Tech Tip: Fuzzy Join

CaseWare IDEA 11.1 provides a robust plugin to perform a fuzzy join between IDEA databases, searching for any overlap or possible duplicates between the two databases. For example, you can perform an analysis to identify if there are address matches between a vendor and an employee database.

Simply follow these steps and let IDEA do the rest!

Download and install IDEA Labs, FUZZY JOIN.
Select two databases, along with a field in each database.
Set the similarity degree to indicate how exact of a match you want, with 100% being an exact match. This allows for differences when performing the match. The plugin creates a new database with the similarity degree and the information from the original databases.
Select “Fuzzy Join” from the IDEA Labs ribbon to run.
Follow the prompts: The Fuzzy Join will include exact duplicates and fuzzy duplicates. Click “OK.”
Select primary database to use in the Fuzzy Join. Click “OK.”
Select the secondary database to use in the Fuzzy Join (must be different than the primary database selected). Click “OK.”
Select fields for Fuzzy Join and set the similarity degree. Click “OK.”

Upon completion, you the following output will be generated:

IDEA 9 & 10 users, refer to Tech Tip: Fuzzy Duplicates & Fuzzy Match published 4/22/2020. To upgrade to IDEA 11.1, please contact [email protected].

If you need help using a specific IDEA feature or function or even have general technical questions, our Help Desk is ready to support you every step of the way!

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By Kris Willison
Kris joined the Professional Services team in January of 2015 as a Solutions Specialist. She has an extensive background in Software and Database Development accumulated from thirty years in IT support with twenty years’ experience in database development, cleanup, audit and migration using Microsoft Access. In her time with Audimation, she has received client praise for her “Top Tier” engagement on Monitor and Scripting projects. Kris enjoys looking at problems from new angles to determine the most efficient means of meeting the clients’ needs. Kris has been breeding/showing purebred Balinese cats since 1972 and Oriental Longhairs since 1996. She also hosts one of the largest online pedigree database sites for Siamese and related breeds with nearly 600 users worldwide.

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Tech Tip: Fuzzy Join

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