Compare models

You can compare models that have variant relationships to other models.

Compare master model and model variants

You can compare a master model to a model variant and vice versa. The model selected in the details view is the basis of the comparison. It is displayed in the modeling area on the Model comparison tab. The changes that exist in the comparison model compared to the selected model are displayed.

Prerequisite

The selected model has a variant relationship.

Procedure

  1. Click Application launcher Application launcher > Models and objects Models and objects. The Models and objects view in the repository is opened.

  2. Select the database group that contains the model with the variant relationship to the model you want to compare.

  3. Enable the check box of the relevant model in the details view.

  4. If the Details bar is not open, click Details Details on the button bar.

  5. In the Details bar, activate the Variants tab.

  6. In the Variants tab, move the mouse pointer over the model which you want to compare. The More More icon is displayed next to the item name.

  7. Click More More > Model comparison button Compare with this model. The model is opened in the Variant comparison tab. Differences found are listed in the Model comparison bar and displayed directly in the model.

You have compared a model with one of its variant relationships. You can change the criteria to be compared.

Control the model comparison for variants

You can specify which differences are listed in the Model comparison bar and displayed in the model.

Prerequisite

You have activated the Model comparison tab.

Procedure

  1. Enable or disable the comparison of individual criteria in the Controls area. The model display and the list of differences are updated immediately.

  2. If you want to use the default setting again, click Restore default Restore defaults in the Controls area.

  3. Click the Right arrow Controls arrow to collapse the area to get more space for the list of differences.

  4. Click a specific object in the comparison model to display its differences in the visible area of the list of differences.

  5. Click the model background to display the differences found in the model properties.

  6. Scroll to a difference in the list of differences and click the object. The object with its differences is highlighted. In the model, the object is selected and moved to the visible area.

You have used the Model comparison tab to display specific differences.

Structure of the Model comparison tab

The Model comparison tab consists of the modeling area and the Model comparison bar.

You can select the differences you want to be displayed under Controls in the Model comparison bar. Below the Controls area, the list of differences is displayed, which shows the differences of the item selected in the modeling area.

Model comparison

In the modeling area, the comparison model is displayed. Flags show the differences and give detail information. You can select the differences you want to be displayed in the Model comparison bar. The list of differences shows in detail how the compared models differ.

Highlighted differences

The differences displayed in the Model comparison bar depend on the selected controls and the selected item.

Select the object whose differences you want to see in detail.

Compare object

The differences are described.

If you click the model background, the object selection is removed and the differences in the model properties are displayed.

Compare model properties

Differences in the text attributes are marked by plus or minus signs and highlighted in color. Added texts have a plus sign (+) as prefix and are colored green. Deleted texts have a minus sign (-) as their prefix and are colored red.

Differences displayed when comparing variants

You can display a comparison of the following criteria for the compared models.

Object changes

Displays which objects were changed in the original model.

Examples for object changes:

  • The names of the objects have been changed.

  • The attributes of objects have been added or deleted.

Additional changes

Displays additional differences between the original model and the comparison model.

Examples for additional changes:

  • Objects have been added.

  • Connections have been added.

Removals

Displays items removed from the original model in the list of differences.

Model properties

Displays changes of the model properties in the list of differences.

Comparison options

With the ARIS Viewer license, you can compare model versions within a published database or between published databases. Model versions are compared in the Diagram fact sheet of the Published content view.

With the ARIS Designer license, you can also compare model variants, that is, the master model with the model variant, or the model variant with the master model. Model variants are compared using the Variants tab of the Repository.