This article shows how to check multiple DGN files and report each element added or modified after a specified date.

Attached to this article is a RUL file that SpecChecker uses to check your design file elements. A RUL file contains rules that SpecChecker uses to report or correct violations. The RUL file we’re using for this process contains rules that only report. Before processing your files, you will need to modify the values in the RUL file to match your requirements.

1. Save the provided Report-elements_after_date.rul file to a convenient location.
2. Open the RUL file with Notepad.
   a. Find modified_date in the RUL file and replace its date with your cutoff date, using YYYY/MM/DD format. For example, replace 2025/04/01 with 2026/10/01.
   Example: From 2025/04/01 to 2026/10/01
   b. Save and exit when complete.
3. Load SpecChecker.

4. Go to Settings | Restore Factory Defaults…, and press <Yes> when prompted.
   This is a precaution to ensure there are no other features or settings active that might impact your result.
5. Use the Models: menu to select which models to process per design file.

6. Next to the Files: field, press the <Edit List...> button.
7. Either drag and drop your files into the Choose Files to Process dialog box or navigate to and select your files for processing. Press <OK> when finished.

8. Next to the Rules File: field, press <Select...>, then navigate to and select the Report-elements_after_date.rul file saved previously.
9. Next to the Report File: field, press <Select…>, then navigate to a convenient location, enter a name for your report and press <Select>.

Generate Text Report

1. Press <Start> to process your files.
2. When the process is complete, press <Display Report> to see a report of the elements placed or updated after your specified date.

Inspect Matching Elements Interactively

1. Check Interactive editing and then press <Start>.

2. SpecChecker will walk you through each element.
   - Press <Ignore> to move to the next element. Ignored elements will still be included in the report.
   - Press <Blink> to blink the element with your element highlight color. This makes it identifiable if there are many elements in the vicinity.
   - Press <Quit> if you’d like to end the process.
3. When the process is complete, press <Display Report> to see a report of the elements placed or updated after your specified date.
   Note: If you quit the process, the report will only include elements that were located before pressing <Quit>.