Difference between ProDiff and ProMapper Export Changes

ProDiff is primarily used when you want to get a dump from NAPA and use that as the basis of your comparison.

ProMapper tracks changes using the Publish/Commit process. When you publish a document in ProMapper the first time, ProMapper creates a record of the applications that will be sent. When you publish again, ProMapper compares to the previous record of what was sent (should correspond to what NAPA has) and determines adds, deletes and what hasn’t changed.

That record can be used to export a net change file. To export net changes the document needs to be in the modified state. When you run Commit, deleted applications are removed from the record of published applications and the record of published applications should correspond to just what NAPA has.

This process depends on NAPA being in sync with ProMapper. A common problem is that NAPA may have applications that ProMapper doesn’t know about. That’s where ProDiff is useful, because it can create a change file base on what NAPA actually has.