arches-resource-merge

arches-resource-merge is an Arches extension that adds a Bulk Data Manager ETL module for merging resource instances.

The extension installs a Merge Resources task. It merges two or more resource instances into a selected base resource, integrates data from the merge resources into the base resource, and deletes the merged resources after the merge completes. The task is reversible through the Bulk Data Manager task history undo action.

Requirements

• Python 3.10+
• Arches >=7.6.17,<8.3.0
• Django 4.2

Installation

Install the package into the same Python environment that runs the host Arches project:

pip install arches-resource-merge

For local development, install the checkout in editable mode:

pip install -e /path/to/arches-resource-merge

Configure The Host Arches Project

Add arches_resource_merge to the host project's INSTALLED_APPS before arches.app.

Example:

INSTALLED_APPS = (
    # Django, Arches, and project apps...
    "arches_resource_merge",
)

# Keep arches.app last so extension templates and static assets can override
# core Arches files when needed.
INSTALLED_APPS += ("arches.app",)

Apply Migrations

Run the extension migration from the host Arches project:

python manage.py showmigrations arches_resource_merge
python manage.py migrate arches_resource_merge

The migration registers the Bulk Data Manager ETL module:

name: Merge Resources
slug: Resources_merge
component: views/components/etl_modules/Resources_merge
backend module: Resources_merge.py
class: Resourcesmerge

Build Frontend Assets

After installing the extension or changing hosted apps, rebuild the host project's frontend assets:

python manage.py generate_frontend_configuration
npm install
npm run build_development

For production deployments, use the host project's production build command.

Basic Use

1. Start the host Arches application and Celery worker.
2. Open Bulk Data Manager.
3. Select Merge Resources.
4. Choose the base resource that should remain after the merge.
5. Choose the resources whose data should be merged into the base resource.
6. Run the task.
7. Use the task history undo action if a reversible merge needs to be rolled back.

Development

Useful local checks:

python -m py_compile arches_resource_merge/etl_modules/Resources_merge.py
python manage.py check
npm run build_development

Run database-changing commands only against an approved local or test database.