Compare and Update Construction Orders

You can compare a Construction Order against a selected source (e.g., master data or another Construction Order) and review differences in a structured dialog. The comparison is initiated from the Construction Order header or from individual lines, against master data (Production BOM and Routing / Master BOM), Construction Orders, Construction Order Archives, Document BOMs, or Document BOM Archives.

The matching rules for the base compare process are:

  • Scope – Source and target children are matched only within the same parent (Belongs to Entry No. field).
  • Identity (field values) – Matching uses Type, No., Variant Code, (optionally) Operation No., geometry (Depth, Width, Length), and Pre‑Order as applicable.
    Note

    "Move" pairing does not use Operation No. and matches on Type, No., Variant Code, Pre‑Order, and Depth/Width/Length (with progressive relaxation when needed).

  • Ambiguity – If more than one candidate matches under the same parent, no automatic "Modify" is assigned (remains "Insert"/"Delete" for user decision).
Note

For exact rules that determine Insert, Delete, Modify, and Move (matching, ambiguity handling, apply behavior, renumbering), see Action Types in BOM Compare.

Together with the BOM Compare & Update feature, this process:

  • Compares all lines by checking all Construction Order lines in the source and target orders and detects:

    • Insertions (lines in source, missing in target)
    • Deletions (lines in target, missing in source)
      • Modifications (same line under the same parent, but allowed field values or substructures differ)
      • Movements (identical line shifts from one parent to another and can be uniquely paired as "Insert" and "Delete" across parents)

  • Displays differences in the BOM Compare & Update page (shows each delta):

    • Field differences (only those marked Include in Insert and Include in Modify = true in the BOM Compare Fields page).
    • Substructures are compared independently (attributes, dimensions, manufacturing dimensions, comments, tools, personnel, quality measures) and can trigger "Insert"/"Modify"/"Delete" within their scope.
      • Color-coded visualization: added, removed, changed, moved.
      • Manual changes in the target can be flagged (conflict indicators where applicable).

  • Allows you to select which changes to apply (all, none, or selected changes):

    • Apply direction: Changes are written to the selected target. To reverse the direction, start the compare with swapped source/target on the request page; within a compare session the direction is fixed.
    • Changes are written directly into the target Construction Order (including subordinate entities where applicable).
    • Optional validations may run depending on configuration.

Define Source and Target in Compare BOM Page

To define the source and target Construction Orders and open the comparison page:

  1. Open the Construction Order page and either:

    • Choose Functions > Compare BOM action on the Actions menu to open the Compare BOM page for the entire Construction Order.
    • Select a line and then choose Functions > Compare BOM on the Lines FastTab to open the Compare BOM page for that specific line.

  2. In the Compare BOM page, enter the source and target in the Source No. or Target No. fields.

    Note

    The current Construction Order (or selected line) is set as the target but can be swapped via the Swap Source/Target toggle.

  3. If created from the Construction Order line, define the line number to be used as the reference in the Source Ref. No. or Target Ref. No. fields.

    Note

    Depending on how you opened the Compare BOM page, you can choose to clear or populate the Source Ref. No. and Target Ref. No. fields.

  4. Choose the OK button.

Update Construction Order Lines in Compare & Update Page (Non-Movement Changes)

The Compare & Update page opens with all detected differences that you can apply or skip. For information about fields and actions on this page, see BOM Compare Field Configuration.

  1. Review the changes.
  2. Set any to Skip as needed.
  3. Choose the Apply Changes action.
  4. Choose the Yes button to confirm the change and then choose the OK button on the confirmation message.

You can also close the page without making any changes.

Substitution-Based Modify

An item change at the same position is not treated as Modify by default—identity changes are shown as Insert and Delete.

However, if a valid substitution exists for the item, the change can be treated as Modify if:

  • The substitution (item/variant) is valid per setup.
  • Source and target are matched under the same parent (Belongs to Entry No.).
  • Matching is unique (no ambiguity).
  • All other matching rules and field configuration are satisfied.

This exception applies only to defined substitutions. Regular item changes without substitution remain Insert and Delete. Additionally, a substitution-based Modify does not override field rules. Differences are applied only for fields flagged Include in Modify. Substructures follow the standard rules.

Important

In the BOM Compare Fields page for table 5013631, "CC DM Construction Line", the Validate in Modify checkbox must be empty in the No. and Variant Code fields for correct substitution.

Movements

After defining the source and target in the Compare BOM page, re‑parentings are shown in the Compare & Update page as Insert and Delete. They become a Move only when you either:

  • choose the Auto Move action (pairs unique candidates).
  • select exactly one Delete line and one Insert line and then choose the Move action (manual).

The base comparison for matching are the field values of Type, No., Variant Code, Pre‑Order, Depth/Width/Length; a single unique pair is required, otherwise it stays Insert and Delete.

When a movement occurs, the corresponding lines are updated as follows:

  • The moved line(s) Action changes from Delete to Move.
  • The line(s) to where it is moved changes from Insert to None (or Modify if allowed fields differ) and the Moved from assembly field specifies the description of the parent node from which the line(s) has been moved.
Note

Choose the Undo Move action to revert the movement (skipping is not possible with movements).

When the movement is applied, the existing target node is re‑parented. When the target is a Construction Order line, the Belongs to Entry No. is updated on that line and sub‑lines follow the parent.

Numbering Normalization

After applying changes, BOM line numbering may be re‑assigned. As a result, the visible Entry No. of lines can change without line creation or deletion.

Additionally, the compare page recalculates its Entry No. Representation to reflect the current hierarchy.


Feedback
Submit feedback for this page .