Phase 2: Set compare and display parameters and run comparison

Note Since output XML files are stand-alone dumps of encyclopedia records, you can take any output file and compare it to any other output file.

When Phase I is complete, System Architect Compare launches automatically and then you can comparison parameter settings (see SA Compare settings). You can save parameter settings and reuse them in future comparisons.

After setting parameters, you run the comparison. System Architect Compare takes the Base and Compare XML output files and creates a third XML output file, which in turn is used to create a temporary database where the encyclopedia records are compared. Lastly, System Architect Compare generates your website, with all associated files, in your output folder. You can now publish your site anywhere.

At the minimum, you must:

•select a server and provide a name for a temporary database that will be created for the comparison and

Optionally, you can:

•set the scope of the comparison by modifying the Compare and Display filter sets (see Working with filter sets)

To set parameters to determine the content and appearance of your comparison output:

1 On the Input tab, note the Diagram attributes and Symbol attributes check boxes and choose whether to include these in the comparison.

2 Click Edit on the Filter sets field. The Compare Filter dialog is displayed. Check or uncheck the objects to compare on the Diagrams tab, then do the same for the Definitions tab.

•Click Server name and select a server. This is where the temporary database will be stored.

•Select the Security method for the server. If you choose Username and password, the fields for those values become enabled, and you must enter the values.

•Type a name for the temporary database in the Database name drop-down, or select one from the list. If you select an existing database name, you will be prompted whether you want to overwrite that database.

•By default, Compare common properties only is selected. This forces System Architect Compare to ignore objects that might be in one encyclopedia but not in the other. Uncheck this only if you want all objects to be displayed, regardless of whether they are common to both encyclopedias.

•Match on is set to GUID. This is the default because GUIDs are always unique, whereas Full Name might not (that is, the names of unnamed definitions are not unique, and are therefore unidentifiable for the comparison).

•Click Browse and select a folder in which to create your compare output file. This file is created by joining the encyclopedia output files you created in the first phase.

•Click Edit in the Display filter sets drop-down. The Display Filter dialog is displayed.

•Click the Diagrams and/or Definitions tab, and check the objects you want to display in the output. Optionally, you can click Save to retain your settings.

•Ensure the Display HTML after compare option is checked. Otherwise, no output is generated.

•Click Browse in the Output directory field and select a folder for your comparison output. Note: you should not alter the Input directory or the Stylesheet settings. SA Compare uses files in those locations to create comparison output.

SA Compare generates a website from your comparison output and opens it in your default browser.