A master record is the record retained after a duplicate group is removed or merged. Datablist calls this the Record to keep.
The retained record matters because its ID survives the operation. This is especially important when cleaned rows must be synchronized with a CRM.
Record to keep compared with merged values
The record to keep and the values to keep are separate choices.
In Remove mode, the retained record remains unchanged and the other records are deleted. In Merge mode, empty properties can be filled from duplicate records, text values can be combined, and conflict rules can select values from another record while the retained record ID stays the same.
📌 Short version
The record-to-keep rule selects the surviving row. Field rules select the values written into that row during a merge.
Datablist record-to-keep rules
Datablist supports:
- Most Complete
- Last updated
- First created
- Highest value on a property
- Lowest value on a property
- Matching value on a property
Most Complete is the default. The Free plan applies it automatically, while paid plans can configure another rule.
If a Matching value rule finds no qualifying record in a group, Datablist leaves that group in Needs review.
Use the merge duplicate leads guide for a CRM example, or see the complete Record to keep reference.