Comparing version files

1. Open the desired version file.

2. From the File menu, choose Compare and transfer networks > Version comparisons.

The Version comparisons window opens.

3. Click the Add button.

The Generate version comparison window opens.

4. Make the desired changes.

Element	Description
Type of version comparison	Under Options, you specify the version comparison variant you want to use. Use attributes from comparison network If this option has been checked, the attributes are transferred from the comparison network and will be stored with the version. In the Version comparisons window, the word "attribute" is added to the beginning of the version comparison code. Load the comparison network in the background If this option has been checked, access to all attributes is provided by a relation to the comparison network as long as this network is loaded in the background. The attributes of the comparison network will not be stored with the version, but will be displayed again as soon as the file is re-opened. In this case, the program must find the comparison network at the directory location you specified under Version file. You can edit the path to the comparison network when updating the comparison (Updating version comparisons). In the Version comparisons window, the words "comparison network" are added to the beginning of the version comparison code. Notes Version comparison with a network loaded in the background provides the possibility to run procedures in both networks (Executing procedures in version comparisons). The differences between the two types of version comparison are described in detail in the 'Fundamentals' (Fundamentals: Version comparison).
Version file	Via the icon select the version file with which you want to compare the current version.
Code	Unique code for version comparison Notes The code is used for IDs and attribute names. It must not contain blanks.
Use the same comparison attributes as for	If this option has been selected, you can select an existing version comparison from the list whose comparison attributes will be used. Note This option is available if you have selected Use attributes from comparison network.
Load matrices	If this option is selected, the matrices of the comparison network are also loaded. This is useful if the OD pair filter refers to matrix data. If this option is not selected, the matrices of the comparison network will not be transferred. This reduces the amount of memory required. Note This option is available if you have selected Load comparison network in the background.
Load paths	If this option is selected, the paths of the comparison network are also loaded. Loading paths allows for the evaluation of comparative network volumes even if filtered network volumes are present in the currently loaded network. If the option is not selected, all volume attributes in the comparison network are 0 if the Filter network volumes option is selected if the OD pair filter is active.
Change link bars automatically to differences	If this option has been selected, scaling and classification attributes of link bars are automatically converted to the new attribute generated by the version comparison with the difference between the original and the newly added attribute value.

5. Confirm with OK.

The Generate version comparison window opens.

Note: This window is not displayed if you selected the options Use the same comparison attributes as for or Load comparison network in the background as a version comparison.

6. If required, reduce the amount of data you want to compare.

Element	Description
Hide attributes with default values	If this option has been selected, only selected attributes and their values are compared. If this option has not been selected, all selected attributes and their values are compared, disregarding whether attribute value and default value are identical or not. Note You can find the default attribute values in the Attributes.xls file in the ...\Program files\PTV Vision\PTV Visum 2025\Doc folder.
Hide empty tables	If this option has been selected, only tables containing network objects are compared.
Hide calculated attributes	If this option has been selected, only selected readable attributes and their values are compared additionally to the key attributes. Calculated attributes are ignored when they are read again. If this option has not been selected, both readable and non-readable attributes and their values are compared.

7. Select the network object types to be compared.

Element	Description
	The table is selected and used for comparison.
	The table is not used for comparison.
Edit marking	In the list of tables, you can select several entries by holding down the Ctrl key. You can then use the button to include all markings of tables and attributes in the selection or remove them from the selection. You can also select or deselect all direct attributes of the marked tables.
Check all tables	Click this button to select all network object types.
Uncheck all tables	Click this button to deactivate all network objects and their attributes.

8. Click the plus symbol of a network object type.

The attributes and, if applicable, the subattributes of the network object type are displayed.

Note: Click the Ctrl key and keep it pressed while clicking the desired entries one by one to show the attributes of multiple network object types at the same time.

Note: Due to current settings in the upper section of the window not all attributes of a network object type may be displayed.

9. Select the attributes and subattributes you want to compare.

Element	Description
	The attribute has been selected and is compared.
	The attribute has not been selected and is not compared.
	The attribute is a key attribute and cannot be switched off.
Attribute groups	Via this button you can either select or switch off predefined groups of attributes in a separate window (Selecting or deselecting groups of attributes for comparison).
Set default values	Click this button to hide empty tables and display calculated attributes. The attribute selection is reset to the standard setting.

Note: Right-click a network object type. On the shortcut menu, activate or deactivate all currently displayed attributes of the network object type.

Tip: Alternatively, you can read selected network object types and attributes from a network file *.net (Reading a selection from a network file).

10. Confirm with OK.

The versions are compared. In the Version comparisons window, the version comparison is listed.

Notes: Version comparisons of the type Use attributes of comparison network are marked with a plus sign. Click the plus sign to show the attributes of the respective version comparison.

If you move the mouse pointer over the entry, the tooltip provides additional information on time and date of the version comparison and the date of the version file used for comparison.

Further version comparisons can be added in the same way.

You can save the version file including the version comparison.

Selecting or deselecting groups of attributes for comparison

1. Make sure that the Create version comparison window is open (Comparing version files).

2. Click the Attribute groups button.

The Switch attribute groups on/off window opens.

3. In the selection list, mark the predefined attribute group you would like to select or deselect.

4. Click the desired button.

Element	Description
Activate	All attributes of the selected groups are enabled.
Deactivate	Except key attributes and mandatory attributes, all attributes of the selected group are deactivated.
Activate exclusively	All attributes of the selected group are activated for saving data to file and all attributes of other groups - except key attributes and mandatory attributes - are excluded from saving data to file.

5. Click the Close button.

Depending on the current settings, the attributes are either selected or deselected.

Saving selected network data

You can save the currently selected tables and attributes as network file *.net without contents and read them again later as default values.

1. Make sure that the Create version comparison window is open (Comparing version files).

2. Click the Save selection button.

The Save network window opens.

3. Enter the file name and the path, if required.

4. Click the Save button.

Selected tables and attributes are saved as data block templates without data.

Reading a selection from a network file

For version comparison you can read selected network object types and attributes from an existing network file or from a network file without content, which was saved just as layout file.

1. Make sure that the Create version comparison window is open (Comparing version files).

2. Click the Open selection button.

The Open network window opens.

3. Select the desired network file.

4. Click the Open button.

The selection of network object types and attributes contained in the network file is applied.