Sheet Version Compare

Overview

The Sheet Version Compare tool in AECInspire allows you to visually compare two versions of the same sheet within the live sheet view. AECInspire automatically creates a new version of a sheet each time an addendum is applied or an upload is made, building a full version history without any manual action required.

Using this tool, you can quickly identify exactly what changed between any two versions — whether items were added, modified, or removed — with colour-coded overlays applied directly on the sheet. Critically, the sheet remains fully active during the comparison, so you can continue working, moving assemblies, or making changes while reviewing the differences.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1 — Open the Sheet In AECInspire, navigate to and open the sheet you want to compare. The sheet currently open will automatically become the base version for the comparison.

Step 2 — Open the Right-Side Toolbar Locate and click the right-side toolbar within the sheet view. This toolbar contains the Overlay and Compare tools.

Step 3 — Select "Overlay and Compare" In the right-side toolbar, find and click the Overlay and Compare tool to expand the available comparison options.

Step 4 — Choose "Sheet Version Compare" From the options presented, select Sheet Version Compare — the top option in the list. A panel will appear showing all available versions of the currently open sheet.

Step 5 — Review Available Sheet Versions The panel displays all versions of the current sheet. The version you have open is considered the base version. Review the list to identify the version you want to compare against.

Step 6 — Select the Comparison Version Click to select the sheet version you want to compare against the base version (e.g., select Version 1 when you have Version 2 open as the base).

Step 7 — Click "Select Sheet Version Compare" Click the Select Sheet Version Compare button to initiate the comparison. The system will process both versions.

Step 8 — Review Comparison Results Once processing is complete, a notation panel appears on the right-hand side displaying all changes categorised as: Items Added, Items Modified, and Items Removed. Each change category is colour-coded directly on the sheet for quick visual reference.

Step 9 — Work with the Active Sheet The sheet remains fully active during the comparison. You can move assemblies, change assemblies, and make any other modifications while the Sheet Version Compare overlay is displayed.

Understanding the Results

After the comparison processes, the right-hand panel shows a summary of changes and the sheet itself is colour-coded to highlight each type of change:

• 🟢 Added — New elements present in the comparison version
• 🟠 Modified — Elements that exist in both versions but have changed
• 🔴 Removed — Elements present in the base version but absent in the comparison version

Notes & Tips

💡 AECInspire automatically versions sheets whenever addendums are applied or uploads are made. The Sheet Version Compare tool works with these automatically created versions — no manual versioning is required.

• The sheet you have open when you launch the tool is always set as the base version. Open the newer version first if you want to see what was added since the previous version.
• Versions are created automatically — you do not need to manually save or tag versions for this tool to work.
• The comparison overlay does not prevent editing. You can freely move or modify assemblies while reviewing changes.