{{ transformations:naturalmerge.png}}
====== NATURAL MERGE ======
Category: Transform / Advanced\\

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=====Description=====
This action merges two tables based on columns with the same name.

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=====Use cases=====
Use this action auto-merge two tables without having to manually select specific columns.

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=====Action settings=====
^Setting ^Description ^
|Other table |Select the second table to merge into the current dataset. |
|Mode |Options:\\ //Lookup// (for each row in this table, get any one matching row from the other table and ignore other rows),\\ //Inner join// (mere only rows with values that exist in both tables),\\ //Left join// (for each row get all matching rows from the other table),\\ //Full join// (merge all matching and non-matching rows from the other table).|

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=====Remarks=====
Merges are based on column names that match //precisely// between the two tables.  All columns, aside from the matching columns, are appended to the original dataset based on matching values.

If there are no matching columns between the two tables, all columns from the //other table// will be appended to the original table, without values.

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=====Examples=====
**EXAMPLE#1:**  Perform a //natural merge// on the following tables, based on their matching columns.

**Table 1:** Names with addresses\\

^FirstName  ^LastName  ^Address  ^
|Robert |Smith |123 Any Street |
|Julie |Rodriguez |999 South Street |
|Tammy |Thomas |454 North Avenue |

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**Table 2:** Names with contact information\\

^FirstName  ^LastName  ^PhoneNum  ^Email ^
|Julie |Rodriguez |222-222-2222 |julie@myemail.com |
|Tammy |Thomas |333-333-3333 |tammy@myemail.com |
|Robert |Smith |111-111-1111 |robert@myemail.com |

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**Action parameters:**

> Other table is "Table 2"
> Mode is "Lookup"

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**Result:**\\
^FirstName  ^LastName  ^Address  ^PhoneNum  ^Email ^
|Robert |Smith |123 Any Street |111-111-1111 |robert@myemail.com |
|Julie |Rodriguez |999 South Street |222-222-2222 |julie@myemail.com |
|Tammy |Thomas |454 North Avenue |333-333-3333 |tammy@myemail.com |

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**EXAMPLE #2:**  Perform a //natural merge// on the following tables.  Note that the tables //do not contain any matching column names//.

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**Table 1:** Names with addresses\\

^FirstName  ^LastName  ^Address  ^
|Robert |Smith |123 Any Street |
|Julie |Rodriguez |999 South Street |
|Tammy |Thomas |454 North Avenue |

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**Table 2:** Names with contact information\\

^FName  ^LName  ^PhoneNum  ^Email ^
|Julie |Rodriguez |222-222-2222 |julie@myemail.com |
|Tammy |Thomas |333-333-3333 |tammy@myemail.com |
|Robert |Smith |111-111-1111 |robert@myemail.com |

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**Action parameters:**

> Other table is "Table 2"
> Mode is "Lookup"

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**Result:**\\
^FirstName  ^LastName  ^Address  ^PhoneNum  ^Email ^FName  ^LName  ^PhoneNum  ^Email ^
|Robert |Smith |123 Any Street |111-111-1111 |robert@myemail.com |  |  |  |  |
|Julie |Rodriguez |999 South Street |222-222-2222 |julie@myemail.com |  |  |  |  |
|Tammy |Thomas |454 North Avenue |333-333-3333 |tammy@myemail.com |  |  |  |  |



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=====See also=====

  * [[transformations:crossmerge|Cross merge]]
  * [[transformations:intervalmerge|Interval merge]]
  * [[transformations:merge|Merge another table]]