In Novorender you can compare two versions of the same file. This is a great way to see what has been updated/changed. See the video below for a detailed overview.
When starting the comparison, the view has to be processed before it is ready. There will be statuses representing the different steps:
Created: Starting up
Started: Processing the comparison
Complete: Ready to be viewed
How to Compare Versions in Novorender
Novorender makes version comparison of files intuitive and efficient, ensuring that users can seamlessly track changes, identify updates, and manage file versions effectively. Here’s a step-by-step guide to using this feature:
Accessing File Versions
Navigate to the file version you want to compare.
View the current version alongside previous versions listed below it.
Select two versions (e.g., Current Version and Version 1) to initiate a comparison.
Initiating a Comparison
Once versions are selected, click Compare to proceed.
You’ll be directed to the Compare tab, where the selected files—File A (Version 1) and File B (Version 2)—are displayed side by side.
Monitoring Comparison Status
The comparison status indicates progress. When marked Complete, the comparison can be opened and explored.
Exploring Results
In the 3D view, navigate to the Compare section of the Property tree.
Changed - Items that has changed geometry and/or geometry+attributes
Changed Properties - Items that has changed properties only
New - New geometry items
Unchanged - Items in the file that hasn`t changed
Changes between versions are highlighted using color-coding, and you may change it directly in the Property Tree widget. The defaults
Changed - Red
Changed Properties - Orange
New - Yellow
Unchanged - Green
Use toggles to turn these highlights on or off and customize the color scheme to your preferences.
Model Tree Integration
The model tree displays both versions as separate folders, each containing their respective files.
These folders allow users to drill down into specific changes or details.
Additional Features
Users can return to the overview to:
Mark earlier versions as the current version.
Download files.
View the file log for detailed version history.
Compare other versions if multiple versions are available.
Real-Time Analytics
The comparison processing time is displayed, showing the start and end time.
Once processing is done, a direct link opens the results in Explorer for detailed review.
Split Screen and Dashboard
Users benefit from an interactive split-screen view to analyze side-by-side changes.
Integration with dashboards (e.g., Power BI) ensures that changes are tracked and visualized dynamically.
Novorender’s version comparison tool offers a user-friendly interface and robust features, making it an essential tool for efficient project management and collaboration.
Video transcript
0:01
To do a comparison of two versions of the same file, you can start by clicking, for example, the version of this file.
0:10
You will see the current version and the versions below it. You can select the current version and v1, then click Compare. You will be routed to the Compare tab, where you can see File A, which is version 1, and File B, which is version 2.
0:29
The status will indicate whether the comparison is done, and you can open and explore it once the status shows it is complete.
0:37
You can return to the overview at any time. From there, you can also make earlier versions current, download the file, view the log of the file, or compare additional versions if there are multiple. These will be listed for selection.
0:54
Once the processing is done, the status will be marked as complete. You can then click the URL to open it up in Explorer.
1:04
You can also view how long the processing took by checking the start and end date and time. Let’s open it now.
1:14
Once you're in the 3D view, you will see the proper trajectory section called Compare, where changes are color-coded. You can see everything that has been changed, deleted, or added as new.
1:27
You can toggle these changes on or off. Additionally, you can change the colors to match your preferences.
1:33
In the model tree, you will see the two versions you're comparing displayed as separate folders. Each folder contains its underlying files, which you can also check out.