Comparing objects

Note: This topic applies only to the stand-alone version of FormSync. Although the tab exists in the form version, it is always disabled. Instead, you can use the FormSync Script modal form. See FormSync Script.

To compare different versions of forms metadata using the FormSync Compare utility, use this procedure:

Note: Before you can compare objects, you must configure an third-party file comparison utility. For a list of recommended file comparison utilities, with descriptions, see Configuring a file-comparison utility.
  1. Open FormSync, either the form version or the stand-alone version.
  2. If you have not already done so, open the Configurations page and specify the Target configuration into which you want to import form objects.
  3. Access the FormSync Utilities page:
    • In the form version, click Utilities on the main page.
    • In the stand-alone version, click the Utilities icon on the Toolbar.
  4. Select the Compare tab.
  5. Click the ellipsis (•••)  button near the Compare field, and then select an object you want to compare with another object.
  6. Click the ellipsis button near the To field, and select an object to compare with the first object.
    Note:  You need not be concerned if the Compare and To objects have the same file names. During the comparison process, the system prepends the configuration names to the selected files, thus allowing you to distinguish between them.
  7. (Optional) To select which attributes of forms and components to include in the comparison, click the Include button in the upper right corner of the tab. In the Compare Include dialog box that opens, select the check boxes for the Form and Component attributes that you want to include in the comparison. Clear the check boxes for any attributes that you do not want to include.
    Note:  If you clear the Components check box in the Form section, no components are included in the comparison, regardless of whether the check boxes in the Components section are selected.
  8. (Optional, if you have more than one file-comparison utility installed) In the Using field, select a file-comparison utility.

    If you do not yet have a file-comparison utility configured or you want to add a new utility, click Configure.

  9. (Optional) To save the two files containing representations of the objects, select Preserve generated files.
  10. Click Compare Objects.
  11. To return to FormSync when you are done examining the file comparisons, close the file-comparison utility.

FormSync uses the file-comparison utility to generate a comparison of the two objects and opens the comparison in the appropriate utility.

If you selected the Preserve generated files option, the files are saved to the C:\Users\<userID>\Documents\Infor\ directory for your current user login (<userID>).