PRISM Documentation: Compare Page

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Getting Started

PRISM Compare Page

The Compare page is PRISM’s powerful tool for side-by-side analysis of package versions across different registries and editions. This page allows you to compare package availability, version differences, and create detailed comparison tables for analysis and reporting.

NOTE: The table starts empty - this is normal! Add editions or registries to begin comparing them.

Quick Actions:

  1. 📊 Select comparison mode - Choose to compare by editions or registries
  2. 🏷️ Add editions/registries - Use the dropdown to select what editions or registries to compare
  3. 🔍 Show differences only - Use the Diff button to highlight version conflicts
  4. 📤 Export results - Download comparison data as CSV

Understanding Comparison Modes

PRISM Compare radio buttons

PRISM offers two distinct comparison modes:

Compare by Editions

Default mode - Compare specific registry editions:

  • Edition-specific - Compare exact editions (e.g., “stratus 2025-01-15” and “stratus 2025-02-22” and “ghqc-eco v2”)
  • Version precision - See exact package versions available in each edition
  • URL copying - Copy repository URLs directly from column headers

💡 Best For: Comparing updates between editions, migration planning, reproducible environment analysis

Compare by Registries

Registry-wide mode - Compare entire package ecosystems:

  • Comprehensive view - Shows all packages across entire registries
  • Latest versions - Displays most current packages from each registry
  • Ecosystem comparison - Compare different package sources (CRAN, Bioconductor, etc.)
  • Broader analysis - Understand registry-level differences

💡 Best For: Understanding registry differences, ecosystem analysis, comprehensive package audits

Selection Interface

Edition/Registry Dropdown

PRISM Compare dropdown

The main selection dropdown is your primary tool for building comparisons:

Visual Organization

  • Server identification - Shows source server URL at the top
  • Registry grouping - Registries organized with color-coded identifiers
  • Edition counts - Number of available editions shown for each registry
  • Expandable sections - Click registry names to show/hide editions

Selection Process

  1. Click dropdown - Opens the full selection interface
  2. Expand registries (Edition-specific comparison only) - Click registry names to see available editions
  3. Select items - Click specific editions or registries to add them
  4. Visual feedback - Selected items appear as colored chips in the dropdown

Selected Items Display

PRISM Compare edition selection

Once you make selections:

  • Color-coded chips - Each selection gets a unique color for easy identification
  • Clear individual items - Click the ‘X’ on any chip to remove it
  • Clear all - Use the clear button to remove all selections at once
  • Overflow handling - Long lists scroll within the dropdown area

Comparison Table

Table Structure

PRISM Compare edition selection

The comparison table dynamically builds as you add selections:

Default Columns

  • Package Name - Fixed left column showing all available packages
  • Dynamic columns - One column for each selected edition/registry
  • Version data - Shows package versions available in each selection

Interactive Features

  • Sortable columns - Click headers to sort by package name or version data
  • Filterable content - Use column filters to find specific packages
  • Resizable columns - Drag column borders to adjust width
  • Fixed package names - Package name column stays visible when scrolling

Column Headers

Each comparison column provides additional functionality:

Edition Columns

PRISM Compare edition columns
  • Edition name - Clear identification of the edition being compared
  • Copy URL button - Direct link copying for repository URLs

Registry Columns

PRISM Compare registry columns
  • Registry name - Shows the registry being compared
  • Edition list - Hover/click to see which editions are included, and filter to see only packages from a specific edition

Advanced Features

Diff Mode

PRISM Diff button

PRISM Compare diff mode

The Diff functionality helps identify package version conflicts:

How Diff Works

  1. Enable Diff - Click the “Diff” button (requires 2+ columns)
  2. Filter view - Table shows only packages with different versions
  3. Visual indicator - Blue banner shows “Showing only x packages with different versions”
  4. Toggle back - Click “Show All” to return to full view

When to Use Diff

  • Version conflicts - Identify packages with different versions across selections
  • Migration planning - See what will change when switching between editions
  • Compatibility analysis - Find potential conflicts before deployment
  • Focused analysis - Reduce noise when looking for specific differences

CSV Export

PRISM Compare export CSV button

Export your comparison data for external analysis:

Export Features

  • Complete data - Exports all visible table data
  • Headers included - Column names preserved in export
  • CSV format - Compatible with Excel, R, Python, and other tools
  • Filename - Automatically named “compare_editions_export.csv”

Export Process

PRISM Compare export CSV file
  1. Build comparison - Add editions/registries to compare
  2. Apply filters - Use diff mode or column filters if desired
  3. Click Export CSV - Button becomes active when data is available
  4. Download file - CSV downloads automatically to your device

Common Workflows

Comparing Editions

  1. Select “editions” mode - Use the radio button to set comparison type
  2. Choose time periods - Select editions from different dates
  3. Add to comparison - Click editions to add them as columns
  4. Enable Diff mode - Show only packages with version differences
  5. Export results - Download CSV for further analysis

Registry Ecosystem Analysis

  1. Switch to “registries” mode - Use radio button to change comparison type
  2. Select registries - Click different registry names to compare
  3. Review coverage - See which packages are available in each registry
  4. Identify gaps - Use Diff mode to find registry-specific packages
  5. Document findings - Export data for reporting

Migration Planning

  1. Start with current edition - Add your current package source
  2. Add target edition - Select the edition you want to migrate to
  3. Show differences only - Use Diff button to focus on changes
  4. Analyze conflicts - Review packages with different versions
  5. Plan updates - Export list for migration planning

Reproducibility Validation

  1. Select specific editions - Choose exact editions for package version validation
  2. Compare versions - Verify package versions match across environments
  3. Document state - Export current comparison for records
  4. Share results - Use CSV export for team collaboration

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Dropdown not opening?

  • Ensure JavaScript is enabled in your browser
  • Try refreshing the page if dropdown seems unresponsive
  • Check that you’re clicking the main dropdown area

No data in comparison table?

  • Verify you’ve selected at least one edition or registry
  • Check that your selections contain package data
  • Try switching between editions and registries modes

Diff button disabled?

  • You need at least 2 columns to use Diff mode
  • Add more editions or registries to enable comparison
  • Check that your selections have overlapping packages

CSV export not working?

  • Ensure you have data in the comparison table
  • Check that JavaScript is enabled
  • Try a different browser if download fails

Column headers not showing properly?

  • Try resizing your browser window
  • Refresh the page to reset table layout
  • Check browser zoom level (100% recommended)

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