Data Management: Clean and Normalise Field Values
Access Level
Owner access required
Overview
Data Management helps you clean and standardise data entries in your group. You can identify variations of the same team name or venue and merge them into a single canonical value.
This ensures consistent data across assessments and makes reporting more accurate.
How to Access
- From the main menu, click Admin
- Click Data Management
What This Page Does
Data Management shows you all unique values entered for teams and venues across all assessments in your group. You can search, select similar values, and merge them into one standardised entry.
When you merge values, all existing assessments that used the old values will be updated to use the new canonical value.
Page Sections
Field Type Selection
Two buttons let you choose which type of data to manage:
- Teams - Shows all team names from Team A and Team B fields
- Venue - Shows all venue names entered across assessments
Click a button to view and manage that field type.
Filter and Target Value
Filter
Type keywords to narrow down the list of values shown in the table below.
Target Value
Enter the canonical name you want to use after merging. All selected values will be changed to this name.
Data Table
The table shows:
- Select checkbox - Check boxes to select values for merging
- Value - The current name as it appears in assessments
- Count - How many assessments use this value
Values are listed alphabetically.
How to Merge Values
Merging combines multiple variations into one standardised name.
Example Use Case
Your assessments might have:
- "Melbourne Tigers"
- "Melbourne tigers"
- "Tigers"
- "Melb Tigers"
You can merge all of these into "Melbourne Tigers".
Steps to Merge
- Click Teams or Venue to select the field type
- Optional: Use the filter to search for similar values
- Check the boxes next to all values you want to merge
- Enter the canonical name in the Target Value field
- Click Merge Selected
- Review the confirmation modal showing:
- All values being changed
- The target value they will become
- Click Yes, Merge Values to confirm
Result: All selected values are replaced with the target value across all assessments.
Merge Confirmation Modal
Before merging, a modal appears showing:
Source Values
All values you selected for merging
Target Value
The canonical name all values will become
Warning Message
A reminder that this action is irreversible
You must confirm the merge by clicking Yes, Merge Values.
Tips
Check Before Merging
Always review the list of source values and target value carefully before confirming.
Start Small
Try merging a few similar values first before tackling larger cleanups.
Use Consistent Naming
Establish naming conventions for teams and venues to reduce future variations.
Refresh After Changes
Click the Refresh button after merging to see the updated data table.
Field Requirements
Target Value, required
You must enter a target value before the Merge Selected button becomes active.
At Least Two Values Selected
You must select at least two values to merge.
Common Tasks
Clean Up Team Name Variations
- Click Teams
- Use the filter to search for a team name
- Select all variations of the same team
- Enter the correct team name in Target Value
- Click Merge Selected
- Confirm the merge
Standardise Venue Names
- Click Venue
- Scroll through the list or use the filter
- Select duplicate or similar venue names
- Enter the standardised venue name in Target Value
- Click Merge Selected
- Confirm the merge
Search for Specific Values
- Select the field type
- Type keywords in the Filter field
- The table updates to show matching values only
- Click the X button to clear the filter
Troubleshooting
Merge Selected Button is Disabled
Symptoms
The button appears greyed out and cannot be clicked
Solution
- Ensure you have selected at least two checkboxes in the table
- Ensure you have entered a value in the Target Value field
- Both conditions must be met to activate the button
Changes Not Appearing
Symptoms
After merging, the old values still appear in the table
Solution
- Click the Refresh button to reload the data
- The merged values should now show the updated canonical name
No Values Appear in the Table
Symptoms
The table is empty after selecting a field type
Common Causes
- No assessments exist in your group yet
- All existing assessments have empty values for this field
- Data is still loading
Solution
- Wait a moment for data to load
- Click Refresh to reload the data
- If still empty, create some assessments with team or venue data first
Important Warnings
Irreversible Action
Merging values is permanent and cannot be undone. All assessments using the old values will be updated immediately. Always double-check before confirming a merge.
Group Wide Impact
Changes affect all assessments in your group, including historical records. Consider the impact on existing reports and statistics.
Related Pages
- Assessments Management - View and manage user assessments
- Assessment Templates - Configure assessment fields
- Group Settings - Configure your group