Difference between revisions of "Merge Duplicate Record"

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''Location in standard build:'' '''''Top of [[Details Screen]] for an organisation/person'''''
 
''Location in standard build:'' '''''Top of [[Details Screen]] for an organisation/person'''''
  
We all know that duplication is a bad thing, but sometimes accidents happen and you end up with multiple records on the system that relate to the same person. Ways this might happen include...
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Sometimes data entry accidents happen, and you end up with multiple records on the system that are actually the same person. Ways this might happen include...
  
 
* Users do some work with a client, then enter them on their Charitylog system without first checking that they are not already entered
 
* Users do some work with a client, then enter them on their Charitylog system without first checking that they are not already entered
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Having said all of that, Charitylog makes it easy for Administrators to merge two people on the system, so that these mistakes can be undone.
 
Having said all of that, Charitylog makes it easy for Administrators to merge two people on the system, so that these mistakes can be undone.
 
 
__TOC__
 
  
  
 
==How to merge records==
 
==How to merge records==
  
[[file:A_orgpeople_36.png|right|thumb|Flow chart for the merge process - click to enlarge.]]
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[[file:cl_MDR_1.png|right|thumb|Flow chart for the merge process - click to enlarge.]]
  
 
'''You should always start the merging process with the organisation or person that you want to keep - usually the oldest or most complete record.'''
 
'''You should always start the merging process with the organisation or person that you want to keep - usually the oldest or most complete record.'''
  
In the screenshot below, we can see that the same client has been entered twice. One entry looks like it has all the details; the other has only been entered with a title, surname and postcode.
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In the screenshot below, we can see that the same client has been entered twice. One entry looks like it has all the details; the other has only been entered with a first name, surname and postcode.
  
'''Start with the one that you want to keep''' (in this case it would probably be the more complete one), and click on the name of the person.
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'''Start with the one that you want to keep''' (in this case it would be the one with the correct spelling), and click on the name of the person.
  
  
[[File:A_orgpeople_31.png|border]]
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[[File:cl_MDR_2.png|border]]
  
  
==="Merge" link on a Details screen===
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==="Merge" link on the Details screen===
  
At the top of an Organisation/Person's Details screen, there will be a button, as shown.
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At the top of their Details screen, there will be a button, as shown.
  
  
[[File:A_orgpeople_27.png|border]]
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[[File:cl_MDR_3.png|border]]
  
  
====If there is no "Merge Records" link displayed, Set Group Access permissions====
 
  
Go to Administration > Security > User Settings > Group Access. Select the relevant Group (the Group to which the person who needs to do the merging belongs) and click "Set Group Access Rights".
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<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
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'''What to do if no "Merge Record" button is visible - click "Expand" to show
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<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
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====If there is no "Merge Records" link displayed, set Group Access permissions====
  
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Go to the [[Settings]] button > User Access > Group Access. Click on the Group of the person who needs to do the merging.
  
[[File:A_orgpeople_29.png|border]]
 
  
 +
[[File:cl_MDR_4.png|border]]
  
Then, on the "Main Program" tab, make sure that the permissions relating to the "Merge Record" option are all selected.
 
  
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Then, on the "Main Program" tab, make sure that the tick box for "Merge Records" is ticked.
  
[[File:A_orgpeople_28.png|border]]
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 +
[[File:cl_MDR_5.png|border]]
  
  
 
Save Details when done.
 
Save Details when done.
 
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</div>
Now you're ready to continue, by verifying that there has been a duplication, and clicking on the name of the organisation/person '''that you wish to keep''';
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</div>
 
 
 
 
[[File:A_orgpeople_31.png|border]]
 
  
  
Then clicking the "Merge Record" button.
 
 
 
[[File:A_orgpeople_27.png|border]]
 
  
 
===Specifying the duplicate===
 
===Specifying the duplicate===
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[[File:A_orgpeople_32.png|border]]
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[[File:cl_MDR_6.png|border]]
  
  
From the search results, pick the record to merge, and click the "Merge" button. (If you do not find the record you need, use the "Return to Previous Search" button to go back and alter the search parameters, and search again.)
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From the search results, pick the record to merge, and click the "Merge" button. Note that this search allows you to search by Charitylog ID number. The best way to make sure that you merge the right records is to write down the relevant ID numbers beforehand, and search by these. This makes it (almost) impossible to select the wrong record for merging.
  
Note that this search allows you to search by Charitylog ID number. The best way to make sure that you merge the right records is to write down the relevant ID numbers beforehand, and search by these. This makes it impossible to select the wrong record for merging.
 
  
 
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[[File:cl_MDR_7.png|border]]
[[File:A_orgpeople_33.png|border]]
 
  
  
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[[File:A_orgpeople_34.png|border]]
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[[File:cl_MDR_8.png|600px|border]]
  
  
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[[File:A_orgpeople_35.png|border]]
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[[File:cl_MDR_9.png|border]]
  
  
 
If you click "OK", the records will be merged and you will be returned to the record which has been retained. Check this record for completeness, and if necessary, fill in missing data.
 
If you click "OK", the records will be merged and you will be returned to the record which has been retained. Check this record for completeness, and if necessary, fill in missing data.
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==Flow Chart==
 
==Flow Chart==
  
  
[[File:A_orgpeople_36.png|border]]
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[[File:cl_MDR_1.png|border]]
  
  
 
----
 
----
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[[User:Rob Kay|Rob Kay - manual author]] ([[User talk:Rob Kay|talk]]) 14:43, 28 November 2016 (GMT)
 
[[File:helpheader_small.png|right]]
 
[[File:helpheader_small.png|right]]
[[User:Rob Kay|Rob Kay - manual author]] ([[User talk:Rob Kay|talk]]) 15:01, 26 April 2017 (BST)
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[[Category:Features]]
[[Catagory:Features]]
 

Revision as of 14:01, 26 April 2017

Helpheader small.png

Location in standard build: Top of Details Screen for an organisation/person

Sometimes data entry accidents happen, and you end up with multiple records on the system that are actually the same person. Ways this might happen include...

  • Users do some work with a client, then enter them on their Charitylog system without first checking that they are not already entered
  • Users enter someone as a client, then enter them separately as a volunteer

People should only be entered to the system once. If they become another type of person (e.g. Client becomes a Volunteer too) their type should be changed; either by using the "Make Into" button on a set of search results, as detailed in the end user manual; or by using the Extended Orgs & People List.

Why avoid duplicate entries?

  1. If an organisation or person is entered twice on the system, contacts may be recorded against both. This will lead to each client having an incomplete history, which will cause problems for end users.
  2. Reporting will also be compromised, as two people will show up in reports where there should only be one, and numbers of contacts per person will be incorrect... plus many more problems.

Having said all of that, Charitylog makes it easy for Administrators to merge two people on the system, so that these mistakes can be undone.


How to merge records

Flow chart for the merge process - click to enlarge.

You should always start the merging process with the organisation or person that you want to keep - usually the oldest or most complete record.

In the screenshot below, we can see that the same client has been entered twice. One entry looks like it has all the details; the other has only been entered with a first name, surname and postcode.

Start with the one that you want to keep (in this case it would be the one with the correct spelling), and click on the name of the person.


Cl MDR 2.png


"Merge" link on the Details screen

At the top of their Details screen, there will be a button, as shown.


Cl MDR 3.png


What to do if no "Merge Record" button is visible - click "Expand" to show

If there is no "Merge Records" link displayed, set Group Access permissions

Go to the Settings button > User Access > Group Access. Click on the Group of the person who needs to do the merging.


Cl MDR 4.png


Then, on the "Main Program" tab, make sure that the tick box for "Merge Records" is ticked.


Cl MDR 5.png


Save Details when done.


Specifying the duplicate

Once you click the "Merge Record" button, you will be taken to a search form, where you can search for the record that you want to merge into the one that you are keeping.


Cl MDR 6.png


From the search results, pick the record to merge, and click the "Merge" button. Note that this search allows you to search by Charitylog ID number. The best way to make sure that you merge the right records is to write down the relevant ID numbers beforehand, and search by these. This makes it (almost) impossible to select the wrong record for merging.


Cl MDR 7.png


Now there will be another confirmation screen to go through, reminding you that you are keeping only one set of data. You will be shown the data that is to be kept, and the data that will be overwritten. If you are happy, click "Continue with Merge".


Cl MDR 8.png


Now another warning...


Cl MDR 9.png


If you click "OK", the records will be merged and you will be returned to the record which has been retained. Check this record for completeness, and if necessary, fill in missing data.


Flow Chart

Cl MDR 1.png



Rob Kay - manual author (talk) 14:43, 28 November 2016 (GMT)

Helpheader small.png