OneMerge create a Custom Matching Rule

As well as the standard Salesforce Matching Rules, you can also setup Custom Matching Rules based upon your requirements.  

To create a Custom Matching Rule, follow these steps:   

1. Within your Salesforce instance, go to Setup.  
2. Search for Matching Rules.   
3. Click on the ‘New Rule’ button.  
4. Select the Object that the new Matching Rule applies to.  
5. Select Next.

The fields available to complete are:  

Rule Details  

• Rule Name = The unique name of the Rule   
• Unique Name = Automatically populated with the API name of the Rule  
• You can enter a description of the rule and how it works for other employees’ knowledge 

Matching Criteria  

• Field = Select the field that the Matching Criteria relates to  
• Matching Method = Two options, Exact or Fuzzy (Note if fuzzy is selected then the field values do not have to be an exact match, just similar)  
• Match Blank Fields = If this is selected, then if the field is blank in records, they will be considered a Match  

The following is an example for the Account Object and the Matching Rule will be for the Billing Address, where all address fields have an exact match.   

• Rule Name = Account Billing Address  
• Unique Name = Account_Billing_Address  
• Description = Matching Rule for Accounts where the Billing Address is Exact Match for all fields.  
• Field = Billing City Matching Method = Exact  
• Field = Billing Street Matching Method = Exact  
• Field = Billing Country Matching Method = Exact  
• Field = Billing State/Province Matching Method = Exact   
• Field = Billing ZIP/Postal Code Matching Method = Exact  
• Click on Save.  
• Click on Activate.   

The Custom Matching Rule is now Active for the Account Object, exact match Billing Address.  

NOTE: If you wish to create a Custom Matching Rule, you will need to ensure the Salesforce Standard Matching Rules are deactivated. To do this, follow these steps:  

1. Within your Salesforce instance, go to Setup.  
2. Search for Matching Rules.   
3. In this example, we will deactivate the ‘Standard Account Matching Rule’.  

• Select the ‘Standard Account Matching Rule’.  
• Click on the ‘Deactivate’ Button.   

The Salesforce Standard Account Matching Rules have now been deactivated.  

The following demo provides an example of how to setup a Custom Matching Rule.

For further information about setting up Custom Matching Rules, please do not hesitate to contact us at hello@onemerge.co.uk.

Article last reviewed: 2026-02-17