What differences are displayed in the Details pane?

You can use the Model comparison options dialog to specify which differences you want the model comparison to display.

Include

Items contained in the first model

Specifies that items are displayed that exist in the first comparison model and do not occur in the second.

Items contained in the second model

Specifies that items are displayed that exist in the second comparison model and do not occur in the first.

Changed items of both models

Specifies that all changed items in both models are displayed.

Items

Model properties

Specifies that changed model properties are to be displayed, for example, model template, background color, or model attributes.

Object definitions

Specifies that all changes to the object definitions in terms of the following aspects are displayed: attributes, assignments, and default symbol.

You can compare model semantics by enabling the option Object definition and disabling the option Object occurrences (symbols).

In this case, the semantic content is considered to be identical if a model contains two object occurrences, each of which has a connection to two objects, or a model contains one object occurrence with two connections to two objects.

Object attributes

Specifies that changed attributes are to be output.

System attributes

Specifies that changed system attributes are to be displayed, for example, time of generation, last user, etc.

Object occurrences (symbols)

Specifies that all changes relating to the object symbol for the object occurrences are displayed.

You can compare model semantics by enabling the option Object definition and disabling the option Object occurrences (symbols).

In this case, the semantic content is considered to be identical if a model contains two object occurrences, each of which has a connection to two objects, or a model contains one object occurrence with two connections to two objects.

Appearance

Specifies that all changes relating to the appearance of object occurrences (shading, line style, fill color, etc.) are displayed.

Position/Size

Specifies that changes to object occurrences in terms of their positioning in the modeling area and their size are displayed.

Attribute placement

Specifies that changes to the attribute placement for object occurrences are displayed.

Connection definition

Specifies that all changes to the connection definitions in terms of attributes and assignments are displayed.

Connection attributes

Specifies that changed attributes are to be output.

Connection occurrences (arrow symbols)

Specifies that all changes relating to the arrow symbol for the connection occurrences are displayed.

Connection appearance

Specifies that all changes relating to the appearance of the connection occurrences (color, style, arrow to source, etc.) are displayed.

Connection alignment

Specifies that changes of the connection alignment are output. The connection alignment changes if a connection is anchored at a different place at the object (connection anchor point). It also changes if the number of angles of a connection changes. Usually, the connection direction changes at connection angles.

Connection attribute placement

Specifies that changes are output as soon as attributes of connection occurrences are placed at a different position, removed, or replaced by others.

Graphic objects

Specifies that changes to the graphic objects (position, size, shape, etc.) are displayed.

Free-form text

Specifies that changes to free-form texts (position, content, etc.) are displayed.

Additional identification criteria for identical objects

Objects with identical attribute

Enables you to select an attribute that serves as a criterion to identify objects as identical. If you select this option, you can also include upper/lower case as well as line breaks and spaces.

Objects can be defined as identical if they are of the same type and have a selected attribute, for example, NAME, that matches. When you use an identical attribute to compare objects, note that the assignment of the objects is not necessarily unique. In this case, you have to ensure uniqueness by means of internal conventions. If the corresponding attribute is not specified, no objects that are the same as this object can be determined because in this case, that would be all objects for which the attribute was not specified.

Match case

Finds only objects with names that match precisely with regard to upper and lower case.

Include line breaks and spaces

Only includes attribute values that are exact matches in terms of line breaks and spaces.