Appendix > Locator Number Merges

Caution: The following observations are based on an analysis of the Natural Gas tax records by Shiv Om, based on empirical evidence only. We are unaware of any official confirmation from the State, via literature or otherwise, that this is how their system works.

The State of Texas defines a locator number as being unique by Taxpayer, TaxSubType and Filing Period. You might believe, then, that a summary record will consist of only one locator number. This assumption is incorrect. It turns out that summary records get two or more locator numbers assigned to them all the time. Whenever two or more locator numbers point to the same summary record, we at Shiv Om say that the the two locator numbers have merged. The locator numbers still exist as individual IDs, but they are no longer attached to unique summary records.

Summary records are actually uniquely identified by the values of multiple fields, which we refer to as the summary record's primary key fields. When you submit an adjustment to the State of Texas, its system will search for a summary record with the same primary key field values as your adjustment. If it finds one, your adjustment will be assigned the same locator number as the summary record and be regarded as an amendment to that summary record. If no match is found, your adjustment is assigned a new locator number. It is, in fact, considered a new summary record.

During amendments, occasionally one or more fields of a summary record's primary key fields changes value. This can occur, for example, due to a data change. If the summary record's new primary key field values match the primary key values of an existing record at the time the field change occurred, the adjustments of both summary records merge into one single summary record. The locator numbers have been bound together permanently; a locator merge has occurred. At this point, any primary key field that changes on one locator number will change for all of its sibling locator numbers as well.