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Combine 2 Names
Combine 2 Names is a utility that allows you to combine two known duplicate name records. It uses the name and address of the name record you choose to keep but combines gifts, pledges, classifications, etc. into one record. It does not combine Online Community user names and passwords. You can access this feature by clicking the Names button on the left, then Combine 2 Names.
Reason
Type a Reason for the action. It could be two people who have gotten married, duplicate records, or any other reason you want to use here.
Select the name record that you want to Keep. You can use the search icon on the right or, if you know the account number, you can type it directly into the field and hit Tab.
Select the name record that you want to Merge. You can use the search icon on the right or, if you know the account number, you can type it directly into the field and hit Tab. This record will be removed/deleted from your data and the relevant information will be merged into the Keep record.
You can find a record of the merge on the name record page of the Keep record. You will find a link in the top section of the name page that says "Click Here To See The Merge Log". That will show you a list of name records that have been merged into that record, who did the merge, the date, and the reason.
You can also find a report called Merged Names by clicking the Reports button on the left, then Names. It will show you a list of all merges that have taken place. You can search this list by name so if you have a name record that seems to have disappeared, the first place to check is this report. You may find that it was merged and the report will show you which record it was merged with.
This process is different from the Suspect Donor report that is used to combine duplicate records created through Online Community. The main difference is that this process does NOT combine the Online Community user name and password. If you want to retain that information you should merge the record without that information into the record that holds that information.
You will notice on the screen above that it mentions the Trash Can record. Denari does not allow you to delete name records with gifts because of the danger mentioned above. Deleting a name record with gifts can cause what is called an 'Orphaned Record' which could cause your data to be unreliable. Denari does have a hidden Trash Can record. You can find it by searching for a name record with an account number of '-1'. It is possible to choose that record as the Keep record and then merge a name record with gifts into that record. You are not really deleting the record but it does disappear from your name list and does not count toward your Total Names on the Home page.
There is one caution with using the Trash Can. The gifts that are linked to the Merged record are not merged into the Trash Can. Most of the standard reports will not show that record or include it in any totals. However, if you use a gift segment to get a list of gifts, that Trash Can record may show up in the output. If at all possible, it is best to keep name records with gifts in your data, even if the donor has not donated in quite a while. It provides a complete donation history for your organization and past donors may someday decide to donate again.
