A method includes accessing a shared industrial automation project file, creating a local copy of an industrial automation project file representative of the shared industrial automation project file on a storage component accessible by the one or more processors, receiving, via a graphical user interface (GUI), an input indicative of one or more modifications to the local copy of the industrial automation project file, implementing the one or more modifications to the local copy of the industrial automation project file based on the input, identifying one or more differences between the local copy of the industrial automation project file and the shared industrial automation project file, wherein the one or more differences are associated with the one or more modifications, and presenting a notification indicative of the one or more differences between the local copy of the industrial automation project file and the shared industrial automation project file.