> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.kernel.ai/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.kernel.ai/app/actioning.md).

# Data actions

Data actions is where you review the account changes Kernel recommends for your CRM. There are three action queues: associate accounts, delete accounts, and merge accounts. A recommendation does not change your CRM on its own.

## Set the rules

The Rules page controls which recommendations Kernel creates and which records it protects. It covers parent associations, deletion criteria, duplicate routing, and deliberate duplicates.

[Open Rules in Kernel](https://app.kernel.ai/cleaning/cleaning-rules)

<figure><img src="/files/RTbxR6r2plu4HQW2PW2C" alt="Rules page in app.kernel.ai showing association safeguards"><figcaption><p>The Rules page controls which association, deletion, and merge recommendations are eligible for review.</p></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="info" %}
Saving a rule changes the configuration only. Rerun the cleaning action after a rule change, or after the same change was made directly in your CRM, so the queue reflects the current records. Reject a recommendation when you do not want it carried out.
{% endhint %}

## Choose an action

| Page                                                               | What it is for                                                                                               |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| [**Associate accounts**](https://app.kernel.ai/cleaning/associate) | Link a child account to an existing parent, correct its parent, or create a missing parent.                  |
| [**Delete accounts**](https://app.kernel.ai/cleaning/delete)       | Review records Kernel identified as no longer operating or otherwise eligible for removal under your rules.  |
| [**Merge accounts**](https://app.kernel.ai/cleaning/merge)         | Review duplicate groups, confirm the primary record that will remain, and combine the other records into it. |

## Actionable and actioned

Each action page has two views:

| View           | What it contains                                                      |
| -------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Actionable** | Recommendations that still need a decision or need to be carried out. |
| **Actioned**   | Recommendations that were completed or rejected.                      |

Rejecting a recommendation moves it out of the active queue without changing the CRM. It remains in Actioned as part of the history.

## Review and execute

Open a recommendation and check the proposed change, Kernel's reasoning, risk tier, and relevant CRM fields. For an association, confirm the proposed parent. For a merge, confirm the primary record. For a deletion, make sure the record should be removed.

To accept a recommendation, choose the action shown on the page, such as **Associate**, **Delete**, or **Merge**. The app shows a confirmation before it queues the CRM change. Choose **Reject** when the recommendation should not be carried out. You can make either decision for one item or a selected group.

{% hint style="info" %}
Safeguarded accounts are protected by default. Bulk confirmations show how many records will be acted on and call out protected records that will be skipped.
{% endhint %}

An association updates a parent relationship. Deletion and merging change CRM records more broadly, so review their confirmations carefully before continuing.

## Learn about each action

* [Associate accounts](/app/actioning/associate.md)
* [Delete accounts](/app/actioning/delete.md)
* [Merge accounts](/app/actioning/merge.md)