Track Changes Designer UI (Reference): Features for logging and tracking engineering solution changes, including Recent Changes, Version Control, Cross-Reference, Use Count, and Unused Objects for audit trails and impact analysis.Access: Track Changes (in Solution Explorer)
Navigation Pages
| Page | Purpose | Primary Use | TableType |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recent Changes | Change log with configurable persistence | Audit trail and navigation | RecentChanges |
| Version Control | Table version tracking | Online configuration sync | VersionControl |
| Cross-Reference | Object usage locations | Impact analysis | CrossReference |
| Use Count | Usage frequency | Resource optimization | UseCount |
| Unused Objects | Unreferenced objects | Cleanup candidates | UnusedObjects |
Multi-machine attribution: the UserComputer column captures the host where each change was authored. In distributed engineering — multiple engineers editing the same solution from different machines, or multiple MCP-driven AI sessions running on different hosts — UserComputer is the disambiguator that distinguishes simultaneous edits sharing the same login (for example, multiple AI sessions sharing the predefined MCP user).
Core Functions
Change Tracking
Version Control tables maintain summaries by Module and Configuration Table, tracking current versions and last modifications of all solution elements. This ensures consistency when connecting to Runtime for online changes.
Cross-Reference Engine
Powers multiple analysis features:
- 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
Version Control data enables:
- Online configuration verification
- Hot reload compatibility checks
- Change synchronization
- Version mismatch detection
Best Practices Checklist
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
Performance Considerations
| Aspect | Recommendation | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Recent Changes | Set auto-delete policy | Database size |
| Cross-Reference | Refresh periodically | Query speed |
| Use Count | Review weekly | Performance insight |
| Unused Objects | Clean quarterly | Solution size |
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Missing references | Indirect usage | Manual verification |
| Version mismatch | Unsaved changes | Save and build |
| Large change log | No auto-delete | Configure cleanup |
| Slow navigation | Large database | Optimize settings |
In this section...