Pipeline Step to Resolve Target Item

Question

I had an issue with a pipeline step "Resolve Target Item".

Env-nt:

• Sitecore.NET 9.0.1 (rev. 171219)

• Data Exchange Framework 2.0.1

Installed packages:

• Data Exchange Framework SDK 2.0.1

• Sitecore Provider for Data Exchange Framework 2.0.1(to store items in Sitecore)

My goal is to read list of entities from web service and create/update items in Sitecore. In the documentation we had following info:

If a matching item is found, that item is set as the target object in the pipeline context. This means that during the mapping process, this is the object that values will be written to. If no matching item is found, a new item is created. The new item is set as the target object in the pipeline context.

However, in my solution new items created(I have duplicated items if I run the batch several times), but not updated. It seems that it can't understand which value to use as a unique one (just a clue). I verified the solution several times, but still can't find the root cause.

3 screenshots for the corresponding Sitecore item are added below.

Update:

Value Accessor:

Target folder(with duplicated items):

Thank you in advance for any suggestion/idea.

Answer 1

Sitecore DEF will use index queries to identify the existing items. If you get duplicates and your DEF configuration seems ok, you can run process and check your search logs. Those should list the queries that are performed for identification.

If you test those queries against your index (by default the sitecore_master_index and I don't know of any setting to change that) you will probably not find any items (although you should if they exist in the master database).

So, in that case: you need to find out why those items are not in your master index.

Based on the feedback in the comments, we can indeed conclude that a change to the default settings for this index in your solution was the root cause.

To be honest, I try to avoid making changes to the master index, just for cases like this. I'd rather create a custom index if I need something changed...

ps: if you have ideas to make Sitecore better (and I think the idea of making this index setting configurable might be a good idea), make sure to let them know through support or the uservoice.