.

Figure 202.

To quit the Structure Browser, close its view.

Use the following procedure to compare the current version of an Item with an older one:

1. Click Side-by-side with other Version on the Structure Browser toolbar.

   

   

   Figure 203.

   The Item versions dialog appears.

   

   

   Figure 204.

2. Double-click the version to be compared. The hierarchy tree of the selected Item version appears on the right side of the Structure Browser, and the Highlight button becomes available on the Structure Browser toolbar.

   

   

   Figure 205.

3. Click Highlight on the Structure Browser toolbar.

   

   

   Figure 206.

   The trees open. Differences are highlighted.

   

   

   Figure 207.

   • Black means that both Item versions use the same version of this Item.
   • Red means that both Item versions have different versions of this Item.
   • Blue means that this Item does not exist in the opposite Item version.

4. If it is necessary to view detailed information on an Item version, double-click the Item to open its view.

   Note

   You cannot compare more than two versions of an Item in one Structure Browser tab.

To compare the hierarchies of two different CAD Documents:

1. Click Side-by-Side with other ItemType in the Structure Browser toolbar. The Search dialog appears.

   

   

   Figure 208.

2. Using the standard search procedure, search for and select the Item to be compared. The tree of the selected Item hierarchy appears on the right side of the Structure Browser, and the Highlight button becomes available on the Structure Browser toolbar.

   

   

   Figure 209.

3. Click Highlight in the Structure Browser toolbar. The trees appear with differences highlighted.

   

   

   Figure 210.

   • Black means that both Item hierarchies use the same version of this Item.
   • Red means that both Item hierarchies have different versions of this Item.
   • Blue means that this Item does not exist in the opposite Item hierarchy.

4. If it is necessary to view detailed information on an Item, double-click the Item to open its view.

   Note

   You cannot compare more than two Item hierarchies in one Structure Browser tab.