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Visual Diagram Changes
The Baseline Diagram Compare feature is a quick and easy way to visually compare a current diagram with an earlier version from a saved Baseline, and highlight any elements in the diagram that have been added, deleted, resized or moved.
You can then review these changes and optionally roll back individual changes if needed to their previous state from the Baseline.
The changes are identified on the 'Baseline Diagram Compare' dialog and on the diagram itself.
Access
Select the diagram to be checked, then apply one of these access methods:
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Ribbon |
Design > Diagram > Manage > Compare to Baseline (on an open diagram) |
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Other |
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Multiple Owner Packages
When you create a Baseline, it can be for a Package that contains one or more levels of child Package, and you might create Baselines for the Package(s) at each level. If the diagram you are checking is at a lower level in the hierarchy, there might therefore be a number of Baselines that contain information on the diagram, perhaps taken at different times and capturing different changes to the diagram.
When you open the diagram before performing the check, and select one of the direct ribbon access paths, if the diagram is referenced in multiple Baselines you might be required to select the Package from which to use a Baseline, on the 'Load Baselines from Package' dialog.
The 'Load Baselines from Package' dialog provides the facility to compare the diagram with one of a broader range of Baselines than just those from the diagram's immediate parent.
This dialog displays if you have NOT selected the 'Always open first parent with a Baseline' checkbox on either:
- The 'Load Baselines from Package' dialog itself or
- The 'Baseline Compare Options' dialog
Selecting or deselecting the option in one location also selects or deselects it in the other.
Click on the required Package, and click on the . In this case, or if the dialog did not display at all (the checkboxes were selected), the 'Baselines dialog displays.
Processing
Click on the required Baseline and on the . The 'Baseline Diagram Compare' dialog displays. Refer to the Results section and the Options table.
Results
The 'Baseline Diagram Compare' dialog shows the elements that have been changed on the diagram, and what kind of change was made (examine the 'Status' field).
As you select elements on the dialog, images are shown on the diagram itself to indicate where the changed element was and what kind of change it underwent.
Options
Option |
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See also |
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Select (click on) name of element |
The 'Status' column indicates whether the element has been:
When an item is selected, the corresponding element on the diagram is highlighted as shown:
The highlighted element on the diagram is marked with a colored dot, as shown, to indicate that it is in focus. |
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Position the diagram to show the selected element |
To scroll the diagram so that you can see the original (Baseline) position of an element, double-click on the item in the list. To scroll the diagram so that you can see the current (model) position of the element, press and hold while you double-click on the item. |
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Leave the changes in the item as they are |
Ensure that the checkbox against the item is not selected. Click on the . |
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Roll the changes back to the Baseline position |
Click on the checkbox against each required item (or click on the to select every item). The 'Action' column displays the action required to roll each element's relationship to the diagram back to the Baseline relationship, and on the diagram the selected elements are represented as shown:
The comparison automatically shows a blue direction arrow for each reposition or resize that has been checked. For a heavily edited diagram this might be confusing. However, you can hide the arrow for all elements except the one currently in focus; to do this:
To roll back the changes for all items for which a checkbox is selected:
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Notes
- Diagram Baseline facilities are available in the Corporate, Unified and Ultimate Editions of Enterprise Architect