What is the right way to merge a profile into a new account profile?

Question

Hi all,

I have created a profile (Gamble-3588) and their tree for someone interested in their family history.  She is now interested in using WikiTree more and has created an account as Gamble-3592.  I wanted to merge Gamble-3588 into Gamble-3592 so that her logon / account information is preserved.  However, the merge direction is that the earlier profile (Gamble-3588) would be retained.  What is the right way to do this merge as I want it to be as seamless as possible to our new contributer?

Thanks,

James,

Comments

I have aided in at least two or three member merges, their newer account into my earlier created account, and none have mentioned any problems in logging in afterwards.

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Thanks Melanie; good to know.  The profiles have been merged (thanks Sandra) so hopefully all good.

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If there are any log-in problems post merge, then an email to  should do the trick.

Answer 1

When profiles are merged, the lower number is retained (if the last names are spelled the same) but everything else is merged.  The system will automatically keep the lower number no matter what direction the merge is initially proposed in.

Comments

There is nothing on https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Help:Merging#Direction_of_a_merge that indicates the merge into the lowest number is automatic. In fact, that it says "Therefore, the "direction" of a merge matters." tells me it isn't.

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If you propose to merge a lower number into a higher number, when the merge is processed the system will force a reverse of the merge.  It is not possible to keep the higher number.

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While this is correct, there is a big caution on it - the system only automatically forces the merge into the lower number when the LNABs are identical ... and identical means precisely that - every character in the LNAB must have the exact same ASCII code for them to be identical.  An upper case letter in one and lower case in the other are not identical, nor is a space in one that is not in the other, nor an accent or diacritical mark on one but not the other.

If there is any difference in the LNABs then the person doing the merge must be very careful that it goes to the correct LNAB.