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'Export differences with source' functionality

Introduction

When finalising the document, it may be necessary to check the consistency of the data between the objects in the document and those in its source, and to assess, for example, whether:

  • to update the subject in the document according to the latest information
  • to make manual changes where necessary

To gain a clear view of any differences before proceeding with the update, and to identify, for each object in the document, all data‑level discrepancies compared to the source, you can use the Export Differences functionality

How to run the functionality

Word Add-in > CCH IDS > Outline > Export differences

To generate the difference file with the source from the Outline tab:

  1. Click on the Other icon (three dots) next to the document you want to check for differences
  2. Select the Export Differences option

At the end of the data processing, the system notifies the user that the export process has been completed and generates an Excel file named Document_DifferencesWithSource_Timestamp' in the Download folder configured in the operating system in use.

Note. It is possible to generate difference exports for all document types in the structure, be it a root document or an intermediate node or a lowest level element (document part). If a node-type document is selected, the information contained in the generated excel file will refer to all objects contained in the selected document and its child documents. It is possible to export differences from both the open and closed document outline.

Comparison logic

To generate the report of the differences between the values of the objects in the document and those of the data source, the system performs a comparison between:

  • The current value of the object in the document, taking into account any data overwrites
  • The value that the object would take if it were updated by applying any formatting options defined at document or object level (e.g. Numeric, percentage and date formatting; Language settings).

This approach ensures that the differences in the exported file reflect not only the raw data of the source, but also the final result that would be displayed in the document after updating, respecting the configured formatting. Any differences in style, however, are not considered.

The objects whose differences can be evaluated are all the objects below except for image type objects (tables and graphs):

  • Table
  • Rich Text
  • Amount
  • Dimensional attribute
  • Component instance

Differences Export File

The excel file generated by the Export Differences functionality will show a row for each updatable object for which the system has detected a discrepancy between the value (numeric or textual) in the document and its source, and the following columns:

  • Document part: document name
  • Type of object: object type (e.g. Table, Rich text, Amount, Attribute dimension)
  • Object name: name of object
  • Source type: Microsoft Excel or CCH Tagetik

  • Source name:

  • File name if the source is Excel or Code - Description if the source is a Form, for Table and Amount objects

  • Dimension attribute, for Attribute Dimension objects
  • Excel area: name of the area defined in the source
  • Source value: data present in the source

  • Document value: data present in the document

  • Row (only for Object type equal to Table)

  • Column (only for Object type equal to Table)
  • Note: any additional information, errors/warnings.

Empty fields may indicate missing data in the source (e.g. Area not found) or in the document (e.g. Row/Column not found because cardinality has changed from its source) or information not relevant to the object type.

Important. In cases where the content of a Rich text object exceeds 30,000 characters, the value displayed in both the document and the source may be truncated.

This behaviour does not affect the logical comparison of data, but it is important to take this into account when checking for differences.