# Name Matching

When data is imported, it needs to be 'connected' to student accounts in Literatu. This allows the data to follow the student to form the data picture for the class, cohort and school.&#x20;

Literatu matches the imported data to Literatu students by name for PAT / Allwell and NAPLAN data because these data exports do not reliably contain any other unique identifying feature such as email address or SIS ID. For Ledger imports we prefer to use unique identifiers where possible, though can fall back to name if your school data sources don't support any of these. &#x20;

During any import, we will attempt to match names automatically wherever we can. However, there will always be a set of names we are unable to find a perfect match for.  &#x20;

When your data import is complete, we suggest you check for un-matched students. To do this:

1. Login to Literatu with your admin account
2. Click the hamburger menu which is on the top left of your Literatu screen.&#x20;
3. Select 'Name Matching' from the menu
4. Choose a data source to match (NAPLAN, PAT or Ledger)
5. Choose a calendar year to match. This should be the calendar year corresponding to the data you just imported, e.g. 2021&#x20;
6. Choose the name format in your imported data and in Literatu by completing the options sentences. For example, if your PAT data appears on screen in 'first name, last name' format but your Literatu data is in 'last name, first name' format, your options sentences would be: &#x20;
   * [ ] Names in PAT are in \[First Name + Last Name] format.&#x20;
   * [ ] Names in Literatu are in \[Last Name + First Name] format.
7. When you select the name formats, Literatu will add any perfect matches to the 'Perfect Matches' tab.&#x20;
8. The Fuzzy Matches' tab will show all partial matches or un-matched students. Please check each of these.  Fuzzy matches are done using an algorithm which will try and match the surname, then the first name as closely as possible. Some fuzzy match suggestions may be close and some may not be.&#x20;
9. If Literatu has fuzzy-matched a student incorrectly, click Search to clear the match and search for the correct student.&#x20;
10. If a student is no longer at your school and therefore doesn't have a Literatu account, ensure  the checkbox beside their name is unchecked.&#x20;
11. Where the checkbox is ticked on update, Literatu will match the data to the selected student. If the checkbox is unchecked, the match will not happen even if there is a fuzzy match present.  &#x20;
12. When all matches have been completed, click the blue 'Update Data' button.&#x20;
13. Matches only need to be done once per data source. Literatu will remember the matches for that data source going forward. For example, if Lex Smith in PAT is matched to Alexander James Smith in Literatu, we will automatically match the student when new PAT data is imported.&#x20;

![If the checkbox is unchecked the student names won't be matched. ](https://681421800-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MQQGsjkQYY0g5yk0IFZ%2Fuploads%2FqAIW5VsVPI1IoFaroB4V%2F2022-01-27_21-17-48.jpg?alt=media\&token=e35f730b-bcda-43fc-b581-da9492dd88cb)



