What Happens When You Change a Proposed Merge to an Unmerged Match?

Question

Glad you asked!

When you change a Proposed Merge to an Unmerged Match, it puts the merge on hold.  It does not put the merge in line for research.  It does not reject the merge.  It just puts it on indefinite Hold until someone discovers it!

If you are not the Profile Manager, but you think that a merge needs more research before it is completed, and YOU are unwilling or unable to do the research, please do not change the Proposed Merge to an Unmatched Merge.  Let the Profile Managers do that.  This is especially true if there is no question of the two profiles are duplicates but the data needs to be ironed out.

Also, everyone should check, under Pending Merges, the Unmatched Merges that they have initiated.  They are just sitting there in limbo waiting for someone to work on them, and YOU are the one who started it.  It may be time for you to start researching those so the merges can be completed.

Comments

Hi Vic,

Thanks for this gentle reminder :)

Have a great week!

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This category seems overused. When the persons are obviously the same but have some data that does not line well, these seem like they should be merged AND document the differences in the biography in the Research Notes section.

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Marty, You are right! Robin added a good answer addressing that situation.

Answer 1

And per our Wikitree Merging Guidelines

What if the data or parents for the two profiles don't exactly match?

This is often true. It shouldn't stop you from doing the merge if the two profiles represent the same person.

Before the merge is completed, you or the person completing it will be prompted to select which data fields and which parents to keep. The biographies and sources will be combined, along with memories, notes, photos, etc.

After the merge is completed, you'll be able to edit anything, just like on any other profile.

Comments

Robin, Thanks for this addition.  I know that many merges are put into the Unmerged Match state because the parents don't match.

To add to your answer, if you do merge duplicate profiles where one or both parents differ, be sure to include the profile numbers for the parents you don't choose as parents, AND explain why the ones you chose are correct.  (It might also be helpful to put a note in the profile for the mother or father not chosen.)

Answer 2

Thank you for this reminder Vic!  I will add it to my to-do list to check  the unmerged matches under my pending merges which I initiated.

Answer 3

Great reminder, Vic. I'll be checking my list, twice.