Aligning Nodes

When you display viewpoints in a side by side format, you can align nodes and properties so that you can see similarities and differences. Align mode remains on and keeps both viewpoints visually aligned as you navigate a viewpoint. For example, nodes are aligned when you click on a node in:

  • A hierarchy or list

  • Search results

  • Request items

  • Viewpoint validation results

  • Navigation links (bread crumbs)

Note:

Node type converters are needed to align nodes of different node types across two viewpoints in side by side layout, see Working with Node Type Converters.

To align nodes across viewpoints:

  1. Select two viewpoints.

    If the two viewpoints do not use the same node type, then a node type converter needs to be defined.

  2. Select a node and then click align toolbar button for the viewpoint where the node was selected.

    Note:

    While the align process is running, other operations on the page cannot be performed.

    The screenshot below shows that when you click align and then select node 120 in the search result, the navigation links, or the viewpoint on the left, the node is also displayed in the viewpoint on the right (if the node exists in that viewpoint). It also shows the list of properties for each viewpoint separated by a horizontal line. The properties above the line are the properties that the two viewpoints have in common or that are mapped by a node type converter. The properties below the line are ones that are different between the viewpoints.


    property differences in align nodes and properties screen with align button highlighted

    Note:

    You can align nodes from either viewpoint.