Tips for Inspecting ECAD Comparison Results

After you select the items to compare, the Quick Results appear. You can inspect the graphical differences. If you are expecting to see a certain difference, the Quick Results may provide enough information. To see the parametric differences and the difference details, and to send reports, run the full comparison, and then inspect the Full Results. Information follows about working with different types of results.

With the Quick Results, you can easily see any graphical change to the design. This includes changes such as geometry changes, and additions and deletions of components, nets, and pins. They also reflect some modifications, such as Name, Device, Part number, and Package change. You can use these strategies to work with Quick Results:

• On the

Visibility pane of the upper data panel, turn the visibility on and off per layer or sublayer. This way, you can see differences on other parts of the board.

• Select multiple items manually or with a search. Then, in the

Attributes tab of the lower data panel, inspect the attributes. You can find many differences using this method.

• For two or more moved components with the same footprint, select one component to see its node selected in the comparison’s

Substructure tab of the primary panel:

◦ Node is highlighted—Select it. Both matched components are selected in the graphics area, and their attributes are shown on the

Attributes tab of the lower data panel.

• Change the colors to make differences more obvious. For example, temporarily switch the color for the Common items to match the background color as a way to make the differences stand out.

With the Full Results, you can collaborate and discuss differences more easily. The

Difference Details and

Compare Results tabs show more information about each difference. Each difference is named, and you can tag differences with comments and review states. Full Results are also required for these types of information:

• In the

Compare Results tab of the upper data panel, select differences to turn on their visibility. The

Difference Details tab in the lower data panel contains information about the selected differences. To gain an understanding of the results at a glance, start by turning on the visibility for categories or items under Modifications. For example, you can quickly see the original and updated locations of a selected component.

Some differences may be shown in multiple locations. For instance, one difference may be listed as a modified component and as a modified pin.

• In the Compare Results ribbon, make sure

Zoom Mode is activated, and then select a difference. Select one or more differences from the

Difference Details tab in the lower data panel. The view in the graphics area zooms to the item.

For more information about the Full Results, see About the Results of an ECAD Comparison.

In the Full Results view, you can tag differences and create reports. To tag one or more differences with a review state and comments, select them, right-click, and then select Reviewer Input. For more information, see To Tag Differences with Review States and Comments.