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Arborists are involved activley involved in improving the health of our global tree by proposing and completing merges
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Merges
Merges aren't always as obvious as they seem, and a bad merge can create a lot of problems, so getting on top of how to merge is really important
Dos and Don'ts
Do:
- Work on a specific surname (especially ones that may be common to a particular location in England). Date order the surname list and use the 'merging and matching' facility to locate possible duplicates for further review.
- Check if the parents of the duplicate profiles are different. If the parents have the same names and basic details, but different Wiki-IDs, a merge of those duplicate parents will also need to be proposed. Sometime the duplicates parents will go back several generations. In that case, you need to start from the 'top', checking the duplicates for each generation as you go.
- Research the merge prior to proposing. Source, source, source. ALWAYS try to find relevant sources before proposing a merge. Then use the merge proposal to get any further feedback from the profile managers.
- Make sure you propose the higher Wiki-ID be merged into the lower Wiki-ID. If the direction isn't right, when you go to 'merge them' you will see an option to reverse the direction of the merge at the end of the page.
- Follow through on the merges you propose. Monitor the merges that you have initiated. If they aren't completed by the profile managers, review again and do any final checks once they are default approved, then complete the merge if you are still satisfied it is appropriate.
- Check if there are any other duplicate family members, either in the same generation or the next most recent generation after completing the merge. Propose those merges if appropriate.
- Check the profile and clean up any dupicate informaion after completing the merge.
Don't:
- Do not merge unless you are certain that that the profiles relate to the same person.
- Do not choose a surname with a lot of spelling variations until you feel confident at merging
- Do not presume that two profiles are duplicates just based on names. If one profile has no date or place of birth, do your research to confirm that the duplicate profiles.
- Do not presume that duplicate' spouses or other relatives are duplicates. Check carefully, as sometimes one person, despite having the same name, has been incorrectly added as a spouse, a child or relative. In those situations the incorrect spouse or relative will need to be removed, rather than merged.
Finding Merges
- Check out these Data Doctor suggestions:
Pending Merges
- Go to your 'Pending Merges Initiated by Me' and complete any merges that are marked 'complete this merge after a final comparison'.
- Go to 'Pending Merges waiting for Action' and select a surname you are familiar with (pick one that is reasonably common).
- Go through the merges that are ready to be completed and complete the ones you feel confident to merge.
- Check which of the two profiles has been approved by one of the profile managers, and which are default approved because no-one has responded. If more research and sources are needed in order to make a decision about whether the two profiles are duplicates, do the research to satisfy yourself that either the merge is appropriate or if it should be rejected.
- Then and either complete the merge or reject the merge. If you reject the merge, you will be given an opportunity to provide a comment with the reason/s why you have rejected the merge.
Unmerged Matches
- Go to Unmerged matches. Under the 'pending merges' tab, select 'all unmerged matches'. You can also choose a specific surname. Review an unmerged match and add sources. Then either re-propose the merge or make it a rejected match.
Resources
- Project:Arborists
- Project:Arborists/New_Arborists
- Arborists Skills Stage 1
- Arborist Project Live cast
Requirements for applying for your Arborists Badge
To get ready to apply for your Arborists Badge, you need to complete and propose lots of different merges, and build your competence in merging. You also need to be great at collaborating with the profile managers of the profiles you are merging. Actually applying for your Arborists badge not a guarantee that you will be successful in achieving your Arborists badge. See Project:Arborists
- Login to request to the join the Trusted List so that you can edit and add images.
- Private Messages: Contact the Profile Managers privately: Joan Whitaker and England Project WikiTree. (Best when privacy is an issue.)
- Public Comments: Login to post. (Best for messages specifically directed to those editing this profile. Limit 20 per day.)
- Public Q&A: These will appear above and in the Genealogist-to-Genealogist (G2G) Forum. (Best for anything directed to the wider genealogy community.)