Inexact Match Tables

Scenario

Sometimes the data that you are trying to match is not exactly the same, but you still want to be able to align and merge data, or create a report on likely matches.

Create two tables for data. The goal is to match up those records from table 1 where at least 3 of 5 fields match table 2.

Solution:

  • Create a table for each input.
  • Create a calculate table for the join.
  • Make the pipe from one of the table a pull pipe and the pipe from the other is a lookup pipe.
  • In the join table, for each record on the pull pipe, cycle thru all the records from the lookup pipe and flag those records where there is a match.