Side-by-side comparisons offer an alternative method to Redline comparisons in Draftable Legal. This article will explain what side-by-side comparisons are, how to view them in Draftable Legal, and discuss their benefits and limitations.
What Are Side-by-Side Comparisons?
Side-by-side comparisons are a method for visually displaying the differences between two documents by showing both the original and modified versions simultaneously. Changes are highlighted directly in each document, with deletions marked in the original document and insertions in the modified document.
In Draftable Legal, side-by-side comparisons make it easy to identify document changes by presenting the two documents in parallel. It also provides additional tools such as synced scrolling and a change list for an efficient review process.
How to View Side-by-Side Comparisons in Draftable Legal:
To view a side-by-side comparison in Draftable Legal, follow these steps:
- Open the Draftable Legal New Comparison window.
- Select the two documents you want to compare by either browsing or dragging and dropping them into the comparison window.
- Choose Side-by-Side Comparison as the comparison type in the comparison type row.
- Click the Compare button to generate the comparison.
- Once the comparison is complete, Draftable Legal will display the side-by-side comparison view.
Key Features of Side-by-Side Comparisons:
The side-by-side comparison viewer offers a range of features for ease of use:
- Documents Display: The original document is displayed on the left, while the modified version is shown on the right.
- Scrollbar with Highlights: A vertical scrollbar between the documents highlights where changes occur, providing a visual guide to locate modifications.
- Synced Scrolling: Both documents scroll simultaneously, ensuring that corresponding sections of each document stay aligned.
- Change List: A summary of all modifications is shown in a change list on the right, offering a structured overview of the differences. The list can be filtered to show specific change types (e.g., insertions, deletions) or content types (e.g., text, images, tables).
Creating Outputs from Side-by-Side Comparisons:
Draftable Legal allows you to export side-by-side comparisons into various formats for further review or sharing.
To export a comparison, follow these steps:
- Run a side-by-side comparison.
- Choose your desired output from the "Comparison Result" menu, found in the ribbon menu at the top.
- Select the output option you wish to proceed with.
There are many output options, and each of these these include:
- Side-by-Side PDF: A PDF showing both documents with the changes highlighted side-by-side.
- Single document: Output that condenses all the changes as a single document, similar to Redline PDF.
- Original/Modified file: Shows either original or modified file with changes highlighted as part of that specific file.
- Changes report: An output that generates a document that contains all changes within a series of tables, making it easy to quickly see what specifically has changed between the documents.
- CSV Change Report: Export the changes into a CSV file for detailed analysis or record-keeping.
- You can Save, Open, Print, Copy to Clipboard, Save to DMS (i.e iManage) or Email the comparison result.
Benefits of Side-by-Side Comparisons:
Side-by-side comparisons offer several advantages:
- Visual Clarity: With both documents displayed simultaneously, it's easy to visually identify differences such as text changes, formatting modifications, or moves.
- Efficient Navigation: Features like synced scrolling and the change list allow users to quickly navigate through lengthy documents and pinpoint alterations.
- Comprehensive Review: The side-by-side display ensures that all changes are visible, helping users understand the full context of the modifications.
Limitations of Side-by-Side Comparisons:
Despite their usefulness, side-by-side comparisons also have some limitations:
- Different Output Format: While side-by-side comparisons are effective for visual review, they do not offer the same redline markup that some users prefer for text-based comparisons.
- Document Alignment: In cases where the structure of the two documents varies significantly, synced scrolling might not always align the sections perfectly, requiring manual adjustment.