Protected Fields

Protected fields keep two records from matching in Dedupely Intelligence when a certain field value differs between them. Use them for values that should never be overwritten by a merge, like external IDs from your ERP or billing system. You can protect up to 5 fields, and choose how blank values are treated.

When to use Protected fields

• External IDs: two contacts with different ERP Customer Numbers are different customers, even if their names and emails look alike.
• Values that should never be overwritten: like a billing account number or a contract ID.
• Separate entities with similar data: two branches of the same company, each with its own ID.

How to set up Protected fields

1. Go to Duplicate Searches and open Dedupely Intelligence under Contacts, Companies or Leads.
2. Click Protected fields at the top right.
3. Under Never match values on differing fields, click Add a field and choose the field. Add up to 5 fields.
4. Choose how blank values are treated:

• None can be blank: records match only if every record has a value in the field, and the values are the same.
• At least one must not be blank: records with a blank value can still match, as long as at least one record has a value.
• All can be blank: blank values never keep records from matching. Only different values do.

5. Click Save.

What happens next

• Records with different values in a Protected field stop matching after the next background scan.
• Your Protected fields are saved, so they apply to every scan.
• Nothing changes in your CRM. Protected fields only change which records Dedupely Intelligence matches.

Troubleshooting

A match I expected is missing. One of your Protected fields might differ between the records. Check the field values, or remove the field from Protected fields.

I can't add another field. You can protect up to 5 fields.

My Protected fields weren't saved. They're saved on every paid plan, not in the free trial. See Dedupely Pricing.

FAQs about Protected fields

• How many fields can I protect? Up to 5.
• Do Protected fields work in my own Duplicate Searches? No. They're for Dedupely Intelligence. In your own searches, use Match Settings and Filters.
• Do Protected fields change my CRM? No. They only change which records match.
• What's a good field to protect? An external ID, like an ERP Customer Number or a billing account number.