Is it possible to look at two similar profile name lists and propose merges across them?

Question

I spend quite a lot of time browsing the lists of surnames to spot potential merges and matches that may have been missed or forgotten about.

This is how I go about it:

• type chosen Last Name in search box at the top of the page
• when the pre-loaded list displays, click on Live Data (or advanced tools if not that many names on list)
• then order list with most recent birthdate first
• click on Show Merging/Matching options
• scan down list to pick up potential merges and matches

I've just finished looking at the list of profiles with last name Allison (two Ls), and it occurred to me that there might be potential matches with profiles with last name Alison (one L), so I tried having one window open with the Allison list and a second with the Alison list, but it would appear to be not possible to cross over from one to the other when choosing two profiles to compare.

Am I correct? Is there a straightforward way of doing this en masse that I've missed? Is this a feature that would be useful to others (if it doesn't already exist)?

Comments

I donʻt know of a way to do what you ask.

I use the same method you use, but I alphabetize also and then sort by birthdate.  Still in the same surname, but all the Marys are together by birthdate.

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For different name spellings, you can use wildcards when you search (type Al*ison to get results for both Alison and Allison). And then also type a * in the “first name” field to search all profiles with the last name Al*ison. Then you may want to select the option “only last names at birth”. It is easiest to start from the advanced search page (Find > Search in the menu).

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Thank you, Valerie - I've just tried your suggestion on Barr*clough and found some alternate spellings that I hadn't thought of.

It isn't ideal, as you have to scroll up to the top of the list to click Compare - a little box with the merge/match/compare options like there is on the regular search page would be nice - but it's a reasonable workaround.

I noticed that the wildcard feature doesn't work with the ordinary search box at the top of every page - I wonder if it would be helpful if it did?

Thanks again for the useful information!

Answer 1

I'm not aware of a way to do it but this would be incredibly useful for one name studies when dealing with alternate spellings.

Answer 2

I have asked for an app to be written to display a list of profiles based on multiple surnames entered, but no action has been taken yet to create the app,