Wish List: Master Place List - Merge & Drop Down List

[GenePenn 0]

The Marin Co., CA, TMG User's Group would like to ask for a merge function to be added to the Master Place List table. This will then allow the user to merge the same locations into just one rather than have each location (that's the same) listed just once. It would be helpful to have this Master Place List available at the data entery screen as a drop down list so you can select from existing places in the Master Place List. This greatly reduces the amount of typing needed and reduces the chances of spelling errors, etc.

 

In our data entry screens, there appears to be a box next to the city, state, etc. boxes with drop down arrows but they are grayed out and do not function.

 

Thank you.

 

Edited November 16, 2007 by GenePenn

[Jim Byram 0]

The Marin Co., CA, TMG User's Group would like to ask for a merge function to be added to the Master Place List table. This will then allow the user to merge the same locations into just one rather than have each location (that's the same) listed just once.

File / Maintenance / Optimize merges identical place records.

 

It would be helpful to have this Master Place List available at the data entery screen as a drop down list so you can select from existing places in the Master Place List. This greatly reduces the amount of typing needed and reduces the chances of spelling errors, etc.

Click into a place field and type F2. You not only have such a list now but you have different lists depending on which place level you click in to.

 

In our data entry screens, there appears to be a box next to the city, state, etc. boxes with drop down arrows but they are grayed out and do not function.

Read the 'Field Labels on the Tag Entry Screen' help topic.

 

You typically want the labels disabled unless you are an advanced user of place styles. The fields can be enabled under File / Preferences / Program Options / Data Entry / Data Entry Mode / Advanced section.

[Kaiyote 0]

File / Maintenance / Optimize merges identical place records.

*This only works if every detail about the location is identical.

-= from TMG Help - Optimize =-

NOTE: For two place records to be considered duplicates, all fields must be the same. This includes the Style, if one was used to create some of the entries. It is possible, for example, for two Master Place records to appear identical, but to have been generated using different Styles.

 

A similar feature is available for people under 'Tools - Merge Two People'. It allows the user to compare the two records to decide which information is accurate - and specifiy what should be kept/overriden - before merging them.

 

Adding a feature similar to this would be more powerful than the current method which may, at times, require the user to repeatedly switch between records to determine and fix the differences before optimizing.