How does Family Tree identify possible duplicate persons?
What are the data fields compared to identify record hints, and how are the field values determined to be "the same"??
Answers
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In answer to your question about how does Family Tree identify possible duplicates, there are a number of possible factors. Similarity in names, dates and places. Also family connections. Although one spouse may have a date and place, the other spouse only has a name, but the system may assume there is a possible duplicate. Also one name may be something like James William Jones II and the other record is just J W Jones.
But, as you may have discovered, just because the system offers a possible duplicate, human eyes are needed to confirm that situation. Also there may be more than one person with a similar name, even born the same year, but they are not duplicates.
If, when you are adding a new person , and the system does not find a duplicate, based on vital information only, by adding a family member a possible duplicate may be offered.
You may find more about possible duplicates by visiting our Help Center, and use search term Possible duplicates . Also here are some of the Articles of instruction and information that may be helpful
How do I find duplicates in Family Tree if they do not appear in the possible duplicates list?
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@Douglas McPhaden NidaFL breaks down the process of duplicates being found well, as a further discussion, the simple answer could be: Through the internet algorithm, a source is found and is compared to a similar record found in your family tree. There is a blog that discusses duplicates and merging in more detail below.
https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/family-tree-how-to-merge/
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Thank you for responding to my question.
In answer to your question about how does Family Tree identify possible duplicates, there are a number of possible factors. Similarity in names, dates and places. Also family connections. Although one spouse may have a date and place, the other spouse only has a name, but the system may assume there is a possible duplicate. Also one name may be something like James William Jones II and the other record is just J W Jones.
This paragraph looks at the issue from about 10,000. I am looking for an answer from the distance of about 200 feet.
But, as you may have discovered, just because the system offers a possible duplicate, human eyes are needed to confirm that situation. Also there may be more than one person with a similar name, even born the same year, but they are not duplicates.
Yes, merging people does require some skill. This is noted in much of the documentation and it was also pointed out by virtually all of the missionary support representative. Unfortunately, many users do not give this serious consideration and make changes (merges) vet are ill advised.
If, when you are adding a new person , and the system does not find a duplicate, based on vital information only, by adding a family member a possible duplicate may be offered.
If it possible duplicate is not offered, a new person should be added. This person made later be found to be a possible duplicate.
You may find more about possible duplicates by visiting our Help Center, and use search term Possible duplicates . Also here are some of the Articles of instruction and information that may be helpful
I find doing an Internet search with a web browser is more likely to find FamilySearch family tree white pages Bender help center. New line
How do I find duplicates in Family Tree if they do not appear in the possible duplicates list?
How do I search Family Tree to find possible duplicates?
I come across these two articles every time that I tried to find an answer to my question using searches. The first one talks about how users can find possible duplicates by themselves in a manual fashion. The second one basically says this is where the system notifies users that it has found a possible duplicate. What I want to know how family tree does this programmatically.
Thank you for responding to my question.
@Douglas McPhaden NidaFL breaks down the process of duplicates being found well, as a further discussion, the simple answer could be: Through the internet algorithm, a source is found and is compared to a similar record found in your family tree. There is a blog that discusses duplicates and merging in more detail below.
The blog entry is basically a source linker tutorial. It does not address my questions. It should address questions such as: how do I use the source link.
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