Record Compare — User Guide
Overview
Record Compare shows Dataverse records side-by-side across multiple environments, highlighting field-level differences. Use it to verify that configuration data, reference records, or migration results are consistent across environments.
Prerequisites
- Two or more active connections to Dataverse environments
- Read access to the table you want to compare in all environments
Getting Started
- Select Record Compare from the sidebar
- The plugin connects to the current environment as the source
Workflow
1. Select a Table
- Use the entity picker to search and select a table (e.g.
Account,Contact) - The plugin automatically loads the available columns for that table
2. Add Target Environments
Click Add Environment to add one or more target environments to compare against. Each target shows as a labelled environment pill.
3. Choose Columns
Check the columns you want to compare in the column selector. Tips:
- Start with the most important fields rather than all columns
- Primary ID and primary name are included automatically
4. Set Options (Optional)
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Row limit | Maximum records to fetch per environment (default: 500) |
| FetchXML filter | Restrict which records are fetched (applied to all environments) |
5. Compare
Click Compare Records.
- The plugin fetches records from all environments using the same FetchXML query
- Records are matched by their primary GUID across environments
- A wide grid appears with one row per record
6. Review Results
Each row is coloured by status:
| Status | Colour | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Differs | Red / highlighted | Record exists in multiple environments but values differ |
| Identical | No highlight | Record is the same in all environments |
| Source only | Yellow | Record found in source but missing from one or more targets |
| Target only | Blue | Record found in target but not in source |
Click a row to expand it and see a field-by-field breakdown.
Column cells that differ between environments are highlighted in red. Matching values appear in green.
7. Export
Click Export to download the comparison results as CSV or Excel. The export includes all rows and field values, with diff status per record.
Tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Match by primary ID | Records are matched by GUID — both environments must contain the same record GUIDs |
| Use FetchXML filter | Narrow to specific records (e.g. by status or category) to speed up the comparison |
| Compare few columns first | Select only the most critical fields to keep the grid manageable |
| Export includes all fields | Even columns hidden in the grid appear in the export |
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Resolution |
|---|---|
| "Source only" for all records | Target environment may not have received the data migration — verify with Data Studio |
| Records match by ID but appear different | Check for lookup fields — display values may differ if related records have different names |
| Grid too wide to read | Reduce the number of selected columns, or use the export for a full view |
| Comparison is slow | Reduce the row limit or add a FetchXML filter to restrict the dataset |