The Source Template Definition Compare dialog is reached by clicking on the button of the Source Template Definitions Dialog. It compares a source template definition to a Source Template record in the current project, showing a list of their respective values and field definitions. Where these match, there will be a green tick in the 'Match' column on the right-hand side. Where values and field definitions do not match, a red cross is displayed in the 'Match' column. The only exception is the collection name in each case, which always has "n/a" (not applicable) in the 'Match' column. This is because the collection name, in the case of Source Template records, is kept for informational purposes only, and is not included in the match analysis. Consequently it should not be viewed as a matter of concern if this does not match. Where comparisons are made, they are case-insensitive, except in the case of the four Format fields (Record Title Format, Bibliography Format, Footnote Format, and Short Footnote Format), where a case-sensitive comparison is made.
Different Source Template records can be selected from the Source Template Record dropdown list, or by clicking the 'Browse...' option on the dropdown list.
The Match Status field shows whether a Source Template record is deemed to match a source template definition or not. They will be deemed to have matched, at least partially, if their names, categories, and subcategories match (case-insensitively). If the fields do match match, or do not fully match, the overall match is deemed to be partial. If the only difference is that the field order is different, the Match Status field will state this.
If an item (field or format or whatever) in a Source Template record does not match its source template definition equivalent, you can view the exact differences by selecting the item and clicking on the button, to open a dialog to compare them. This detailed comparison dialog has a button. When you click on this button, it will offer you a choice of tasks. If you are looking at two values which differ in some way, you will be given the option to sync the value in the Source Template record with the value in the source template definition, or vice versa. Standard source template definitions are read-only. Only custom source template definitions are editable; so any options for updating the source template definition will be greyed out if it's not a custom one.
If you are comparing 2 differing field definitions, you will be offered 4 options: to sync the value in the Source Template record with the value in the source template definition, or vice versa (the two 'update' options), or to create a new field in the Source Template record based on the source template definition field, or vice versa (these are the two 'add' options). However, again, any options that would change the source template definition will be greyed if the source template definition is not a custom one. Also, updating a Source Template record is not always possible. If the update involves changing whether the field is a Citation field, or not, the update to the Source Template record will only be allowed if there are no Source records or citations in the project that make use of this field definition (i.e. have fields linked to this field definition).
Changing the type of a field definition in a Source Template record is a significant change, if the field definition is already in use within existing Source records or citations in the current project, because those instances will all have to be updated to change their field types too; and changing a field type can involve data loss. If a field was previously a link to a Repository record and you change it to any other kind of field type (to make it a Text field, say, or a Date field), the link to the Repository record will be lost. Other changes to a field type may be less problematic. But you will be warned before making any change of this kind, in any case, and you will be recommended to take a backup before making the change.
If you try to add a field to a Source template record where there is already a field with that name in that record, the action will not be allowed. Nor will you be allowed to update a field definition in a Source Template record if the update involves changing the name to a field name that already exists in the record. Equivalent prohibitions are also in place with respect to changes to the source template definition.
If you need to delete values or re-order fields, you cannot do that in this dialog. Fields in a source template definition can be deleted or re-ordered in the Source Template Definition Dialog. If you need to delete or re-order Source Template record fields, the best place to do this is in the All tab of the Property Box, when viewing the Source Template record.