Description of Tools-Standalone Edition

Description of Tools-Standalone Edition

VHCompare provides a set of tools to assist you in comparing the drawings. You must familiar with the functions of these tools to achieve better work efficiency.

 Explode Block Tool

In certain cases, the blocks within a drawing cannot be compared correctly. You can click on thisbutton to select the “Explode block” tool to disintegrate the blocks before comparing them. For further details, please refer to “ Comparing External Reference File”.

 

Change background color

Click on this  button to select the “Change background color” tool, then click on a drawing with normal white background. Its background color will change to black. Repeat the above action, the background color will change back to white. This tool is for better viewing comfort.

Show only Additions and Omissions

Click on this button to select the “Show only additions and omission” tool. Now only the discrepant parts will be displayed on the viewing windows. The other area where no modification is made will become invisible. This function can be done only after comparison.

Show External Reference Information

You need to use this  button “Show External Reference Information” tool to locate these X-reference files. If you want to compare these external reference drawings, just click on them and press “Compare”.  For more details of this tool, please refer to “Comparing External Reference Files”.

Show Viewport Information

When drawings that are subjected to compare include different viewport, the “Show Viewport Information” tool button will be activated, as shown below:

Click on this  button and the following information box showing coordinates information of all viewports will appear. You can "√"  the box to close or open a viewport information. You can click on the “Clear All Viewports” button to close all viewports, or click on the “Check All Viewports” button to open all. Then click “OK” to leave. 

In the above viewport information window, VHCompareÔ has detected two drawing files’ paper space viewport information. If the viewports of the two drawings have identical properties (e.g. X and Y coordination, height, width), the system will compare their scales. If the scales are different, one of the drawings will be indicated with a “*” mark, as the diagram shown below:

 

Pan Tool

Click on this  button to select the “Pan” tool. Notice the cursor changes to a hand shape. Press and hold the cursor on a drawing to move it around.

Zoom Tool

Click on this button to select the “Zoom” tool. Notice the cursor changes to a magnifier shape. Click the mouse and move the cursor upwards to enlarge the drawing, or downwards to shrink the drawing.

Zoom Windows

Click on this button to select the “Zoom Window” tool. Notice the cursor changes to a cross shape. Click and drag the cursor to define a rectangular area, then click the mouse again to zoom in.

Zoom Extent

Click on this button to select the “Zoom Extent” tool, a drawing will be zoomed to show the full picture within the viewing frame.

Toggle View

After the comparison process is completed, click on this button to select the “Toggle View” tool, the two comparing drawings will overlay on each other so that all the changes between different versions can be identify at a glance.

Show Only One Color

This tool is only effective in the toggle-view mode. Click on this  button to select the “Show only one color” tool after selecting the toggle view tool, then click on the two icons: 

  to show either the blue or the red parts only. Through this way, the original version of the drawing plan and how it is changed can be clearly displayed. To switch to the normal-view mode, simply click on the first  button again.

Operate Synchronously

This tool is only effective in the normal-view mode. Click on this button to select the “Operate Synchronously” tool after deselecting the toggle view tool. Now, any operation that is performed in one viewing window will work simultaneously in the other. To switch off this tool, simply click on the  button again.

Set Both Extents

This tool is only effective in the normal-view mode. Click on this  button to select the “Set both extents” tool. Now, the zoom extent operation will be performed to both drawing views simultaneously.

Select base point

If you need to compare two drawings that are drawn on different coordinate systems, you can select the  “Select Base Point” tool from the toolbar to define a common coordinate system so that they can be compared on a common ground. For more details please refer to “ Select Base Point”.

Select Box

You can use the  “Select Box” tool from the toolbar to define a similar area in the two drawings that are subjected to compare. The defined area as well as the rest of the drawings will be compared. For more details please refer to “Select Area”.

Compare Selected Box

If you want to compare certain objects of the drawing files without processing the entire drawing, you can use the  “Compare Selected Box” tool to define an area covering all objects that are subject to compare. The comparison process will be carried out within the defined area. For more details please refer to “Select Area”.

Layer Tool

If a drawing file contains many layers, you can use the  “Layer” tool to select certain layers to compare, so as to save comparison process time, enhance the comparison efficiency and easy to identify difference. Click on the button to select the “Layer” tool, the following dialog box will appear.

You can select the same combination of layers within the two drawings and click “OK” to begin comparing. You may also press the “Clear All” button to close all layers, or press the “Check All” button to activate all layers.

Print

After finishing comparison, you can use the Print tool to print out the drawing as well as objects that have been modified. You can click on the print tool button to select a certain version of drawing to print out.

If you choose monochromic printing mode, all modified objects on the drawing will be blown-up and then printed out. If you choose color-printing mode, all modified objects on the drawing will be printed in a different color.

For better printing effect, you should alter the width: height ratio of the drawing window to fit the original drawing, so that a drawing printout that is best fit to the printing paper can be obtained.

For example, if you need to print a landscape oriented drawing, you should alter the width: height ratio of the drawing window to a landscape ratio, at the same time set the printer to landscape paper mode, so as to get a printout that is best fit to the printing paper. (According to standard landscape ratio)

If you set the width: height ratio of the drawing window to a portrait ratio, at the same time also set the printer to portrait paper mode, the printout result will not be so good.  Even if you set the printer to landscape paper mode, the printout result will be less satisfying.