> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.shovels.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Understanding the is_representative Field

> Learn how the is_representative field in EDL data identifies the main contractor record within a group of related contractors.

In Shovels' Enterprise Data License (EDL) deliveries, the `is_representative` field helps you understand contractor group relationships.

## What It Means

The `is_representative` field is a boolean that indicates whether a contractor record is the **main representative** of a `contractor group_id`.

| Value   | Meaning                                                                       |
| ------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `TRUE`  | This record contains the canonical/preferred information for the entire group |
| `FALSE` | This is a related contractor in the group, not the primary record             |

## How Group IDs Work

The `group_id` is a unique identifier that links together multiple contractors operating under the same parent organization.

**Example:** A national HVAC company might pull permits under regional subsidiaries. Our grouping algorithm:

1. Identifies these relationships
2. Links them with a shared `group_id`
3. Designates one record as the representative

## Why This Matters

### Prevent Double-Counting

When analyzing large contractor datasets, `is_representative` helps prevent counting the same organization multiple times under different names or licenses.

### Avoid Duplicate Outreach

Use the representative record to avoid contacting the same organization through different subsidiary entries.

### Accurate Market Analysis

Get a true count of unique contractor organizations, not just contractor records.

## Using is\_representative

```sql theme={null}
-- Get unique contractor organizations (one per group)
SELECT * FROM contractors
WHERE is_representative = TRUE

-- Get all contractors including subsidiaries
SELECT * FROM contractors
```

## Related Articles

* [Contractor deduplication](/docs/knowledge-base/edl/contractor-deduplication)
* [EDL overview](/docs/knowledge-base/edl/overview)