Compare Documents
To compare files, Meridian Explorer displays a unique multi-pane window. Two of the panes show two files side-by-side. The two files can be two revisions of the same file or two similar but unrelated files that you want to compare visually. The areas of the files shown in the two panes are synchronized with one another. When you change the view of one file, the view of the other file is changed automatically to match the first file. This makes it easy to compare files without adjusting the views, sizes, and positions of separate windows.
If the files being compared are supported vector (CAD) graphics files, the lower right pane shows the additions, deletions, and unchanged objects between the two files in configurable colors. The lower left pane contains options to change the colors. This graphical representation of changes is valuable for quickly determining the differences between two complex files. You can print a hard copy of the differences.
Meridian Explorer lets you compare documents in the following ways.
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Graphics that have been moved but that are otherwise unchanged are considered by Compare as a deletion from one document and an addition to the other document.
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When the documents are loaded, use the tools in the toolbar or the shortcut menu to change the view of the documents. All panes remain synchronized on the same area of the documents.
However, automatic pane synchronization is not supported for all formats in all viewer plug-ins, for example, Adobe PDF by the AutoVue viewer plug-in. When working with an unsupported combination, click the Synchronize 
button to manually synchronize the views.
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Use the browse buttons 
or corresponding shortcut menu commands to load documents that reside outside the repository for comparison.
To compare two different documents:
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In the results list, select the two documents and then right-click over your selections.
The shortcut menu appears.
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Click Compare.
The COMPARE page opens and the documents are loaded side by side.
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When you are finished comparing documents, click CANCEL to return to the previous view.
To compare two revisions of the same document:
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On the Revisions page of any one document, select two revisions and then right-click over your selections.
The shortcut menu appears.
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Click Compare.
The COMPARE page opens and the documents are loaded side by side.
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When you are finished comparing documents, click CANCEL to return to the previous view.
Note:
Project copies are indicated with the project copy icon 
.
To compare a project copy and its master document:
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In the results list when viewing project documents, right-click over a document.
The shortcut menu appears.
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Click Compare with Master.
The COMPARE page opens and the project copy is loaded side by side with its master document.
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When you are finished comparing documents, click CANCEL to return to the previous view.
The following table describes the options that are available on the COMPARE page.
Compare page options
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Show additions
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Displays graphics in the right document that do not exist in the left document. Select a color to display additions from the list.
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Show deletions
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Displays graphics in the left document that do not exist in the right document. Select a color to display deletions from the list.
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Show unchanged
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Displays graphics that are identical in both documents. Select a color to display unchanged graphics from the list.
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Print Differences
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Prints the graphics in the Compare Result pane to a printer.
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Notes about Functionality