Question

How does the Field Weight for Selected Indexes work in the Duplicate Detection Profile?

Answer

Each selected index is given a weight. When comparing records for duplicate detection, each match on the index applies the given weight, and the weights for each match in the record are summed to determine the total for the record.

The total for the record is compared to the Duplicate Replace and Duplicate Warn thresholds to then determine how to apply the selected Duplicate Handling to the records.

Additional Information

Example scenarios

• Bibliographic Duplicate Detection profile matches
  • ISBN with field weight of 50
  • LCCN with field weight of 50.
• Duplicate Warn threshold is set to 50.
• Duplicate Replace theshold is set to 100.
• Duplicate Handling is set to Replace.

Incoming record & existing database record have matches on 020 subfield a and 010 subfield a

• Total weight for record: 100.
• Result: Existing record is replaced with incoming record.

Incoming record & existing database record match on two 020 subfields a, and 010 subfield a

• Total weight for record: 150.
• Result: Existing record is replaced with incoming record.

Incoming record and existing record match on 010 subfield a, but not on any 020 fields.

• Total weight for record: 50.
• Result: In Cataloging, offered option to replace or add; in BulkImport, written to separate file to review later.

See also "How does Duplicate Warn/Replace in Bib or Authority Duplicate Detection work?"

• Article last edited: 22-Jun-2015