You can check the changes between different reference model versions in Tekla Structures using change detection. You can use change detection to detect changes between reference models from different disciplines, such as engineer or detailer. Changes are detected on object level. You can also compare Tekla Structures models if you have exported a Tekla Structures model into IFC format at least twice.
You may want to use change detection before IFC object conversion change management. Change detections is a prerequisite for providing reference object changes for Tekla Model Sharing change visualization.
Limitations
There are some limitations in change management: • It is not possible to change comparison settings.
• The details list shows as c some of the properties that always change, such as COLUMNTYPE GUID. However, the changes list does not show these object as changed.
• Property comparison works only for IFC or IFC-based reference models. The following formats are supported:
• .ifc
Reference models 44 Detect changes between reference model versions
• .ifcxml • .ifczip • .tczip
Change detection between new and an old reference model version
You can show changes between a new and an older reference model version. The changes in the browsed older reference model are not updated in the new reference model version. The changes between the versions are listed in the bottom pane, and you can check the changes in individual objects in the property details list. You can use this option when you just want to check the changes between versions.
1. Open the Reference Models list by clicking the Reference Models button in the side pane.
2. Open a reference model by double-clicking the model in the Reference
Models list.
3. Open the Change detection list by clicking the arrow on the Change
detection row.
4. Click Browse and browse for an earlier version of the reference model. 5. Ensure that you have both the original reference model and the browsed
older reference model version visible by setting the eye buttons active in the Change detection section.
Reference models 45 Detect changes between reference model versions
You can do any of the following in the changes list and in the details list: • Click a row in the changes list to open the related property details list
in the side pane. The property details list contains at least the name, location as origin and property set properties, basically the content is the same as in the reference object inquiry report. The details list also indicates how the individual properties have changed in the Old value and New value columns.
• To show the object in the model, click a row in the changes list, and then select the Select objects in model view check box.
• To zoom to the selected object in the model, click a row in the changes list and then select the Zoom to selected check box.
• To show only changes in the property details list, click a row in the changes list and then select the Show only changes check box. • You can search for specific items using the search box at the bottom.
Reference models 46 Detect changes between reference model versions
• If the changes list disappears, you can bring it back by clicking the
Changes list button in the side pane. If the details list disappears, you can bring it back by clicking the Properties details button in the side pane. These two buttons are only visible when the Change
detection command is active.
Update reference model and detect changes between versions
You can update a reference model with another version of the model, and detect the changes between these two reference model versions. For example, you may want to use this option when you have done the modifications in the reference model version, and want to update the original reference model with new information.
1. Open the Reference Models list by clicking the Reference Models button in the side pane.
2. Open a reference model by double-clicking the model in the Reference
Models list.
3. Open another version of the reference model by browsing to it in the File box and click Modify.
This updates the original reference model with the changed information in the other reference model version.
You can open several versions, but you can only compare two versions at a time.
You do not need to copy the reference models to the model folder. 4. On the Change detection row, click the arrow on the row to open the
Change detection list.
In the Change detection list, the current version is bolded. The newest version is at the top and the oldest at the bottom.
5. Ensure that both models are visible by setting the eye buttons active in the Change detection list.
Comparison is active only when two eye buttons are active . You cannot have more than two eye buttons active at the same time. If you activate a third reference model in the list, the older version from previously visible model is automatically set inactive , and the comparison is done between the two models that have the active eye.
Reference models 47 Detect changes between reference model versions
6. Set another version as the current version in the Change detection list by right-clicking the version in the list and selecting Set as current.
The current version does not have a pop-up menu, because setting a current version of the model current would affect IFC object conversion change management.
7. To delete a version, right-click the version in the Change detection list, and select Remove.
The current model version is modified, and this modification is shared in multiuser mode or Tekla Model Sharing.
You need to pay special attention to versioning and updating in a project. For example, if you remove a version, the current model is updated and you may end up with conflicts.
8. Select any of the check boxes for the following options: Changed,
Unchanged, Inserted and/or Deleted, and then click the Update view
button, which is displayed when you select an option.
9. Select any or all of the check boxes for the following options: Changed,
Unchanged, Inserted and/or Deleted, and then click the Update view
button, which is displayed when you select an option.
For example, select Inserted to show with green color the objects that were inserted between the two versions.
The changes list and the details list are displayed. The changes list content is based on the IFC content and has all physical object types. The colors are the same as the ones in Change detection.
Reference models 48 Detect changes between reference model versions
10. You can do any of the following in the changes list and in the details list: • Click a row in the changes list to open the related property details list
in the side pane. The property details list contains at least the name, location as origin and property set properties, basically the content is the same as in the reference object inquiry report. The details list also indicates how the individual properties have changed in the Old value and New value columns.
• To show the object in the model, click a row in the changes list, and then select the Select objects in model view check box.
• To zoom to the selected object in the model, click a row in the changes list and then select the Zoom to selected check box.
Reference models 49 Detect changes between reference model versions
• To show only changes in the property details list, click a row in the changes list and then select the Show only changes check box. • You can search for specific items using the search box at the bottom. • If the changes list disappears, you can bring it back by clicking the
Changes list button in the side pane. If the details list disappears, you can bring it back by clicking the Properties details button in the side pane. These two buttons are only visible when the Change
detection command is active.
Remove old reference model versions automatically
You can remove old reference model versions automatically with the advanced option XS_REFERENCE_MODEL_KEEP_VERSIONS_COUNT.
See also
Import a reference model (page 37)