What can I do to reverse first name and surname to avoid breaking connections?

Question

WikiTree doesn't ask you to confirm that you are going to create Surname-ID. The first time you discover you have made a mistake is when you come to use the profile ID.

1) At this point what is the best thing to do to correct it?

2) Is there a documented set of easy to follow instructions?

3) Can the UI please be improved to reduce the likelihood of making this error in the future?

Answer 1

Go into the Edit tab and scroll down until you see the LNAB field.  Next to it is a tiny [edit] - and, as you are the PM, you just click on it and change the LNAB.  The ID will change to match.  If you have mentioned the ID in anybody else's bio (say, his wife), you need to manually change it.

The UI does not need to be changed. It merely relies on whoever is doing the typing to get it right first time.

Comments

"To change a Last Name at Birth simply click the "edit" link next to it on the edit page.

To do this you need be on the Trusted List. This is true even for Open profiles because of the special significance of LNABs."

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Help:Correcting_a_Last_Name_at_Birth

---

Thanks, that sounds simple enough. I guess that the LNAB-ID will be ‘lost’ to the WikiTree system, but no other impact. Fortunately, I can easily correct the links where I have used his wrong Surname-ID as a placeholder. I was just worried that I would have to create another profile, and merge him in to make the change!

---

Essentially, you are creating a new profile and merging it with the original -- just not by doing it in separate actions.  It is also the preferred way to remedy an incorrect/unknown last name - as deliberately creating a duplicate just to merge is against the Honor Code.

The "wrong" ID# isn't totally lost to the system, as redirects will occur wherever it has been used (should you forget all the places it may be).

---

As Melanie stated, nothing is lost.  The 'merge' will be shown in the Changes Log and you can get to the original profile from that Merge statement by clicking on the link to the 'merged away' profile.  When  you are in the Changes Log for that 'merged away' profile, do NOT select the 1st created entry or you will be back on the 'merged' profile, but you can select Previous Change to go back to the original entry.