Doclet Version Compare in Smart View

Doclet compare in Smart View allows you to analyze two versions of a Word doclet so that you can identify and highlight differences between them. Depending on context, you can access doclet compare by using the Compare button in the Narrative Reporting ribbon, or by using the Compare button in the Version tab of the Properties dialog.

Available for Microsoft Word doclets only, compare allows users to detect changes made between two versions; for example:

  • Textual changes, such as inserted, deleted, or modified text, formatting changes, and moved content.
  • Added or removed embedded content and variables, including changes in embedded content and variables

When you select Compare, either from the ribbon or the dialog, Smart View produces a comparison document where differences are visually highlighted for easy review, similar to document compare in Microsoft Word. You then use Word features to navigate and review the summary pane, the original doclet, and the revised doclet.

To begin, you must open a doclet that has at least two versions displayed in the Version tab of the Properties dialog. A version is created upon checking in a doclet.

Once checked in, you can perform a doclet compare by selecting the Inspect button, then select the Versions tab. Use your Control key to select two versions to compare. In the following example, we select versions 1 and 3:

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Properties Dialog, Version Tab with New Compare Button

Click the Compare button:

Compare Button

Compare Button

The comparison result of the two doclet versions is presented in the familiar Word format with these panes:

  • Summary of changes
  • Compared doclet
  • Original version of the doclet - think of this as the base version
  • The revised version of the doclet - the version you are comparing to the original version

The simple example below shows the results of comparing the original version of a doclet with the latest version:

Compare Results Window

Compare Results Window

When you're working with a doclet that you have checked out, you can use the Compare button in the Narrative Reporting ribbon to perform a compare. Perform an upload, the Compare button is enabled. Use the drop-down menu to select a version with which to compare the current, open and checked-out doclet:

Compare Drop-down Menu on Narrative Reporting Ribbon

Compare Drop-down Menu on Narrative Reporting Ribbon

The compare results window is displayed, with the same panes as described earlier.

Use the tools in Word to review the compare results document.

Business Benefit: With the compare feature in Narrative Reporting for Smart View, you use familiar Microsoft Office compare tools to compare differences between Word-based doclet versions.

Steps to enable and configure

This feature requires the 26.02 Narrative Reporting extension. To install the extension, see Updated Narrative Reporting Extension for Smart View.

Tips and considerations

  • Currently, doclet compare is supported only for Word doclets in Smart View; it is not supported in Narrative Reporting web.
  • You can compare only two doclets in a single operation.

Key resources