Merge Duplicates

Options available from:

Merge Duplicate People: Help

Remove Duplicate People

Purpose of the Remove Duplicate People Tool

It is important to make sure all people in Bowler TRAC appear in the 'View People' list only once.  If a person appears more than once, you might contact the same person multiple times in a marketing plan.  You also may not get that person's complete history because part of the history is attached to one person, and the other to the duplicate person.

The Remove Duplicate People Tool can greatly help reduce the number of duplicate people in that list by helping you with two important tasks

1.        Identify which people appear in the list more than once.

2.        Merge the information from both people into one person.

Finding Duplicates

To identify which people are really the same, simply click the 'Find Duplicates' button.  Bowler TRAC will compare people who look similar and present you with a list of possible duplicates.

Finding duplicates using computer software is a balancing act.  If you '

cast too wide a net' you will identify a lot of people who are not really duplicates.  If you do not cast the net wide enough, you miss people who really are duplicates.  Bowler TRAC uses methods which attempt to strike a good balance.  But since this is not an exact science, it will not find all duplicates and it will identify some people as duplicates who really are not.

Note: you can click the 'Find Duplicates' button as often as you wish.  There is no harm in re-running this function.  It is a good idea to do this regularly.

Reviewing (Merging) Possible Duplicates

Since identifying duplicates is not an exact science, Bowler TRAC does not automatically merge potential duplicates.  Rather, it presents a list of potential duplicates and allows you review them and make the final decision.  To review and merge a duplicate pair, highlight the pair in the list and click the 'Review' button.  You will then be presented with more information and given the option to merge the two people or to mark them as 'not the same'.

Re-reviewing Duplicates After They Have Been Marked 'Not the Same'

As you review possible duplicates, you will either merge them or mark the pair as 'not the same'.  If you want to re-review pairs you previously marked 'not the same' you can uncheck to box labeled 'Hide pairs marked not the same'.  Now, all previously identified duplicates will be displayed and can be reviewed again.

Merge Duplicate People - Review Potential Duplicate Person (Screen): Help

After you select

Review Potential Duplicate Person

Purpose of Review

Since identifying duplicates is not an exact science, Bowler TRAC does not automatically merge potential duplicates.  Rather, it presents a list of potential duplicates and allows you review them and make the final decision.  This screen presents you with detailed information about each person so you can decide what should be done.  With this pair of people you can:

Keep the first person (merge the second person into the first)

Keep the second person (merge the first person into the second)

Mark these people as 'not the same'

Skip this pair (postpone the decision)

Keep First Person

Clicking this button will cause the second person to be deleted and automatically move to the next pair of possible duplicates.

Before the second person is deleted, any information about the second person that does not already exist on the first person will be moved.  For example, if the second person has a daytime phone number but the first person does not, the daytime phone will be copied from the second person to the first.  If the first person already had a daytime phone number, the phone number of the second person will not overwrite the phone number on the first.  If the second person was in League A and the first person was not, the first person will be placed into League A.  All notes from the second person would be moved to the first person.

Keep Second Person

Clicking this button will cause the first person to be deleted and automatically move to the next pair of possible duplicates.

Before the first person is deleted, any information about the first person that does not already exist on the second person will be moved.  See '

Keep First Person' above for more details.

Not the Same

Clicking this button will cause the two people to be marked 'not the same' and automatically move to the next pair of possible duplicates.

Bowler TRAC will retain this information indefinitely.  As a result, the next time you click 'Find Duplicates' (on the Remove Duplicate People' screen) these two people will not be listed again as possible duplicates.

If you want to re-review pairs you previously marked 'not the same' you can uncheck to box labeled 'Hide pairs marked not the same' found on the 'Remove Duplicate People' screen (the previous screen).

Next Pair

Clicking this button will move to the next pair of possible duplicates without merging or marking the current pair as 'not the same'.  The duplicate pair will stay in the list.

Previous Pair

Clicking this button will move to the previous pair of possible duplicates without merging or marking the current pair as 'not the same'.  The duplicate pair will stay in the list.

Merge Duplicate Leagues: Help

Remove Duplicate Leagues

Purpose of the Remove Duplicate League Tool

It is important to make sure all leagues in Bowler TRAC appear in the 'View Leagues' list only once.  If a league appears more than once, you may not have that league's complete history because part of the history is attached to one league, and the other to the duplicate league.  Creating a target group that targets all people who participated in the league before may not target everyone if the league's history is not complete.

The Remove Duplicate League Tool can greatly help reduce the number of duplicate leagues in that list by helping you with two important tasks:

1.        Identify which leagues appear in the list more than once.

2.        Merge the information from both leagues into one league.

Finding Duplicates

To identify which leagues are really the same, simply click the 'Find Duplicates' button.  Bowler TRAC will compare leagues that look similar and present you with a list of possible duplicates.

Finding duplicates using computer software is a balancing act.  If you 'cast too wide a net' you will identify a lot of leagues that are not really duplicates.  If you do not cast the net wide enough, you miss leagues that really are duplicates.  Bowler TRAC uses methods which attempt to strike a good balance.  But since this is not an exact science, it will not find all duplicates and it will identify some leagues as duplicates that really are not.

Note: you can click the 'Find Duplicates' button as often as you wish.  There is no harm in re-running this function.  It is a good idea to do this regularly.

Reviewing (Merging) Possible Duplicates

Since identifying duplicates is not an exact science, Bowler TRAC does not automatically merge potential duplicates.  Rather, it presents a list of potential duplicates and allows you review them and make the final decision.  To review and merge a duplicate pair, highlight the pair in the list and click the 'Review' button.  You will then be presented with more information and given the option to merge the two leagues or to mark them as 'not the same'.

As you review possible duplicates, you will either merge them or mark the pair as 'not the same'.  If you want to re-review pairs you previously marked 'not the same' you can click (uncheck) the checkbox labeled '

Hide pairs marked not the same'.  Now, all previously identified duplicates will be displayed and can be reviewed again.

Merge Duplicate Leagues - Review Duplicate Leagues: Help

Review Potential Duplicate League

Purpose of Review

Since identifying duplicates is not an exact science, Bowler TRAC does not automatically merge potential duplicates.  Rather, it presents a list of potential duplicates and allows you review them and make the final decision.  This screen presents you with detailed information about each league so you can decide what should be done.  With this pair of leagues you can:

1.        Keep the first league (merge the second league into the first)

2.        Keep the second league (merge the first league into the second)

3.        Mark these leagues as 'not the same'

4.        Skip this pair (postpone the decision)

Keep First League

Clicking this button will cause the second league to be deleted and automatically move to the next pair of possible duplicates.

Before the second league is deleted, any information about the second league that does not already exist on the first league will be moved.

Keep Second League

Clicking this button will cause the first league to be deleted and automatically move to the next pair of possible duplicates.

Before the first league is deleted, any information about the first league that does not already exist on the second league will be moved.

Different Session

Clicking this button will cause the two leagues to be linked and the older league (based on start date) to be moved to history.

A league session is the occurrence (or re-occurrence) of a league.  For example, a league that played every September for the last three years would have three sessions (one for each year they played).  The 'View Leagues' screen shows only the most recent session of a league.

Not the Same

Clicking this button will cause the two leagues to be marked 'not the same

' and automatically move to the next pair of possible duplicates.

Bowler TRAC will retain this information indefinitely.  As a result, the next time you click 'Find Duplicates' (on the Remove Duplicate Leagues' screen) these two leagues will not be listed again as possible duplicates.

If you want to re-review pairs you previously marked 'not the same' you can uncheck to box labeled 'Hide pairs marked not the same' found on the 'Remove Duplicate Leagues' screen (the previous screen).

Next Pair

Clicking this button will move to the next pair of possible duplicates without merging or marking the current pair as 'not the same'.  The duplicate pair will stay in the list.

Previous Pair

Clicking this button will move to the previous pair of possible duplicates without merging or marking the current pair as 'not the same'.  The duplicate pair will stay in the list.

Merge Duplicate Events: Help

Shows help for merging duplicate leagues.

Remove Duplicate Leagues

Purpose of the Remove Duplicate League Tool

It is important to make sure all leagues in Bowler TRAC appear in the '

View Leagues' list only once.  If a league appears more than once, you may not have that league's complete history because part of the history is attached to one league, and the other to the duplicate league.  Creating a target group that targets all people who participated in the league before may not target everyone if the league's history is not complete.

The Remove Duplicate League Tool can greatly help reduce the number of duplicate leagues in that list by helping you with two important tasks

1.        Identify which leagues appear in the list more than once.

2.        Merge the information from both leagues into one league.

Finding Duplicates

To identify which leagues are really the same, simply click the 'Find Duplicates' button.  Bowler TRAC will compare leagues that look similar and present you with a list of possible duplicates.

Finding duplicates using computer software is a balancing act.  If you '

cast too wide a net' you will identify a lot of leagues that are not really duplicates.  If you do not cast the net wide enough, you miss leagues that really are duplicates.  Bowler TRAC uses methods which attempt to strike a good balance.  But since this is not an exact science, it will not find all duplicates and it will identify some leagues as duplicates that really are not.

Note: you can click the 'Find Duplicates' button as often as you wish.  There is no harm in re-running this function.  It is a good idea to do this regularly.

Reviewing (Merging) Possible Duplicates

Since identifying duplicates is not an exact science, Bowler TRAC does not automatically merge potential duplicates.  Rather, it presents a list of potential duplicates and allows you review them and make the final decision.  To review and merge a duplicate pair, highlight the pair in the list and click the 'Review' button.  You will then be presented with more information and given the option to merge the two leagues or to mark them as 'not the same'.

As you review possible duplicates, you will either merge them or mark the pair as 'not the same'.  If you want to re-review pairs you previously marked 'not the same' you can click (uncheck) the checkbox labeled '

Hide pairs marked not the same'.  Now, all previously identified duplicates will be displayed and can be reviewed again.

Merge Duplicate People - Review Potential Duplicate Events (Screen): Help

Review Potential Duplicate League

Purpose of Review

Since identifying duplicates is not an exact science, Bowler TRAC does not automatically merge potential duplicates.  Rather, it presents a list of potential duplicates and allows you review them and make the final decision.  This screen presents you with detailed information about each league so you can decide what should be done.  With this pair of leagues you can:

1.        Keep the first league (merge the second league into the first)

2.        Keep the second league (merge the first league into the second)

3.        Mark these leagues as 'not the same'

4.        Skip this pair (postpone the decision)

Keep First League

Clicking this button will cause the second league to be deleted and automatically move to the next pair of possible duplicates.

Before the second league is deleted, any information about the second league that does not already exist on the first league will be moved.

Keep Second League

Clicking this button will cause the first league to be deleted and automatically move to the next pair of possible duplicates.

Before the first league is deleted, any information about the first league that does not already exist on the second league will be moved.

Different Session

Clicking this button will cause the two leagues to be linked and the older league (based on start date) to be moved to history.

A league session is the occurrence (or re-occurrence) of a league.  For example, a league that played every September for the last three years would have three sessions (one for each year they played).  The 'View Leagues' screen shows only the most recent session of a league.

Not the Same

Clicking this button will cause the two leagues to be marked 'not the same

' and automatically move to the next pair of possible duplicates.

Bowler TRAC will retain this information indefinitely.  As a result, the next time you click 'Find Duplicates' (on the Remove Duplicate Leagues' screen) these two leagues will not be listed again as possible duplicates.

If you want to re-review pairs you previously marked 'not the same' you can uncheck to box labeled 'Hide pairs marked not the same' found on the 'Remove Duplicate Leagues' screen (the previous screen).

Next Pair

Clicking this button will move to the next pair of possible duplicates without merging or marking the current pair as 'not the same'.  The duplicate pair will stay in the list.

Previous Pair

Clicking this button will move to the previous pair of possible duplicates without merging or marking the current pair as 'not the same'.  The duplicate pair will stay in the list.