# Incremental model (Merge) without update part 2

**URL:** <https://discourse.getdbt.com/t/incremental-model-merge-without-update-part-2/18849>\
**Category:** Help\
**Tags:** incremental, dbt-core\
**Created:** [March 28, 2025, 1:45pm UTC](https://discourse.getdbt.com/t/incremental-model-merge-without-update-part-2/18849 "2025-03-28T13:45:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![anatoliy4041](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de0a6/32.png) [@anatoliy4041](https://discourse.getdbt.com/u/anatoliy4041)\
**Post date:** [March 28, 2025, 1:45pm UTC](https://discourse.getdbt.com/t/incremental-model-merge-without-update-part-2/18849/1 "2025-03-28T13:45:21Z")

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Hi,

I would like to revisit a previously discussed question: [incremental model (Merge) without update](https://discourse.getdbt.com/t/incremental-model-merge-without-update/7505). It seems the topic was closed, but I think it was somewhat overlooked. The solution mentioned by joellabes with the `NOT EXISTS` clause works well when scanning all matching tables. However, there are cases where we would like to use a rolling match (i.e., partial matching) to avoid unnecessary complexity and costs associated with duplicating data.

Is it possible to request conditional functionality on the [when matched then update set](https://github.com/dbt-labs/dbt-core/blob/065ab2ebc2104635770f49ca48bc434532d3ef41/core/dbt/include/global_project/macros/materializations/models/incremental/merge.sql#L38-L43) lines? Specifically, if `merge_update_columns` is empty, I tested it out, but for some reason, it still updates all columns. I did custom macros by simply chopping that line off but it really looks like overkill and other may be interested in such feature

Thank you!