When you search for an item in Business Central, you can see exactly how well each item matches your search criteria and how many deviations it has. This makes it possible to find the item that best fits a customer’s requirements, even when no item matches perfectly.
The mismatch list shows you which configuration values differ from what the customer asked for. For example, you can see that an item found has a 7-gear configuration when the customer wanted an 8-gear, or that it is a flow bike when the customer asked for a city bike.
When you select a matching item, you decide what happens to the master data. You can replace it with the master data from the item you selected, or keep the customer information instead. The system has a default setup, so you can confirm with OK and insert the item.
How the search shows deviations on each item
After you run a search in the search window, you can see how many deviations each item has based on your search criteria. To view the individual mismatches, you drill down into the mismatch list.
This gives you a clear overview of where each item differs from what you searched for. Take item number 1001 as an example. It has the configuration code “gear”, and the customer asked for an 8-gear value. The item found has a 7-gear value on the bike, so that single deviation is shown in the list.
Reading multiple mismatches on the same item
An item can have more than one deviation. Looking further down the list, you might find an item with two mismatches. The search returned a flow bike when you searched for a city bike, and it is a 7-gear bike when you searched for an 8-gear bike.
By comparing these mismatches, you can identify the item that fits the customer requirements the best. The structure is built on the master data you were searching for, so the results map directly to your search criteria.
Selecting an item and handling the master data
Once you have found the right item, you select it and choose match. This opens a window asking what you want to do with your master data.
You have two options. You can replace your existing master data with the master data on the selected item, or you can keep only the customer information. The window comes with a default setup, so in most cases you simply press OK.
When you confirm, the item is inserted with the chosen information, and you are ready to continue.
Q&A
How do I see how well an item matches my search in Business Central?
After running a search in the search window, you can see how many deviations each item has based on your search criteria. Drilling down into the mismatch list shows you exactly which configuration values differ from what you searched for.
Can an item have more than one mismatch?
Yes. An item can have several deviations at once. For example, the search might return a flow bike instead of a city bike and a 7-gear instead of an 8-gear. Both mismatches are listed so you can compare them.
What happens to my master data when I select a matching item?
When you select an item and choose match, a window asks what you want to do with your master data. You can either replace it with the master data on the selected item, or keep only the customer information. There is a default setup, and you confirm with OK to insert the item.