Model Comparison

Compare your current model against another model to see what's the same and what's different. This feature helps you review AI-generated modifications, compare different model versions, and maintain an audit trail of changes.

Opening the Compare Dialog

File > Compare with...

Selecting a Model to Compare

You have two options for selecting the model to compare against:

Upload File

Select a Termboard JSON file from your computer.

Browser Storage

Select from models you've previously saved to the browser. This is convenient for comparing your current work against earlier saves without needing to export/download files.

Understanding Model 1 vs Model 2

Termboard uses neutral terminology to compare any two models:

Term	Meaning
Model 1	Your current canvas (the model you're working on)
Model 2	The model you're comparing against (file or browser storage)
Same	Exists in both models with identical values
Different	Exists in both models but with different field values
Model 1 Only	Exists only in your current model
Model 2 Only	Exists only in the compared model

This terminology works for any comparison scenario - whether comparing old vs. new versions, drafts vs. production, or two completely different models.

Understanding the Comparison Results

Filter Chips

Colored chips at the top show counts for each category. Click a chip to filter the table to that category:

• All: Show all items
• Same: Show items that are identical in both models
• Different: Show items that exist in both but have changed
• Model 1 Only: Show items only in your current model
• Model 2 Only: Show items only in the compared model

Controls Row

Controls Row

The controls row provides filtering options:

• Search: Type to filter by Term/Relation name (also searches source/target names for Relations)
• Settings (Gear Icon): Access advanced filters like content type (Terms/Relations/Both) and field updates.
• Filter Chips: Click the colored chips to filter by status (Different, Model 2 Only, etc.)

Changes Table

Lists all items with:

• Type: Term or Relation
• Name: The name of the element
• Status: Same, Different, Model 1 Only, or Model 2 Only
• Details: For different items, shows which fields changed

Click column headers to sort the table. The table uses virtual scrolling to efficiently handle large comparisons (8000+ items).

Applying Changes

You can selectively merge changes from Model 2 into your current model.

1. Select Items

Check the boxes next to the items you want to apply. You can select individual items or use the "Select All" checkbox in the header.

Note on Relations: If you select a relation for import, Termboard will automatically include its source and target terms if they don't already exist in your model.

2. Choose Fields to Update

For items marked as Different, you can choose exactly which fields to update.

1. Click the Different filter chip to show only modified items.
2. Click the Settings (Gear) icon and look for "Update Fields (Differences)".
3. Uncheck any fields you don't want to change.

Per-Item Overrides: You can also override these settings for individual items by expanding their row in the table and adjusting the checkboxes for that specific item.

3. Apply Actions

Click the Apply Selected Changes button and choose an action:

• Update & Add: Updates existing items (Different) and adds new ones (Model 2 Only).
• Update Only: Ignores new items, only updates existing ones.
• Add Only: Ignores updates, only adds new items.

All changes are applied in a single Undo step, so you can easily revert if needed.

Inspecting Differences

Click on any Different row to open the Diff Viewer, which shows:

• Model 1 (Current): Values from your current canvas
• Model 2: Values from the compared file/document (shows actual name)
• Side-by-side view: Values displayed in two columns
• Inline view: Changes displayed in a single column

Toggle between views using the buttons at the top of the dialog.

Exporting Changes

Click the Export button to choose:

• Export All: Download all comparison results to Excel
• Export Visible Only: Download only the currently filtered/searched items

The Excel file contains:

• A Changes sheet with all detected differences
• A Summary sheet with comparison statistics

Matching Strategy

Termboard uses a smart matching strategy when comparing models:

1. ID Match: Elements are first matched by their unique ID
2. Name Match: If IDs don't match, elements are matched by name (case-insensitive)

This ensures accurate comparison even when:

• IDs have been regenerated (e.g., after import)
• Elements have been renamed (detected as different, not as moved)

Use Cases

Reviewing AI-Generated Changes

1. Save your model before making AI-assisted changes
2. Make your changes using AI
3. Use Compare with... to review exactly what the AI modified

Comparing Model Versions

1. Save your model at key milestones
2. Compare current state against any saved version
3. Export the comparison for documentation

Comparing Different Models

1. Open one model as your current canvas
2. Compare against another model file
3. Use "Same" filter to see what's shared
4. Use search and field filters to focus on specific changes