Guide

How to compare two drawing revisions in a PDF.

An addendum arrives and nobody tells you what moved. Compare the old and new sheet and get a list of what changed.

Two revisions of a sample plan

Steps

Four steps.

1
Open both versions
Open the new sheet and the older one in two tabs.
2
Run Compare
From the Document menu, choose Compare with an older version. Redpen lines the two sheets up, even if one is slightly shifted.
3
Review the list
Each change is listed as added, taken out or changed, including changed text. Click one, or use Previous and Next, to zoom to it.
4
Mark it up
Add revision clouds to the new sheet, or export the list to CSV for your team.

Text changes count too

A changed note or dimension is listed alongside drawing changes, so a quiet edit does not slip by.

Sheets that do not line up

If the sheets are badly out of true, you can describe the difference by hand and compare again.

Whole sets

Compare sets pairs sheets by number across a full addendum, so you do not match them one at a time.

Questions

How do I compare two PDF drawings?

Open both versions, run Compare with an older version, and review the list of added, removed and changed items.

Does it find changed text?

Yes, when both sheets have a text layer. Changed notes and dimensions are listed with the drawing changes.

Can I compare a whole addendum?

Yes. Compare sets pairs sheets by sheet number across two sets.

Can I send the list to someone?

Yes. Export the change list to CSV, or add revision clouds to the new sheet.

Screenshots use a sample plan, not a real project.

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