CiviCRM Community Forums (archive)

Hi,

I'm running a custom module that adds some tables of its own to track additional data on CiviCRM contacts.  Naturally, these tables are not included when we merge duplicate contacts, leaving orphaned records in these tables.

Is there a way (or tips on how I could /make/ a way) to have these tables included in the dedupe/merge process?

Thanks,
TM

Hi Eric,

I didn't realize the _post hook would fire on dedupe, but I guess it makes sense. It would fire on the delete of the one contact, right?  But then, it would need to know the contact_id of both contacts, and I can't see how it would.

Seems like I would need a "merge" hook, which doesn't exist.

Or, there may be a way to use _postProcess hook when the merge duplicates form is submitted. Will have to look into that.

Thanks,
TM

i suspect a merge hook or a "pre" postProcess hook (i.e. before the postProcess is executed) is needed here

the main issue is if u've used FK constraints to link your tables to the civicrm tables (specifically contact), which you should to follow good db design practices, the merge will throw an FK constraint error when trying to delete the contact.

twomice: wanna submit a patch to incorporate a merge hook. also document it on:

http://wiki.civicrm.org/confluence/display/CRMDOC32/CiviCRM+hook+specification#CiviCRMhookspecification-hookcivicrmalterMailParams

and create a test function in civitest.module.sample

lobo