Trillium Quality enables you to include multi-matching processes in a project. Multi-matching is a process for more complex matching. You define multiple window keys, one for each matching criteria, and run multiple Relationship Linkers on the same set of records using the different window keys. For example, the standard window key is based on name and address data. You could create a second window key that is based on a more constant attribute, such as an e-mail address or social security number.
When multiple Relationship Linkers are run, the linking results from each process are recorded in a link file, and then transitivity of the links are resolved using the Resolve utility.Transitivity occurs when two records are linked together indirectly through a third record. For example, record A may have linked to record B in the first matching and record B may link to record C in a subsequent matching. When this happens, record A has linked to record C through transitivity. The Resolve utility will find all indirect links and reconcile the linking relationships. Resolved results are then applied to the data by the File Update utility and the final matching is performed.
The following pages present a sample project that uses three matching criteria: a matching based on name and address, e-mail address, and phone number. Your solution will depend on the data that your records contain, but basic procedures apply to any multi-matching projects.