The Matching step controls how imported records are linked to existing Young Person (YP) records in Core+. You can choose from three matching modes and configure key or compound field mappings to ensure records are matched accurately. You must be in the Matching step of the import process before completing the steps below.
Choose a matching mode
Select one of the matching modes on the left:
Young Person Ref: Select the Young Person Ref (YP Ref) column from the drop-down list. The available columns are the column headers in your import file.
Young Person Details: Matches to the column headers in your import file. If this is not correct, select an alternative column name from the drop-down list.
Custom: Map specific criteria using one or more key or compound fields.
Matching options
Use the buttons below to manage your column mappings before setting up key and compound fields.
Click Auto Map to automatically map the import file column names to the database fields. Only use this if the heading names are identical to the database fields. Automatically mapped fields can be edited.
Click Load Mappings to load previously saved mappings. Saved mapping files can only be used if the import file uses the same field names. New, changed, or additional field names will not be mapped. Legacy mapping files (created in a previous version of the import tool) can also be used.
Click Save Mappings to select a folder and filename for your download, where your browser allows this.
Click Reset Mappings to clear any custom key or compound mappings.
Click Options to define the matching of alias names and partial matching on names.
You can filter one or more columns to control what is displayed or excluded.
Enter search text in the field below the column header, then hover your cursor over the magnifying glass icon to select the criteria.
Click Reset to clear.
Right-click a column header to sort ascending or descending.
Set up key and compound mappings
Key and compound mappings are set in the Match Mapping Details dialog.
Key mappings: Match on a single unique field, such as a young person's reference number, National Insurance (NI) number, or NHS number. Key matching takes precedence and is faster than compound matching.
Compound mappings: Check a combination of fields at once, such as given name, family name, date of birth, and address line one. Use these when you do not have a unique field like YP Ref. Compound matching is slower and should complement key matching or be used as a last resort. A minimum of two compound mappings is required.
⚠️ Warning: Take care when using key mappings. The value you map to must be unique. If you incorrectly map to a non-unique field such as GivenName, Core+ takes that name as the key and updates every matching record in the database.
To open the Match Mapping Details dialog, click Add (or +Add for a compound mapping). To change an auto-mapped field, click Edit on its row. To clear one, click Remove.
In the Match Mapping Details dialog
Once the dialog is open, complete the following fields to configure your mapping.
Select the Core+ database field from the drop-down list.
Select the match type:
Key: Matches on the selected database field. Returns any young person where a single mapped key field matches.
Compound: Use if there are no key fields. Returns any young person where all mapped fields match.
Select where to map from:
Source Column: Select the source column from your import file.
Static Value: Enter a value that is common to all records but not in your import file, such as a school name or a specific date.
Click OK.
Matching options in the dialog
The Match Mapping Details dialog also includes options to refine how names are matched. Configure these as needed.
Match Alias toggle: Turn on to search alias names in the Core+ database.
Match Partial Given Name: Select the number of characters to match on. For example, set to four, Dani matches Daniel or Daniell. Matching counts from the start of the name only.
Match Partial Family Name: Enter the number of characters to match on.
When you have selected how to match your records, click Next.