Summary: With the Compare mode, you get a clear view of all the versions of a proof that are available. Moreover, it enables you to compare them side by side, making it convenient to ensure that all the markups and comments from earlier versions have been incorporated before proceeding with additional comments or rendering a verdict on a proof.
The Compare mode is a useful tool to view all the revision history in one place, which can be beneficial for meeting audit trail requirements.
Available for: All reviewers. *Note: reviewers will only see the versions they are a part of.
Features listed in this article:
Compare mode in Proof Viewer
Compare mode is accessed in the upper left corner of the screen. You will see two versions side by side by clicking on this icon.
Each function has been numbered on the screenshot below, and a description is underneath.
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| To activate the comparison mode and return to the Ziflow Viewer, simply press this button. |
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2. Version drop-down | As a reviewer, you have the option to select the versions you wish to compare. The chosen versions will display any annotations or remarks linked to them. |
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3. Decision button | You are able to make a decision on the proof while in compare mode. This is a great shortcut if you are viewing the new version against the old and verifying that the changes have been made. Please note that the decision button will only display if you are granted Decision permissions. See Finishing a Review & Understand Proof Decisions for more details. |
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4. Show/Hide comments & Add comment | If you wish to see any comments or markups made on a specific version, simply click on it. However, please be aware that once a version is locked, no further comments can be added to it. |
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5. Proof display tools | Reviewers can use those tools in order to change proof display the same way as if the proof is viewed in normal mode.
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6. Lock navigation for compared proofs | In compare mode, both versions are automatically synchronized. This means that any changes made to one version will instantly reflect on the other, including zooming, panning, and switching proof pages. This feature is specifically designed to facilitate easy comparison of differences between the two versions at the same zoom and page level. Additionally, clicking on the comments will adjust the zoom to the appropriate ratio, providing an excellent comparison tool. If necessary, you can break the synchronization by clicking on the lock/unlock icon. |
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7. Re-sync compared proofs | By clicking on this icon, the two versions will automatically synchronize and fit to the window. This feature comes in handy when displaying distinct pages or zoom levels across the versions. |
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8. Overlay / Side by side mode | As a reviewer, you have the option to choose how the proof versions are presented. The side-by-side mode displays two versions next to each other in separate Proof Viewer windows, while the overlay mode presents both versions on top of each other for easier comparison of differences. |
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9. Auto Compare | This auto-compare feature allows you to easily highlight the differences between the versions. A more detailed explanation of an auto-compare mode is located below. |
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10. Compare mode pane divider | To modify the size of the version pane, simply drag and drop the pane divider while in auto-compare mode. |
Auto Compare mode
When you click on Auto Compare, it will highlight the differences between the proofs. For example, if you requested that some text be slightly moved or you want to see if a color correction has been made, this is an extremely powerful feature that allows you to be sure even the most subtle changes were applied between versions.
The screenshot below shows two versions side by side. Comment 1 has been clicked on by the reviewer who requested to change the header. They want to verify that the change was made, so they click on the Auto compare icon. The new version will highlight the old text position, allowing the reviewer to confirm that the change was made.
Next to the Auto compare icon, there are auto-compare settings that allow the reviewer to customize how the compare feature works. Reviewers have the option to choose which color differences between versions should be highlighted, as well as select the type of background overlay. They can also decide whether they want differences to blink over the asset image.
Comparing proofs within the same or other folders (Business and Enterprise Editions only)
Comparing proof versions has long been one of the staple features in Ziflow. We’ve extended that capability to compare proofs that are not versioned together. This will help reduce the “tab sprawl” that often occurs when reviewing multiple individual assets.
For teams that use the Folders to organize their campaign assets, proofs within the same folders or different folders can be compared, allowing team members to review all project assets and check them against each other using all of the Ziflow comparison functionalities.
When you open the side menu in the Ziflow Viewer and select the Browse folder option, you will be presented with a list of proofs located in the same folder as the currently viewed proof.
By default, Ziflow will display proofs within the same folder as the proof that you're currently viewing. If you want to compare proof residing in some other folder, simply browse through the list of folders and select the wanted asset. From that point, you can select the proof that you want to open in comparison mode.
The proof you selected will immediately open in the Proof Viewer next to the proof image you wanted to compare it with.
Copying comments from one to another
(feature available on Starter + editions)
With compare mode, you can also copy specific comments from one version to another. This process starts with opening the required versions in compare mode, opening the comment that you want to move, and then selecting the copy comment option from the list.
This will move the comment along with the markup to the selected version.
Additional Information:
To use the compare function, you must have permission to view all versions of the proof that you wish to compare.
If the reviewer clicks on compare and only one version exists, then both windows will be filled with the same proof version.
Ziflow Viewer allows comparing only static proofs. Video, audio, HTML5, and live websites are not supported yet.
You have the option to decide if the newer version should be displayed on the right or left by changing the settings of the Ziflow Viewer configuration menu.
