My main focus is on comparing data in different databases so my most important tool would be the object differences view. Here are my first impressions and my wishlist:

- the new color scheme is much better
- pivot view is great!
- previous and next buttons too

- in pivot view the column headers (= key columns) should not scroll out of view

My wish list is:
- to hide/show columns without differences
- to hide/show columns not included in the comparison
- to change column order and size and store these settings in the project file
- to sort columns with differences first, so you can easily see all differences and spot identical ones
- to print the object differences view or export it to Excel

And finally: How about a little overview window (where every table cell is a pixel and differences are red pixels) with a dragable frame representing the currently displayed cells?

-
gerdgries
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Comments

4 comments

  • Chris Spencer
    Hi

    Thanks for your feedback. We're glad that you like the improvements to the object differences view - it does make locating differences so much easier.

    Regarding the column headers scrolling out of sight in the pivot view, I suspect that you are right and it is inconsistent with the standard view. I will have to speak to the developer about this as there may be a valid technical reason for this. I'll get back to you.

    Regards
    Chris
    Chris Spencer
    0
  • Chris Spencer
    Hi

    I've raised the pivot view issue internally but cannot promise that it'll make it into the final release. It may well be difficult to implement.

    Regarding other items on your wishlist.
    - to hide/show columns without differences
    This is something we've looked into but won't be doing for technical reasons
    - to hide/show columns not included in the comparison
    Columns not included in the comparison shouldn't appear in the Object Differences view. If you wish to show them them again you will have to modify the Columns In Comparisons settings in the Tables & Views tab of the Project Configuration form and then re-compare
    - to change column order and size and store these settings in the project file
    + to sort columns with differences first, so you can easily see all differences and spot identical ones
    Definitely worth our consideration but I can imagine that this is down to technical feasibility
    - to print the object differences view or export it to Excel
    One for the future perhaps but definitely not for version 6
    - little overview window
    An interesting idea but it sounds like it would take quite some time to implement successfully. Again not for version 6.

    Regards
    Chris
    Chris Spencer
    0
  • gerdgries
    Hi,
    thanks for your comments.
    Hi

    I've raised the pivot view issue internally but cannot promise that it'll make it into the final release. It may well be difficult to implement.

    Regarding other items on your wishlist.
    - to hide/show columns without differences
    This is something we've looked into but won't be doing for technical reasons
    Another reviewer suggested to show in the column labels if there are differences or not. That would be ok too but would not help in pivot view. We have tables with more columns than fit on the screen in pivot view so I would like to hide as much uninteresting stuff as possible. The goal here is to see as much as possible on the screen without scrolling.

    Or how about a report or wizard in the project table & views setting which tells you which columns have differences so you can exlude the others from the comparison?
    - to hide/show columns not included in the comparison
    Columns not included in the comparison shouldn't appear in the Object Differences view. If you wish to show them them again you will have to modify the Columns In Comparisons settings in the Tables & Views tab of the Project Configuration form and then re-compare
    Some background: We have columns like "last change date" or "last change user". These columns alone would not constitute a valid difference. But if there are differences these columns provide valuable clues about which values are the "right" ones. So I think it's a valid request.
    - to change column order and size and store these settings in the project file
    + to sort columns with differences first, so you can easily see all differences and spot identical ones
    Definitely worth our consideration but I can imagine that this is down to technical feasibility
    - to print the object differences view or export it to Excel
    One for the future perhaps but definitely not for version 6
    - little overview window
    An interesting idea but it sounds like it would take quite some time to implement successfully. Again not for version 6.
    I know that's a little ambitious. But I had to suggest it anyway. Looking forward to version 7... :)

    Regards
    Gerd
    gerdgries
    0
  • Chris Spencer
    Hi Gerd

    Thanks again for all your feedback. We have received quite a few suggestions for enhancements to the Object Differences grid and it is very possible that we'll be trying to implement some of them.

    If your specific suggestions don't make it into the final release then be assured that we have noted them and will consider them for any future release.

    Regards
    Chris
    Chris Spencer
    0

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