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  • Is there any 'logic' difference between Fuzzy & Strict duplicate checking rules?
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Author Topic: Is there any 'logic' difference between Fuzzy & Strict duplicate checking rules?  (Read 2013 times)

jsherk

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Is there any 'logic' difference between Fuzzy & Strict duplicate checking rules?
April 29, 2010, 01:55:21 pm
I am wondering if the logic behind Fuzzy and Strict are actually different or are they the same?

If I setup identical rules in both of them, will they find the exact same matches or will there be some kind of difference?

Do they use different code for checking or the same code?

Thanks

Hershel

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Re: Is there any 'logic' difference between Fuzzy & Strict duplicate checking rules?
April 29, 2010, 02:06:58 pm
I think you can find the answer to that here http://en.flossmanuals.net/CiviCRM/DedupingAndMerging Each type of rule has a different "definition of what constitutes a match" so no, they will not necessarily return the same results.
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jsherk

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Re: Is there any 'logic' difference between Fuzzy & Strict duplicate checking rules?
April 29, 2010, 02:28:53 pm
It says this:
"Fuzzy rules are configured with a looser definition of what constitutes a match because they are used in instances where human intelligence can be applied to decide whether a match is accurate or not;"

That would lead me to believe that the underlying CODE is actually different.

But is this 'looser definition' just referring to how the default fields/weights are set up?

If the code is the same, then the ONLY difference between Fuzzy and Strict is which fields and weights and threshold you choose.

It also says:
"Default fuzzy rules are automatically used to check for possible duplicates when contacts are added or edited via the CiviCRM user interface."

This partially incorrect, because when you use the API (and I think Profiles too) it uses the Strict default rule, not the Fuzzy!

Donald Lobo

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Re: Is there any 'logic' difference between Fuzzy & Strict duplicate checking rules?
April 29, 2010, 07:42:46 pm

yes, you are right in that the ONLY difference between Fuzzy and Strict is which fields and weights and threshold you choose.

from our perspective, using the API constitutes using it in an automated manner (i.e. we have no idea who's calling the api and from where etc) and hence the strict rule is used

would be good to allow folks to specify what dedupe rule to use for any operation, but thats a project for the future or a contribution from the community that is waiting to happen :0

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jsherk

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Re: Is there any 'logic' difference between Fuzzy & Strict duplicate checking rules?
April 29, 2010, 08:01:05 pm
Ok thanks... just making sure I understand correctly!

I will be modifying our installation to allow for profiles to choose the dedupe rule they want, and I also want to add a pre_dedupe hook so I can write my own duplicates matching code ... I will definitely contribute it back once I get it working properly.

Thanks

xavier

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Re: Is there any 'logic' difference between Fuzzy & Strict duplicate checking rules?
August 14, 2010, 04:40:45 am
Hi, any progress on that one ?

Did you come up with some code ?

We got another discussion running recently on that topic recently (well, it was about fussy & strict ;) :

http://forum.civicrm.org/index.php?topic=14956.0

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  • CiviCRM Community Forums (archive) »
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  • Is there any 'logic' difference between Fuzzy & Strict duplicate checking rules?

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