Comparison of Restoration Mechanisms in ECM and VCS

Aspect ECM (Restore file to the previous state) VCS (Restore workspace)
Context Manages various types of documents. Typically reverting a specific document or set of documents. Manages text and binary files. Refers to reverting the entire working directory to a specific version.
Granularity Focus on individual files. When restoring, you might be targeting a specific document that was edited or mistakenly deleted. Broader than a single file. It involves bringing the entire snapshot in the workspace back to a specific point in its history.
Purpose Correct errors, revert changes, access historical versions for compliance. Discard local changes, align with a specific repository version for reference. Preservation of document logical connections on a specific date aids in legal or other investigations.
Mechanism Version history for each document. Restore from this history. Use VCS tools to revert changes or check out a specific version from the repository.
Associated Data Focus on content with metadata like author, timestamps, etc. Tracks changes to document projects and preserves connections between files and metadata specific to a date.
Collateral Impact Typically won't impact other documents unless there's a dependency. Can affect all aspects of a general-purpose document project. Changes in foundational documents can impact multiple connected components.