Model Diff Audit

Model Diff Audit captures model data into SQLite snapshot files and compares snapshots to find differences between Revit sources. It is built for binding reviews, upgrade checks, and model audits where you need repeatable outputs instead of a one-off visual review.

Experimental

Model Diff Audit is currently in the Experimental panel. Features and behavior may change as development continues.

Getting Started

Find Model Diff Audit on the Amorphous ribbon tab in the Experimental panel.

The tool has two main workflows:

• Capture - Creates SQLite snapshot databases from selected Revit sources
• Compare - Compares one reference snapshot against one or more comparison snapshots

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Features

• Multiple source types - Capture the active host, loaded links, open project documents, or RVT files from disk
• Host-coordinate link capture - Captures linked elements transformed into host coordinates for binding review
• Workset-scoped capture - Keep all worksets or capture only selected worksets for workshared live sources
• Review profiles - Use Binding Review or Upgrade Review capture profiles
• Snapshot metadata - Stores source, profile, and workset scope details in the snapshot
• SQLite outputs - Saves neutral snapshot and diff databases for repeatable audit workflows
• Data Navigator CSVs - Writes CSV outputs that can be opened in Data Navigator
• Run status panel - Shows queued, working, completed, and failed output rows while a run is active
• Browse memory - Remembers recent capture, compare, output, and selected RVT folders

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How to Use

Capture Workflow

1. Open Model Diff Audit
2. Choose the Capture tab
3. Add one or more sources to the selected-source list
4. Pick a capture profile
5. Choose the capture scope and workset scope
6. Choose an output folder
7. Click Capture
8. Review the output rows and open the output folder

Compare Workflow

1. Switch to the Compare tab
2. Choose the Reference snapshot
3. Add one or more Compare To snapshots
4. Choose an output folder
5. Click Compare
6. Review the diff outputs
7. Open the CSV output in Data Navigator when you need to jump back into Revit

Tip

Use a clear folder structure for snapshots, such as one folder per milestone or review date. It makes later compare runs easier to understand.

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Capture

Capture creates snapshot databases from selected model sources.

Supported Sources

Source	What It Captures
Active host document	The currently active Revit model
Loaded Revit links	Linked model elements transformed into host coordinates
Open project documents	Other project documents open in the current Revit session
RVT files from disk	Selected Revit project files opened for capture

Selected Sources

The selected-source list keeps all sources in one place. Add only the sources you want in the current snapshot run, then remove anything that should not be captured.

Capture Profiles

Profile	Use It For
Binding Review	Host/link review using identity, placement, bounding box, geometry signature, workset, phase, and design option fields
Upgrade Review	Upgrade checks that include the Binding Review fields plus instance and type parameter rows

For workshared live sources, choose whether to capture all worksets or only selected worksets. Workset scope is stored in snapshot metadata and included in output file names.

Note

FullDiagnostic is not shown in the UI because it does not yet differ from Upgrade Review.

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Compare

Compare checks one reference snapshot against one or more comparison snapshots.

Term	Meaning
Reference	The baseline snapshot
Compare To	The snapshot or snapshots checked against the reference

Binding review outputs use source_* and host_* fields. Generic snapshot and upgrade-style outputs use reference_* and comparison_* fields.

Note

Compare mode is currently inferred from snapshot metadata. Explicit compare mode selection is planned for future workflows.

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User Interface

Main Window

Area	Description
Capture tab	Builds snapshot databases from selected Revit sources
Compare tab	Compares one reference snapshot against comparison snapshots
Selected-source list	Shows the models included in the capture run
Output rows	Shows queued, working, OK, and failed records while a run is active
Results panel	Summarizes success, partial failure, or failure after a run
Open Folder	Opens the output location for the latest run
Back to Setup	Returns to the setup controls after reviewing results

Run Results

The results panel is the handoff point after a capture or compare run. It lists output files, shows any failure details, and keeps the next action visible.

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Outputs

Model Diff Audit writes:

• Snapshot SQLite databases with snapshot_meta, elements, and element_parameters tables
• Diff SQLite databases with diff_meta and diff_results
• CSV diff outputs designed to load into Data Navigator
• Run records that summarize success, partial failure, or failure

Workset-scoped snapshots include workset scope details in the metadata and output file name.

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Options & Settings

Option	Description	Default
Source list	Selected host, link, open document, or RVT file sources	Empty
Capture profile	Binding Review or Upgrade Review	Binding Review
Workset scope	All worksets or selected worksets for workshared live sources	All worksets
Reference snapshot	Baseline snapshot for compare runs	Selected by user
Compare To snapshots	One or more snapshots checked against the reference	Selected by user
Output folder	Where snapshot and diff files are written	Last used

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Use Cases

Scenario	Recommended Approach
Binding review	Capture a link and host source, then compare placement and identity fields
Upgrade review	Capture before and after snapshots with the Upgrade Review profile
Workset-limited audit	Capture only selected worksets to keep the review focused
Data Navigator follow-up	Open the CSV diff output in Data Navigator to jump back to affected elements
Milestone record	Capture a dated snapshot before issuing or upgrading a model

From the developer

This is meant to be a repeatable audit workflow. The important part is not just finding a difference once, but being able to save the snapshot, compare it later, and trace the result back to a model element.

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Tips & Best Practices

• Name output folders by date or milestone so snapshots can be found later
• Capture before and after a major model operation such as upgrade, binding, or coordination cleanup
• Use workset scope when a focused audit is enough and a full-model snapshot would be noisy
• Keep CSV outputs with the SQLite outputs so Data Navigator review can be repeated
• Review partial failures before relying on the output. A run can produce useful files even when one source fails

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Limitations

Limitation	Details
Labs workflow	Behavior and output schema may evolve while the tool remains experimental
Profile scope	Full Diagnostic is not exposed because it does not yet differ from Upgrade Review
Compare mode selection	Compare mode is inferred today; explicit user selection is planned
Model availability	Live sources must be open or accessible when capture runs
Large model size	Snapshot and compare time depends on model size, selected sources, and profile detail

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Troubleshooting

A source fails during capture

Possible causes:

• The RVT file cannot be opened by the current Revit version
• The link is unloaded or unavailable
• The source document changed while the run was active

Solution: Review the failure details in the results panel, fix the source availability, and run capture again.

Compare output is not what you expected

Possible causes:

• The wrong snapshot is set as Reference
• The snapshots were captured with different profiles
• A source was captured with a different workset scope

Solution: Confirm the Reference and Compare To files, then check the snapshot metadata and file names for profile and workset scope.

Data Navigator does not resolve CSV rows

Possible causes:

• The source model or link is not open
• The CSV is being resolved against the wrong host or link

Solution: Open the relevant Revit source, then use the correct Data Navigator profile and target mapping.

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Related Tools

• Data Navigator - Open diff CSV outputs and navigate to affected elements
• Element Data Manager - Export selected element parameters for reporting
• Copy From Link - Copy selected linked elements into the host model