A rule determines which properties of an object are considered for comparison. When you nominate a rule for a comparison, Object Compare scans each object's properties for differences, only considering objects and properties included in the rule definition. Any objects not included in the rule are automatically considered matched.

In the absence of a rule, every object is compared. However, not all properties are compared. Properties listed in gray in the Rule dialog are only compared if selected.

To create a rule:

• Open Object Compare and Select Rules -> Organize Rules from the main menu.
• In the Rules dialog, select the New Rule toolbar button.
• In the Name textbox, enter a descriptive name for the rule.
• The rule tree below the Name textbox profiles all available objects for a rules-based comparison, grouped by Addin. Select the objects and their respective properties to use in the rule by checking the checkboxes next to each object and/or property.
• Check Ignore white space to ignore white space in the property values (i.e. "abc" = "a b c").
• Check Ignore upper and lowercase distinctions to ignore case differences between property values (i.e. "ABC" = "abc").
• Check Ignore leading and trailing characters to ignore space differences at the beginning and end of property values (i.e. " abc " = "abc").
• Select the Save Rule toolbar button to save the rule.

To use the rule in a comparison:

• In the Object Compare main window, ensure a workspace is opened.
• In the Rule drop down list on the main toolbar, select the rule just created.
• To save the rule with the workspace, select File -> Save Workspace from the main menu.

See Also