Using the improved merge experience in Family Tree

The improved merge experiment is a FamilySearch Labs experiment. It helps you more accurately analyze possible duplicates before merging them in Family Tree. You can turn it on and off below.

How improved merge experience differs from the current one

The improved merge experience works differently from the current merge in these key ways:

• At the top of the screen, it provides a recommendation at the top of the screen about whether to merge the records.

  • Merge Duplicates. The people have no inconsistencies and are a good candidate to consider merging.
  • Potential Merge. The people have some minor inconsistencies. Look for messages that identify and explain them. Please use careful judgement before doing a merge.
  • Merge Not Recommended. The people have many or large inconsistencies. Do not merge these records unless you can provide an excellent justification for doing so.
  • Unable to Merge. The people cannot be merged because the inconsistencies are too significant.
• When information is different between the two people, it tells you what is different and how significant the inconsistency is.
• Doing the merge causes all relationships, sources, memories, and notes to be moved from the duplicate person to the surviving person.

How to use the improved merge experience

1. Turn on the experiment using the buttons above or below. Or go to FamilySearch Labs, and click Improved Merge Experience.
2. In Family Tree, find possible duplicates in the same ways that you normally would.
3. On the merge page, the heading at the top of the screen provides a recommendation.

4. Carefully review each piece of data about both persons.

   • The information to be kept is already selected. To select the other option, click it.
   • Look for warnings beneath the information. They indicate how significant the differences may be.
5. Decide whether to merge the records:
   
   • If they should not be merged, click Not A Match. This discourages other, potentially less knowledgeable users from merging these people.
   • If they should be merged, click Merge. A side panel appears. Explain why you decided to do the merge, and click Submit.
6. When you return to the person page, make any other needed corrections, such as removing sources and relationships.

Your feedback is welcome!

If you encounter any issues or would like to share recommendations, please do so in the improved merge community group.