Comparison methods

Object Migration offers two comparison methods to find out more information about the differences between uploaded items and existing items in the system.

You can compare the entire upload with the Comparison Report action or compare individual items with one of the Compare actions in the Objects panel. The comparison logic is the same for the comparison report and an individual compare. The main difference is that the comparison report compiles the result into a file and the individual compare method displays the result in the user interface.

The following object types are compared:

  • Alternate Form List
  • Budget Token
  • Business Object
  • Calendar Set
  • Form
  • Form Style
  • Hierarchy Structure
  • List
  • Module
  • Navigation Collection
  • Navigation Item
  • Portal
  • Portal Section
  • Query

The following object type is partially compared:
  • Workflows.

    Object Migration does a partial comparison for Workflows. The Workflow header is compared and details on the differences between the source and target, if any, are reported. Workflow tasks are also compared; however, the report indicates only if the tasks are the same or different between the source and target. Details on differences are not reported. When the report indicates "No Differences" on Workflows, this means that all header properties, as well as the Workflow tasks, are the same between the source and target.

    For a detailed examination of Workflows, use the Text Export Selected action in the Objects panel of the Object Migration tool.

The following UX object types are compared:

  • Application
  • Action
  • Action Group
  • Data Source
  • Data Source Field
  • Model
  • Model And View
  • Web Component
  • Web View File

    Files that are attached to the Web View File metadata, such as HTML and CSS files, are included in the compare. However, the results indicate only if the files in the source and target are the same or different. Details on differences are not reported. A report that indicates No Differences on Web View Files means that all properties, as well as any attached files, are the same. You can use a HTML "diff" tool to compare file versions.

The following object types are not compared:

  • Content. The information is binary.
  • Document. The information is binary.
  • Group. Some groups are enormous and a comparison might take several hours to run.
  • Record Data. The definition is a dynamically structured XML-based on sections, fields, and other elements.

    When Content, Document, Group, or Record Data object types are compared, the result is always No Differences. Do not be falsely assured by a No Differences comparison result for existing Content, Document, Group, and Record Data object types.