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. You can inspect the properties of evolution trees, evolutions, and the connectors between evolutions by using the Property Inspector pane in the Design Evolution Manager app. You can compare files from any two evolutions in the evolution tree and merge files from any evolution into the current project files by using the File Explorer pane in the app to open the Comparison Tool.

Inspect Properties of Evolution Trees, 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 the project files in the evolution. When you select a connector, the File Explorer pane displays the files that were added, deleted, or changed between the parent and child evolutions.

In R2025a: Use the Added, Deleted, and Changed buttons to filter files for comparison in the File Explorer pane.

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 compare changes between evolutions by using the Comparison Tool.

To compare two evolutions in the evolution tree, select an evolution. Then, in the File Explorer pane, use the Compare to drop-down menu to select a second evolution. The File Explorer pane displays a list of files that were added, deleted, or changed between the two evolutions. Select one of these files, 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, set Compare to to 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.