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An independent workflow research project by an architectural designer

Stop hunting for what changed in your drawings.

A 100% local PDF comparison tool for architectural drawing sets. No cloud upload, no GPU requirement. Built to run on standard workstations already used by design teams.

Windows 64-bit · Portable WPF App · CPU Optimized

Split / Diff ReviewBeforeAfterSheet A-102 / Rev C

Comparison complete - <3s

ROOM AROOM BROOM C6,4004,800+ NEW ROOMDREMOVED

Added Lines

Removed Lines

Base Plan

Split mode supports side-by-side checks, and Diff mode highlights added content in red and removed content in blue.

Short answers to the questions people ask first.

If you want the basics quickly, start with these short answers.

0 cloud uploads

Data handling

All comparison stays on the local machine.

$0 cost

Price

Free for personal and commercial use.

<3s

Comparison speed

Typical comparison completes in under 3 seconds.

Is AEC DX Labs PDF Diff free to use?

Yes. It is free for personal and commercial use, with no licensing fee.

Does it keep drawing files offline?

Yes. Comparison runs locally on your PC, and drawing files are not uploaded to external servers.

What does it need to run?

Windows 64-bit, at least 4GB RAM, and no dedicated GPU. Typical comparison completes in under 3 seconds.

Why did you build PDF Diff?

I built it after repeatedly seeing manual revision checking slow down AEC review work and introduce avoidable misses.

Maker Context

I am an architectural designer based in Tokyo. Across AEC workflows, I kept seeing teams spend too much time manually checking revised drawing sets, losing focus in the process and increasing the chance of missed changes.

I started building PDF Diff independently as part of my self-improvement effort. Using AI-assisted tools, I mapped the tool requirements and built a secure offline application to test whether the workflow could be simplified without changing how teams already work.

I validated the concept using sample drawing sets in a personal test environment. The tool performed as designed, completing comparisons locally in under 3 seconds with no external data transfer. I am publishing it as a free resource for the AEC community as part of my ongoing self-improvement research (自己研鑽).

Three connected steps for practical drawing review.

The flow keeps teams oriented: every panel is part of one continuous review sheet.

01

Import Before + After Drawings

Load both PDFs locally without cloud transfer. Keep review cycles inside your project firewall.

Local drawing selection panel
02

Review in Split and Diff Modes

Use Split mode for side-by-side checks and Diff mode for change-focused review. Added content appears in red and removed content appears in blue.

Split and Diff drawing change detection
03

Review and Decide

Move from manual hunting to focused discussion, then issue updates with clearer confidence.

Decision-oriented review dashboard

Trust and FAQ

Core trust signals stay visible alongside the questions people ask first.

Trust Signals

Short operational assurances for IT and security review.

Offline by default

No cloud dependency in the review path. Drawings stay on your workstation.

IT-audit aligned

No external transmission route helps teams explain data boundaries in security reviews.

Practical hardware fit

CPU-optimized behavior supports standard workstations already used by design teams.

Common Questions

Comparison results should be verified by a qualified professional. AEC DX Labs accepts no liability for missed changes or errors in comparison output.

100% free. AEC DX Labs is a personal lab publishing independently developed workflow tools for the AEC community.

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