Aglet

Prioritize Duplicate Header Mapping Defects

Repeated labels are not automatically an invalid user mistake. Some exports legitimately use the same name for fields in different groups. Prioritize based on whether the importer preserves distinct columns or silently loses information, then assess how clearly users can identify and correct an ambiguous mapping before importing.

Decide where the work belongs

  1. Identify the actual assignment harm

    Compare distinct source values with their intended and saved destinations. Record missing values, overwrites, or duplicate assignment separately. A clear rejection has a different consequence from a successful import that maps two repeated headings through one shared key and silently loses one column’s information.

  2. Group by producer and header pattern

    Find which relevant export tools produce repeated labels and whether the pattern is predictable. Compare exact duplicates with labels that differ only after normalization. Estimate reach from observed import layouts rather than assuming every mapping failure belongs to this issue or every duplicate heading is unsupported.

  3. Evaluate mapping and correction effort

    Try identifying each repeated column through sample values, position, and any disambiguating labels the preview provides. Check whether a documented source rename is practical. Include reconciliation effort for already accepted imports when users must revisit the original file to discover which repeated column supplied a destination value.

What to carry forward

Choose priority using confirmed value loss, affected producer reach, mapping clarity, and recovery cost. Assign a review trigger for silent acceptance or another duplicate-label pattern. Keep a narrow source-format limitation explicit if that is the current contract, rather than implying the importer supports every repeated heading layout.

Technical background: DuckDB documentation.

Keep the decision with the work.

Use a Work Item in Aglet to record the problem, the evidence you have, and the next decision. Add an owner and priority, then keep updates in the discussion so the next person can follow the reasoning.

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