Find Similar
Before creating new objects, matching algorithms can be used to search for similar existing objects in STEP, ensuring duplicates are not created.
Matching logic can be applied to three different 'Search Before Create' methods:
- The 'Duplicate Handler' on an 'Initiate Item' workflow screen in Web UI. For more information, see the Initiate Item Screen topic in Web User Interfaces / Web UI Getting Started documentation here.
- The 'Find Similar' search on an 'Add Reference' action in Web UI. For more information, see the Add Reference Action topic in the Web User Interfaces / Web UI Getting Started documentation here.
- 'GetSimilarObject' SOAP web service request. For more information, see the getSimiliarObjects topic in the CMDM Solution Enablement documentation here.
The key to Find Similar functionality is the matching setup that the customer creates and uses for duplicate handling. Every time a user enters data into the search fields and clicks OK, the Find Similar search checks the match code values involved, executes the relevant matching algorithm, and provides a set of results, if any are found. If a user is not getting the expected results, one area to assess is the algorithm configured in the 'Duplicate Handler' parameter in the 'Add Reference Action' properties. Two bind types work with the Find Similar functionality:
- First Match Object
- Second Match Object
A relevant match code and matching algorithm needs to be set up before attempting to use the Find Similar Search tab. For more information about setting up and using matching algorithms, see the Configuring Matching Algorithms topic of this documentation here.
The matching logic is applied by comparing potential new objects with that of existing objects. More specifically, match codes are generated for the incoming objects, compared to existing objects with similar match codes, and if matches are found, a list is returned of all matched objects with rank scores that met or exceeded the configured threshold in the request. Using this list, the user can decide whether to create a new object or use an existing one.