Auto Merge

Last published at: 2024-08-30 12:39:39 UTC
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The Auto Merge feature is available in the Advanced, Premium and PDM Editions.

The Auto Merge feature lets you automatically merge duplicate records that scored above a threshold level of your choice. Duplicate Check will base its merge choices on the merge rules as defined in the Merge Rules‍ when performing the auto merge.

Add Auto Merge to a job to run automatically, or run it manually from the job results after reviewing the results first.

Using Auto Merge in a (Scheduled) Job

You can run Auto Merge automatically right after running a job, by including it in the job configuration. After configuring in the job configuration, the Auto Merge will run as part of the job process without any user intervention.
However, this is only recommended if you are absolutely sure of the job results you are going to get. Merging records cannot be undone!

Prerequisites

  • The Merge Rules‍ have been configured for the Object you are going to merge records for.

Add Auto Merge to the job process

To apply Auto Merge right after running a DC Job, add it during the DC Job configuration.

To apply Auto Merge right after running each run of a Scheduled Job, add it during the Scheduled Job configuration‍.

Note that if the DC job is ran on DC Local or Plauti Cloud, the Auto Merge job that follows needs to be started separately, because the user permissions for merging need to be checked first.

Using Auto Merge for Job Results

Alternatively, run Auto Merge afterwards on the job results, after you reviewed the job results first.

Prerequisites

  • You have enabled the Show Quick/Auto Merge Button setting in the General Settings‍.
  • The Merge Rules‍ have been configured for the Object you are going to merge records for.
  • You ran a DC Job‍ with results

Apply Auto Merge to job results

To automatically merge DC Job results, after a job ran and you reviewed its results:

  1. Go to tab DC Job and find the job where you want to auto merge records.
  2. At the job row, at right, click Job Options .
  3. In the selectlist, click Start Auto Merge .
    The Auto Merge modal opens. "Job Name" states which job will be auto-merged.
  4. Select an Auto Merge Threshold.
    All duplicate pairs in the job that have a matching percentage equal or higher than the threshold will be automatically merged.
  5. Add an Object filter (optional) to only merge a subset of records from the job, or
    Add a Duplicate Group filter (optional) to only merge certain duplicate groups (e.g. groups with only two records).
    Read more about Auto Merge Filters.
  6. Click Next.

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Threshold?

When running a duplicate check Job, pairs of records will get a matching score based on the applied Scenario‍. The more similar two records are, the higher the matching score. Records with a matching score that is equal to or higher than the set Threshold will be auto-merged.

Do not set the threshold too low: merging records cannot be undone!

As a best practice, you could decide to only automatically merge records at a threshold of 100%, i.e. only those records that have identical scenario-fields. Then process the lower scored duplicate records manually‍.

  1. In the next step, decide where to process the Auto Merge Job. Based on the number of records in the job, a recommendation is given.
    • Run on Salesforce Platform: for smaller jobs, without any data transfer outside of Salesforce.
    • Run on DC Local: for large data volume jobs, to speed up the duplicate search process. Runs on your local machine. Read more about DC Local‍.
    • Run on Plauti Cloud: for large data volume jobs, to speed up the duplicate search process. Runs on a secure cloud server and has some advantages over DC Local. Read more about Plauti Cloud‍.
  2. Click Next.

  1. In the Confirmation window, review the Auto Merge job settings. Click Back to make changes if needed.
  2. Toggle Acknowledge to confirm that the job will merge the indicated number of records, and that merging records cannot be undone.
  3. Click Start.

You are returned to the DC Job overview page. The Auto Merge job you just created appears as a subjob for the DC Job.

At right, click Merge Log  to view the merge log.

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Start the Auto Merge job on DC Local or Plauti Cloud

If you selected 'Run on DC Local' or 'Run on Plauti Cloud': open DC Local or Plauti Cloud and Start the Job.
Run a DC Local Duplicate Check job
Run a DC Job on Plauti Cloud

A running Auto Merge job will have status "Processing" on the DC Job overview page. Once it's done, it will show status "Completed".

Auto Merge, Quick Merge, or Manual Merge?

Auto Merge is used for automatically merging a large number of duplicate job results. You set a threshold and filters before applying. It will use the rules defined on the Merge Rules‍ page to execute the merge. Auto Merge as an option for job results is only available if enabled in the General Settings‍.
Quick Merge will directly merge one group or pair of duplicate records, manually selected from the job results, but without any further user intervention. It will use the rules defined on the Merge Rules‍ page to execute the merge. Quick Merge is only available if enabled in the General Settings‍.
Manual Merge can be used for a large or small number of duplicate job results. For each duplicate group or pair you decide manually which record should be the master record and which field values are kept, and you can add custom values as well.

Remarks about Merging

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Upon merge, only the Master record is kept, the losing records are deleted. Related records will be reparented to the Master record.

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When merging Contacts, Duplicate Check executes a Salesforce Apex merge. As a result of this, any present Campaign members are hard-deleted when Contacts are merged. This prevents Campaign members being retrieved from the recycle bin which would result in duplicate Campaign members.

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Be careful when using the merge feature. Merging records cannot be undone!