* Merging two datasets

[peterbel]

I want to merge the data my daughter has created about her husbands family (in FH) with my set. I have read the Merge and Compare notes and after backups have tried a preliminary Merge of her GED with mine. I aborted it without merging so as to get an answer to this question.
Under the Individual tab the vast majority of the data in the left pane was unique, as was the data in the right pane but there were some lines in my data that had been 'matched' with my daughters data.
However looking at some of them there appeared no common details except perhaps a First Name and a lot blank or Unknown parts, is that why they are displayed, or should I be looking for something else?
I presume if I highlight a name and press Discard that name will not be in the final merged file?

The opportunity to make a total mess of the database is very great with this powerful facility, perhaps one of those Tutorial videos would be useful?

[tatewise]

I expect you accepted the default Record Matching Options to Suggest candidate records for merging.

If there are some Individual records in both sets with little or no details, then they may have been auto-matched inadvertently.

Presumably the only Individual in both sets is your daughter and perhaps her husband.
So in Record Matching Options choose Do not match any records and perform matching manually as follows.
In the Merge File dialogue, select your daughter in the Current Records and New Records columns, and click Match bottom left.
If necessary do the same for her husband.

You may have to similarly Match their Family record on the Families tab.

You should also check the other tabs, especially Places for records that may need merging.

In each case, double-click the matched records and check all the appropriate subsidiary fields are kept or discarded as necessary.

However, in this type scenario where only a handful of records overlap, there should be no great harm in completing the Merge even if you have not been thorough in finding everything that needs matching or discarding.
In the worst case, you might have to revert to the Backup of your main Project that you took just before starting.
Any merging or other adjustments can be done by hand later in you main merged Project as they are discovered.
You can merge specific pairs of records of any type using Edit > Merge/Compare Records, and edit, copy, paste, delete, etc, any other fields that need adjusting.

[peterbel]

Thanks Mike,
Yes I had selected Suggest candidates for matching
I will try the Don't match records after a little bit of manual investigation.