The Track Changes tools provide features for logging and tracking engineering solution changes, including Recent Changes, Version Control, Cross-Reference, Use Count, and Unused Objects. These tools enable audit trails, impact analysis, and solution optimization.
Access: Track Changes (in Solution Explorer)
Parent Page: DevOps & Version Control (Reference)
Navigation Pages
| Page | Purpose | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|
| Recent Changes | Change log with configurable persistence | Audit trail and navigation |
| Version Control | Table version tracking | Online configuration sync |
| Cross-Reference | Object usage locations | Impact analysis |
| Use Count | Usage frequency | Resource optimization |
| Unused Objects | Unreferenced objects | Cleanup candidates |
Core Functions
Change Tracking
Version Control tables maintain a summary, by Module and Configuration Table, of the current version and last modification of all elements in a solution. This data ensures consistency when connecting to Runtime for online changes.
Cross-Reference Engine
The Cross-Reference system powers:
- Find Results Panel in Designer
- Use Count calculations
- Unused Objects detection
- Impact analysis for changes
Limitations
Important: Cross-Reference only detects direct object usage. Indirect references are not tracked:
| Indirect Usage Type | Example | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| String references | Asset("/folder1/tag1") | Not detected |
| .Link property | TagReference via string | Not tracked |
| API access | External applications | Not visible |
| Dynamic references | Script-generated names | Not found |
| OPC UA/MQTT | External consumers | Not tracked |
Integration Points
With Designer
| Feature | Integration | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Find Results Panel | Uses Cross-Reference data | Object search |
| Home Page | Shows Recent Changes | Quick access |
| Runtime Diagnostics | Compares versions | Online config |
| Double-click navigation | From any table row | Direct access |
With Runtime
The Version Control data enables:
- Online configuration verification
- Hot reload compatibility checks
- Change synchronization
- Version mismatch detection
Best Practices
Regular Maintenance
- Review Recent Changes daily
- Check Unused Objects weekly
- Monitor Use Count for optimization
- Verify Cross-References before deletion
Before Removing Objects
- Check Unused Objects table
- Verify no indirect references
- Confirm no external usage
- Use Find Results for verification
- Document removal reason
Change Management
- Configure appropriate auto-delete settings
- Keep audit trail for compliance
- Export changes for version control
- Review Version Control before deployment
Child Pages
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