Comparing 3D Files

AutoVue provides the ability to compare two 3D files or two sets of entities from the same file or different files and display color-coded comparative data. When you compare two files, AutoVue displays a Compare Tree and three windows, the first containing the base file, the second containing the file you compared the base against, and the third containing the comparison results.

The Compare Tree displays the model’s hierarchy with a State column displaying different icons representing the results of the file comparison. The icons indicate if an model part has been added

, modified

, moved

deleted

In the Comparison Result window, results are displayed in different colors to differentiate the results of the file comparison. The comparison options and corresponding colors are:

Option	Color	Description
View Additions	Green	Indicates that something has been added.
View Deletions	Red	Indicates that something has been deleted.
View Unchanged	Blue	Indicates that there is no change.

View the base file.

From the Analysis menu, select Compare.

The Open dialog box appears.

Enter the file name or browse to locate the file you want to compare with the current active file.

Click Open.

AutoVue displays the Compare Tree and three windows. The first window displays the base file, the second displays the compare file, and the third displays the comparison results.

To view the properties of a modified or moved entity in the base file and in the compare file, select the modified

or moved

entity from the tree, then right-click and select Entity 1 Properties.

The Entity Properties dialog box appears displaying the properties of the entity in the base file.

See Entity Properties

Select the entity again, then right-click and select Entity 2 Properties.

The Entity Properties dialog box appears displaying the properties of the entity in the compare file.

To compare the results of the entity in the base file to the compare file, select the entity from tree, then right-click and select Compare Results.

The Compare Results dialog box appears.

To view the attribute differences, click Attributes.

To view the transformation difference, click Transformation.

Note: If there are no attribute or transformation differences, the buttons are disabled.

Click OK to close the Compare Results dialog box.

To exit Compare mode, from the File menu, select Exit Compare.

The base file appears in the workspace.

Note: From the AutoVue toolbar, you can also select Exit Compare .