An exclusion database enables you to exclude certain entries in your main database that may be returned by a search. For example, if you are searching for a vendor on an invoice, there may be multiple addresses that relate to that vendor. You can set up an exclusion database that contains any irrelevant addresses and apply it to the "Select a database with records that should not be found by this locator (e.g. own addresses)" setting on the General tab of the Database Locator Properties window.

When a Database Locator is executed, the exclusion database is run first. Any search results that are returned with at least an 80% confidence are excluded from the main database when its search is performed.

When setting up an exclusion database, note the following.

• The exclusion database does not need to contain the same columns as the main database.

• The 80% confidence minimum requirement cannot be modified.

• The database should only contain columns that appear on the document. If additional columns are present, the 80% confidence minimum is unlikely to be met.

• The exclusion database must have at least three columns defined.

• The confidence of the alternatives is not displayed.

• The fields in the exclusion database should be physically close together on the document. This increases the chance of a higher confidence result.

A match for your own address is only excluded from main database search if its confidence is higher than 80%. As fields that are not found on the document lower the confidence for the match, you cannot select any fields that are not present on the document.