Comparing drawings

The DWGCOMPARE command compares a selected drawing with the current drawing during a comparison session.

The ENDCOMPARE command concludes a comparison session.

The KEEPME command allows you to merge the compared drawings visually.

Comparison system variables

Name Title Description
CMPCLRMISS Compare missing entities display color Sets the color for displaying entities which are missing in the other drawing.

The default color is Red.
CMPCLRMOD1 Compare modified entities display color 1 Sets the color for displaying modified entities in the current drawing.

The default color is index color 253.
CMPCLRMOD2 Compare modified entities display color 2

Sets the color for displaying modified entities in the other drawing.

The default color is Yellow.
CMPCLRNEW Compare new entities display color

Sets the color for displaying entities which are new in the other drawing.

The default color is Green.
CMPDIFFLIMIT Maximal number of output entities

Sets the limit for entities comparison. The comparison will be aborted after reaching the difference limit.

Values between 1 and 10 000 000 are accepted.

Executing a comparison session

  1. Launch the DWGCOMPARE command.

    You are prompted: CMPDIFFLIMIT = 10000000. Select the file to compare with or [Limit]:

  2. (option) Choose the Limit option to set a new value for entities comparison.

  3. Press Enter to display a File dialog box.

  4. Select the drawing to be compared with the current drawing, then click the Open button or double-click the drawing name.

    The differences between the two drawings are displayed using the Compare Display Colors.

    The Compare toolbar appears.

  5. To check the Diff Type of an entity, do one of the following:
    • If Rollover Tips (RT) are on, hover over the entity.
    • Select the entity and check the Diff type field in the Properties panel.
  6. Click the Endcompare tool button on the Compare toolbar to conclude the comparison session.

Analyzing the comparison in the Structure panel

  1. Load the Default.cst configuration in the Structure panel.

  2. Expand the Comparison node.

    Four subnodes are shown: Missing, Modified (Original), New and Modified (Compared).

    The number of entities in each subnode is indicated between brackets.

  3. Do the following:

    • Click a subnode to select the corresponding entities in the drawing.

    • Expand a subnode, then click an entity to highlight the corresponding entity in the drawing.

      Press and hold the Ctrl key to select multiple entities.

    • Right-click, then choose Zoom in the context menu to zoom onto the selected entity or entities.
Note: When selecting entities in the Structure panel, entities are either selected or highlighted in the drawing, or tree selection is ignored. (See the Structure panel).

Merging the compared drawings

  1. Missing entities only exist in the current drawing.
    • Select the entities you want to keep, then click the Keep Me tool button on the Compare toolbar.
    • Select the entities you don't want to keep, then click the Delete tool button.
  2. Modified entities exist in both drawings.
    • In the Modified (Original) node: select the entities you want to keep, then click the Keep Me tool button on the Compare toolbar.

      The corresponding entities in the Modified (Compared) node are removed.

    • In the Modified (Compared) node: select the entities you want to keep, then click the Keep Me tool button on the Compare toolbar.
  3. New entities exist in the compared drawing only.
    • Select the entities you want to keep, then click the Keep Me tool button on the Compare toolbar.
    • Select the entities you don't want to keep, then click the Delete tool button.

When the merge is complete, the Comparison node in the Structure panel disappears. A message appears in the Command line: No more differences to show. Session is closed.