MatchUp Object:Introduction

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Overview

MatchUp Object is an extremely fast and powerful programmer's tool that can be integrated into custom applications to eliminate duplicate records. Because merge/purge and data quality initiatives go hand in hand, the powerful features of this tool fulfill the needs of many companies. Reducing printing costs, increasing response rates, maintaining an efficient database, and achieving better quality data are just some of the many benefits of the merge/purge process.

MatchUp Object allows developers to customize exactly how to merge and purge data to suit their business needs. This gives people the flexibility to integrate MatchUp at different points of their processes, from point of entry to batch processing on the back end.

Component Matching

MatchUp Object can find matches in any combination of over 35 different components — from common ones like address, city, state, ZIP™, name, and phone — to lesscommon elements, such as email address, company, gender, and social security number. Developers can even specify their own custom components. Each set of rules for matching is referred to as a matchcode, and a matchcode can apply up to 16 rules at a time. These rules are specified as combinations of components. A commonly used combination would be {Last Name + Street # + Street Name + ZIP Code™}, while another combination in the same matchcode would substitute PO Box™ for Street # and Street Name. With these options, the number of potential matching rules is limitless.

Matching Algorithms

MatchUp Object is a very sophisticated tool. If record 1 and 3 match with combination #1 in a matchcode, and record 2 and 3 match using combination #2- MatchUp Object will use inferred matching and put records 1, 2, and 3 into the same group. It can split address, city/state/ZIP and name fields on the fly, as well as recognize phonemes like "ph" and "sh," nicknames (Liz, Beth, Betty, Elizabeth), and alternate spellings of names (Gene, Jean, Jeanne).

MatchUp Object can also handle nearly-exact strings of characters, such as "Lewis" vs. "Ewis," and "Palacino" vs. "Al Pacino" as well as initials such as "John Smith" to "J Smith." These are just a few examples of the powerful matching algorithms at your disposal: Exact Match; Phonetic; Soundex; Containment; Frequency; Frequency Near; Fast Near; Accurate Near; Vowels Only; Consonants Only; Alphas Only; and Numerics Only.

Speed

Speed also is an important feature of MatchUp Object. It can process an average of 10 to 50 million records per hour. MatchUp Object includes a 64-bit version to take advantage of newer processors and operating systems. The COM and .NET version of MatchUp Object eases integration with Microsoft languages.

MatchUp Object Features & Benefits

• Fast processing, about 10-50 million records per hour
• Extremely flexible and customizable
• 22 powerful matching algorithms
• Split name, address, and city/state/ZIP fields on the fly
• Easy to learn and use
• Sample Code provided in C#, VB.NET, C++, FoxPro, Java, SQL Server
• Free tech support