Version Control

Create, manage, and restore model snapshots to track changes over time

Dalus provides built-in version control through snapshots. Create point-in-time backups of your model, then restore to any previous state when needed.

What Snapshots Capture

A snapshot preserves your complete model state:

Element	Included
Parts	All parts with attributes and hierarchy
Ports	Port definitions and connections
Interfaces	Interface definitions and flows
Requirements	All requirements with custom fields
States & Transitions	Behavior model structure
Actions	Action scripts and code
Documents	Attached files in the Documents Hub
Visualizations	Saved diagram views

Accessing Snapshots

The snapshot manager is located in the model header toolbar:

1. Open your model
2. Click the clock icon in the tab header
3. The snapshot dropdown shows your version history

Snapshots are organized by time period:

• Today
• Yesterday
• Last 7 days
• Last 30 days
• Older

Creating Snapshots

Create a snapshot to save the current state of your model before making significant changes.

1. Click the clock icon in the tab header
2. Click New Snapshot
3. Optionally enter a descriptive name (e.g., “Before restructure” or “CDR baseline”)
4. Press Enter or click the checkmark to confirm

Give snapshots meaningful names that describe the model state or milestone. This makes it easier to find the right version when you need to restore.

When to Create Snapshots

Create snapshots before:

• Major architectural changes
• Deleting parts or requirements
• Design reviews or milestones
• Experimenting with different approaches
• Handing off to another team member

Restoring Snapshots

Restore your model to a previous snapshot state.

1. Click the clock icon in the tab header
2. Find the snapshot you want to restore
3. Click the restore icon on that snapshot
4. Confirm the restore in the dialog

Restoring a snapshot replaces your current model state. Any changes made since the selected snapshot will be lost. Consider creating a new snapshot of your current state before restoring.

What Happens During Restore

When you restore a snapshot:

• All model elements are replaced with the snapshot version
• Documents and files are restored
• Action scripts are restored
• The current state is overwritten (not merged)

Managing Snapshots

Rename a Snapshot

1. Click the clock icon to open the snapshot dropdown
2. Click the edit icon on the snapshot you want to rename
3. Enter the new name
4. Press Enter to save

Delete a Snapshot

1. Click the clock icon to open the snapshot dropdown
2. Click the delete icon on the snapshot you want to remove
3. The snapshot is permanently deleted

Deleting a snapshot is permanent and cannot be undone. The snapshot data is removed from storage.

Automatic Snapshots

Dalus may create automatic snapshots in certain situations:

• Copilot checkpoints — Created before AI-assisted changes so you can revert if needed
• Migration backups — Created during system updates

These internal snapshots are hidden from the snapshot list but can be used for recovery if needed.

Best Practices

1. Snapshot before major changes — Always create a named snapshot before restructuring your architecture or deleting significant content.

2. Use descriptive names — Names like “Pre-CDR baseline” or “Before port refactor” are more useful than timestamps alone.

3. Regular checkpoints — Create snapshots at natural milestones—end of day, before reviews, after completing features.

4. Don’t rely solely on snapshots — For formal version control, also use Model Export to create external backups.

5. Clean up old snapshots — Delete snapshots you no longer need to keep your history manageable.

Permissions

Snapshot management follows model permissions:

Role	Create	Restore	Delete	Rename
Owner	✓	✓	✓	✓
Admin	✓	✓	✓	✓
Editor	✓	✓	✓	✓
Viewer	—	—	—	—

Viewers cannot access the snapshot manager. Only team members with edit permissions can create, restore, or manage snapshots.