13. Comparing firmware
13.1. Starting and ending
- File → Compare… (
Ctrl+Shift+C) — after the main firmware has been imported. Without a firmware: "Import firmware first". - The reference is the open project; the comparison file is the second firmware. The Compare button on the toolbar stays pressed while the comparison is running.
- To end: click the Compare button again, or Window → Compare: → Close Comparison. To compare with another file, end the current comparison first.
- The comparison runs in the main window: the difference tree is in the map tree, the tables and charts are in the usual map windows.
13.2. The difference tree
| Status | In the tree | Carried across |
|---|---|---|
| Modified | Accent color | yes |
| Only in the comparison file (+) | Green | no |
| Only in the reference (−) | Warning color | no |
| Unchanged | Muted; hidden by default | — |
The Show Identical Maps button above the tree (and in the context menu) expands the full list; the flag filter works as usual. The tree's context menu: Show Identical Maps, Copy Map, Copy All Maps, Expand / Collapse All Groups, Note… (view), Properties….
13.3. Tables and charts
Open maps show the reference values with the differences from the comparison file highlighted. The Delta / % / "2" modes — §9.3. Free cell editing is unavailable ("Editing is unavailable during comparison") — you can select and carry across. The baseline chart takes its shape from the comparison file.
13.4. Carrying differences into the reference
| Method | Behavior |
|---|---|
| Tree → Copy Map | The whole modified map; one undo step |
| Tree → Copy All Maps | All modified maps; confirmation; one undo step |
| Table → Copy Selection to Reference | Only the differing cells in the selection |
| Table axis → Copy Axes to Reference | The differing axis values (with a shared axis — the dialog of §8.4) |
The direction is always the same: from the comparison file → into the reference. Maps "only in the comparison file" and "only in the reference" are not carried across. On large catalogs the first opening of a map during a comparison may take a while.
Updated November 15, 2026 · for TCEPro 0.55.0