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Running the Compare Utility

To run the Compare utility:

  1. Click a utility from the Tools toolbar or Tools > Compare menu:
    • Compare Documents . Compares the properties of two SOLIDWORKS documents (or two configurations of the same document). This utility identifies the following property types:
      • File properties. Click File > Properties > Summary.
      • Document-specific properties. Click File > Properties > Custom.
      • Document properties. Click Tools > Options > Document Properties. SOLIDWORKS Utilities does not support comparison of Document Properties of DimXpert for parts.
      You can run Compare Documents on parts in the SOLIDWORKS PDM software.
    • Compare Features . Identifies the differences in solid features, including appearance properties (colors, optics, and textures) between two versions of the same part (or two configurations of the same part). Features are compared by name and type. If features in the two parts have the same name and type, this tool pairs the features and compares their individual parameters.

      Features are classified into three categories:

      • Identical features. Same name and type with identical parameter values
      • Modified features. Same name and type with different parameter values
      • Unique features. Unique name and type
      If FeatureWorks is installed on your machine and you open a part without parameterized features, the following occurs:

      FeatureWorks displays a dialog box that asks if you want to proceed with feature recognition. You should click No.

      If you click Yes, which starts feature recognition, do not click Run Comparison in the Compare Features Task Pane. Running the two simultaneously can have undesirable results.

    • Compare Geometry . Compares two parts (or two configurations of the same part) and identifies differences between two versions of the same part. Compare Geometry performs both face comparison and volume comparison. You can compare two assemblies for volume comparison only.

      Modified and unique faces are highlighted in different colors in the graphics area. Identical faces retain their original color.

      Volume comparison results are shown in the Volume Comparison of <Reference Document> and <Modified Document> window. Common volume, material removed, or material added are shown in different colors.

      You can save comparison volume bodies in the reference document, in the modified document, or in both. You can then use the Intersect tool to merge any combination of the added and removed materials into the reference or modified model

      Compare Geometry works on both solid models and surface models. You can compare two surface models for face comparison only.

    • Compare BOMs Tool_Compare_BOMs_Utilities.gif (Assemblies or drawings). Compares Bill of Material (BOM) tables from two SOLIDWORKS assembly or drawing documents. You can compare BOM tables from two assemblies, two drawings, or an assembly and a drawing.

      The results list missing columns and rows, extra columns and rows, and failed rows. Comparison of Excel-based BOMs is not supported. This utility finds all BOM tables in the documents. You then select the BOMs to compare in BOM 1 and BOM 2. You also select a column for Criteria for failed rows. Failed rows have identical data in both BOM tables for the selected column, but non-identical data in the other columns.

      You must include the Part Number column in both BOMs to display missing or extra rows.
  2. Select a Reference document and a Modified document. You can select from the list of already opened documents, or Browse to a document.
    To specify a configuration, click Browse and select a document. In the Open dialog box, select a configuration under Configurations, then click Open. When you compare two configurations of the same document, the file name is renamed to <document_name>_<configuration_name>.sld*.
  3. Under Items to compare, select additional items to compare if necessary. The Compare utility can compare multiple items simultaneously.
    If you are comparing geometry, select Align parts to compare geometrically similar bodies located in different positions, relative to the origin.
  4. Click Options Tool_Options_Standard.gif at the top of the Task Pane to open the Compare Options dialog box. You can use this to change units, feature display colors, report options, and so on. You can also change these options after Compare runs.
  5. Click Run Comparison to begin the comparison.
  6. Open the Compare Compare_Tab.gif Task Pane to view the results. If you compare multiple items, select the tabs to toggle between results CompareResults_MultiTabs.gif. Click back.png and PM_Next.gif at the top of the Task Pane to navigate between the results and parameters panes.


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