To see what changed between two versions of a detail — or to compare similar details from different projects — use Pirros's comparison overlay. Differences are highlighted with color-coded labels.
Comparing Previous Versions of a Detail
To compare the current version of a detail with a previous version:
A color-coded comparison overlay showing differences between two versions of the same detail. Changes are highlighted so you can spot modifications at a glance.
Open the full detail page by clicking a detail in search results, then clicking Open Full Detail
Click the History tab in the left panel
Select two versions to overlay and see the differences between them
The History tab showing multiple versions of a detail. Select two versions to generate a comparison overlay. Only admins can create new versions by syncing updates from Revit.
Note: For details created in Revit 2021, color-coded comparison is not available due to a Revit API limitation. The overlay still works, but differences are not color-highlighted.
Comparing Similar Details Across Projects
When Pirros detects similar details across different projects, it groups them together automatically. To compare two similar details:
On the search page, look for the similar details icon on the top left of a detail card
A detail card with the similar details icon visible in the top left corner. The icon indicates that Pirros has found variations of this detail across other projects. Click it to see all similar versions.
Click the icon to see all similar versions from different projects
Select any two details and click the Compare button in the orange bar at the top right
The similar details view showing multiple versions from different projects. Select two details by clicking their checkboxes, then click Compare in the orange bar to generate the overlay.
View the color-coded overlay highlighting differences between the two details
The comparison overlay showing two similar details from different projects with color-coded highlighting. Differences in geometry, annotations, and layout are visible at a glance.
Note: Color-coded comparison is not available for Revit 2021 details due to a Revit API limitation.
What Happens Next
After comparing, you can download either detail into Revit, flag one for review, or add your preferred version to a stash. Use comparisons to identify which version best fits your current project conditions before downloading.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I compare details from two completely different conditions?
A: The comparison tool works best for similar details (same condition, different versions or projects). You can technically compare any two details, but the overlay is most useful when the base geometry is similar.
Q: Why isn't the comparison color-coded for some details?
A: Details created in Revit 2021 cannot be color-coded due to a change in Revit's API. The overlay still shows both details layered together, but without color highlighting.
Q: Can members compare details, or only admins?
A: Any user can compare details. The comparison tool is read-only — it doesn't modify anything.
Q: How does Pirros determine which details are "similar"?
A: Pirros analyzes the geometry, annotations, and metadata of each detail. When multiple details across projects have substantially similar content, they are automatically grouped together.