Fixing Duplicate Middle Initials

 

Problem

When looking at constituent records, sometimes they have an extra middle initial, like Joshua D D Billigmeier.

Source: This can happen when a constituent has "Joshua D" in the first name field and "D" in the middle name field. Since our system can't tell that there is an initial in the first name field, it gets displayed twice.

Usually this occurs when there have been multiple imports of the same constituent record. For instance, one client had a bunch of constituent records with just "Joshua D" + "Billigmeier," but importing a voter file filled in the middle name, making the name "Joshua D" "D" "Billigmeier." This can also happen with last names also, like "Joshua" "D" "D Billigmeier."

Solution 1: Remove the middle name

1. Create an audience with an "all of" criteria.

2. Add a rule for FirstName is like "% _" (Percent space underscore). This matches all first names that end with one character.

3. Add another rule for MiddleName "has a value."

4. Save the audience.

5. Sample the audience to make sure it looks ok, then click export.

6. Export ID and FirstName.

7. Open the spreadsheet and add a "middle name" column.

8. Save and close the spreadsheet.

9. Go to imports and start a new import.

10. Upload the file, then map the ID column to emanagerID, ignore the first name column, and then map the middle name column.

11. On the confirmation screen, check the box next to middle name to overwrite it, and also select the "Delete the existing information" option.

12. After the import, the middle name will be removed, and the name should display properly.

Solution 2: Fix the first name

1. Follow steps 1-6 from above.

2. Edit the first names in the spreadsheet.

3. Go to imports and start a new import.

4. Upload the file, then map the ID column to emanagerID and the FirstName field.

5. On the confirmation screen, check the box next to first name to overwrite it.

6. After the import, the first names will be fixed, and the name should display properly.

Variations

Sometimes names will have a period as well. You can make the following audience to look for bad data in the Advanced Editor:

Group 1

FirstName like "% _" or

FirstName like "% _." or

LastName like "_. %"

AND

Group 2

MiddleName has a value