Inspect Properties, Compare, and Merge Evolutions

The Design Evolution Manager app allows you to capture notes for the evolution tree, for each evolution within the tree, and for each connector between two evolutions. At any time, you can select an evolution to see the files and notes captured in that evolution. Use the Property Inspector pane of the Design Evolution Manager app to inspect properties of the evolution tree, evolutions, and the connectors between evolutions. As you work, you can compare files from any two evolutions in the evolution tree and merge files from any evolution into the current project files. Use the File Explorer pane in the app to compare and merge evolutions in the Comparison Tool.

Inspect Properties of Evolution Tree, Evolutions, and Connectors

Select an evolution, connector, or the evolution tree canvas to display and edit metadata in the Property Inspector pane.

When you select an evolution, the File Explorer pane displays project files stored in the evolution. When you select a connector, the File Explorer pane displays files that have been added, deleted, or changed between the parent and child evolution.

Screenshot of Property Inspector pane when the Baseline evolution is selected. The File Explorer pane shows the results of comparing the Baseline evolution to Evolution 1.

Compare and Merge Evolutions

You can launch the Comparison Tool directly from the Design Evolution Manager to compare changes between evolutions.

To compare any two evolutions in the evolution tree, first select an evolution of interest. Then, in the File Explorer pane, use the Compare to dropdown to select a second evolution to compare to. The File Explorer displays a list of files that have been added, deleted, or changed between the two evolutions. Select one of these files to compare, then click the Compare Files button to open the Comparison Tool. You can compare any two files in different evolutions, even if the files have different names.

You can merge files from any evolution into the current project files. Select an evolution, then in the File Explorer pane, use the Compare to dropdown to select Project Files. Select the changed file that you want to merge, then click the Compare Files button to open the Comparison Tool. To merge changes between the two files, on the Comparison Tool toolstrip, click the Merge Mode button. For an example, see Use Design Evolution Manager App to Explore Different Coder Settings.