Removing Duplicates- available tools not capturing all of them.

Kelli Hurley

Hey everyone! I am still a newbie here--been using RE/RENXT for about 8 months. I'm using both the duplicate tool in NXT and the Duplicate Constituent Management Tool in database view and I'm coming up with these issues: 


1. they don't 'communicate' with one another--meaning I find duplicates on one list that aren't on another.. 

2. Neither list is picking up all the duplicates, so when I've spent the time going through and trying to clear out the duplicates, we inevitably find more duplicates as we're entering other data. When we find them of course we're merging/correcting on the spot, but duplicates are beginning to stress me out, lol! Every time I think I've found the duplicates, either my supervisor or I find *more.*  


So my questions are: 

1. Is there a way to adjust the sensitivity of the duplicate searches so I can capture more information? I mean both tools have left out obvious duplicates but pulled in possible duplicates that aren't actually dupes. 

2. has anyone found a work around to these tools? Maybe a query or something that has helped you find dupes? 

3. or a plugin? Before posting I searched and there was an Omatics tool that looked like it could work but I'm guessing in the 4 years since it was posted, it's no longer a free download. 


I really appreciate any pointers any of you have! 

Marie Stark

I like the NXT tool, but I wish there was a way to export the list or merge more than one constituent at a time.


We have MergeOMatic which is a great tool and it allows you to configure the duplicate searches.  I think there is a free trail but after that it is not free.

Bill Connors

Kelli, the two duplicate detection tools use different criteria so the results are not going to be the same.  The db view criteria is overlay broad, IMHO, so I'd start with the web view which I've found provides better results.  I wouldn't freak out about finding other duplicates -- no duplicate tool is going to find them all.  I always focus on the duplicates that are causing problems, such as duplicates in mailings, and worry less about old duplicates that don't affect day-to-day work.  You can't change the criteria of either tool.  I don't think Query is going to help.  You could export data and look for commonalities yourself, like sorting by address, but I've rarely found that necessary.  MergeOmatic is an excellent tool but yes, as a third-party tool it comes at a cost.  I'd say either just use the tools you've got and don't stress about other duplicates, or if the other duplicates are a big enough deal, then that "big deal" should justify spending the money for MergeOmatic.  Note that BB has a "mass merge" plug-in that new NXT customers get to use for 90 days -- you might be able to get BB to let you use it for a few months and/or buy it.  Zeidman Development also has a tool like MergeOmatic -- see it here:  The Mergician – Zeidman Development -- and usually their products are cheaper than Omatic's, so check that out, too.

Kelli Hurley

Bill, 


Thank you! I think you're right. I'm so stuck on ridding my database of all duplicates that I really needed to hear that no tool will be complete. I didn't think query would help in any way but thought "maybe there's something I'm missing?" 

Thank you for the other resources as well. I'm going to connect with our BB rep and see about using the mass merge plug-in. 


Cheers! 

Kelli Hurley

Marie, 


Thank you! you and Bill have really given me some great info to work with. Also a good reminder to take a step back and breathe.