Processing Flow
To compare a set of related data, you specify the sources of the data to be compared. Compare then accesses the data, performs the comparison, and presents the results in a formatted, row-by-row manner either as a screen display, a printed report, or both, per your specification.
You can compare individual tables or a set of related data residing in multiple tables. When the data resides in multiple tables, the changes are characterized as Direct changes (occurring in that table) and Related changes (occurring in a related subordinate table).
In general, Compare performs the following steps for each request:
- Identify the two sets of data to be compared.
- Compare the data in each pair of tables from the two sources and mark the changes.
- If the comparison involves data from multiple tables, chain rows from related tables and indicate related changes.
- Store the results of the comparison.