Compare rows

The Compare rows dialog stacks the rows your selection touches as side-by-side cards, so you can line up their values and step through similar rows field by field. It opens from the toolbar of a console table.

Open the comparison

1. Select cells in at least two rows. Tables overview covers selection, and The table toolbar covers the controls above a table.
2. Click the compare button in the toolbar: its label reads Stack selected rows as comparison cards. With cells in two or more rows, its tooltip counts them, for example Compare 2 rows side-by-side.
3. The Compare rows dialog opens with one card per selected row.

Until your selection touches two rows, the button stays disabled and its tooltip reads Select cells in 2+ rows to compare.

The same comparison exists in the data grid of DataMind OS; see Compare rows side by side.

Read the cards

• A chip at the top of each card numbers the row it came from, for example #3.
• The card lists the table's visible columns in their on-screen order. Columns you hid do not appear.
• A long value is cut short; hover it to read the value in full.
• An empty value shows as an italic, muted -.

The dialog holds up to five cards. When your selection touches more rows, the first five in the table's current order stay, the subtitle counts them, for example Showing 5 of 9 selected rows side-by-side, and a Top 5 by visible order badge notes the rest. With nothing to show, the dialog reads Nothing to compare.

Highlight equal values

Point at a value on any card: every card that carries the same value highlights it, so equal values stand out as you scan across. Empty values (the - dashes) do not take part.

Match and cycle with Replace

1. Tick the fields that should decide a match: click a field row, or focus it and press Space or Enter. A ticked field is marked, and its control changes from Select {header} for replace match to Unselect {header} for replace match, with the field's name in place of {header}.
2. Click Replace in a card's header to swap that card to the next row whose ticked fields hold the same values. Values are compared as they show on the cards, and the row the card started on is never offered.
3. Click Replace again to move through the other matching rows: a counter shows your place in the cycle, for example 2 / 5. Changing your ticks starts the cycle again.
4. When no other row matches the ticked fields, the card marks a miss and the counter clears.

Until a field is ticked, Replace is disabled and its tooltip reads Tick fields below, then Replace finds the next row whose ticked fields match this card. With ticks in place, the tooltip reads Find the next row matching the ticked fields.

Arrange the cards and fields

• Drag a card by its handle (labelled Drag card to reorder) to change the order of the cards.
• Drag a field to move it within its card; its handle is labelled Drag {header} to reorder. Dropping a field on itself does nothing.
• Hover or focus a field to reveal its controls: Remove {header} from cards removes the field from the cards. Bring removed fields back with Restore N hidden field(s) in the footer; the button appears while any field is hidden.
• The footer hint reads Hover any value to highlight matches • tick fields then Replace to cycle through similar rows.
• Close ends the comparison. Card order, ticks and removed fields are kept only while the dialog is open; the next time you open it, they start fresh.

Questions, answered

Why is the compare button disabled?

It needs cells selected in at least two rows. Until then its tooltip reads Select cells in 2+ rows to compare. Extend your selection across another row and the button enables, with the count in its tooltip, for example Compare 2 rows side-by-side.

Why can I compare only five rows at a time?

A comparison holds up to five cards. With more rows selected, the first five in the table's current order stay, the subtitle counts them, for example Showing 5 of 9 selected rows side-by-side, and the Top 5 by visible order badge notes the rest. Compare smaller groups to see the other rows.

What exactly does Replace match on?

Every ticked field must hold the same value as the same field on the card, compared as the values show on the cards. Only the ticked fields count, and the card's own row is never offered as a match.

What does the counter beside Replace mean?

When the ticked fields match more than one row, Replace cycles through them. The counter shows your place in the cycle, for example 2 / 5; click Replace again to see the next match. Changing your ticks starts the cycle again.

Why did a card show a miss instead of another row?

A miss means no other row matches the ticked fields as they are set right now. Tick fewer fields, or different ones, and click Replace again.

Does the comparison change my data?

No. Replace only changes which row a card shows, and the dialog edits nothing: the table rows and their values stay as they are.

I removed a field from the cards. How do I get it back?

Click Restore N hidden field(s) in the footer of the comparison. The button appears while any field is removed.

Why did my ticks reset when I reopened the comparison?

Closing the comparison resets it: the card order, the ticks and the removed fields are kept only while the dialog is open. Set them again after reopening.

Which columns appear on the cards?

The table's visible columns, in the order they appear on screen. Hidden columns do not appear; show or hide columns in the table first if you need a different set.

Can I change the order of the cards or the fields inside them?

Yes. Drag a card by its handle to reorder the cards, and drag a field by its handle to move it within its card. Dropping a field on itself does nothing.

Why does hovering a dash not highlight anything?

A - is an empty value, and empty values do not take part in matching or highlighting.