Before merging duplicate records, you should review them on the Merge Queue page. This topic describes the main elements on this page.

Overview

After you submit the duplicate records you want to merge, the system places those records in the Merge Queue where they await processing in the next overnight batch job. On the Merge Queue page, you can review those records prior to the merge. Key elements of the page are identified in the callout links in the illustration below. 

The illustration below shows the merge queue when the Families option is selected as the Merge Type. The merge queue is slightly different when the Members option is selected, but the main elements are the same.

Access Permissions

The Merge button gives you access to the Merge utility, which includes access to the Merge Queue page. If the Merge button is not visible, you do not have Merge Family Access permissions tied to your login credentials. Contact your diocesan administrator for assistance if you need access to the utility but do not see the Merge button.

If you are a diocesan administrator or parish administrator, you can give staff members access to the Merge utility. For instructions, go to Authorize Diocesan Staff to Merge Duplicate Families or Give Parish Staff Members Permission to Merge Duplicate Family Suite Records.

Merge Type Options

The Merge Type options let you choose which records appear in the grid.

• Families: shows a list of family records scheduled for overnight merge.
• Members: shows a list of member records scheduled for overnight merge.

Rolodex Filters

The rolodex filters are the set of letters and numbers located in two rows above the grid:

The filters enable alphabetic and numeric filtering of information in grid columns. Alphabetic filters apply to columns that contain alphabetic information, such as the Family column (in the Families grid) and the Member column (in the Members grid). Numeric filters apply to columns that contain numeric data, such as the Date Merge Created column.

See Rolodex Filters for step-by-step instructions that show you how to apply rolodex filters to a grid.

Filter Column Field

When you apply a filter to a column, the Filter Column field shows the column name and the sort direction (ascending or descending). In the illustration below, the Filter Column field is set to Family Ascending, indicating that the grid is sorted by the Family column in ascending (A to Z) order.

Clear Filter Button

Click to clear the applied rolodex filter settings. The system redisplayed all records in the queue.

Toolbar

The toolbar is located at the top of the grid under the row of rolodex filters. The toolbar contains menus and buttons for performing common tasks on the grid.

Records Menu

The Records menu lets you select the number of records (default = 10) to display in the grid. To change the number of records displayed at a time, select the desired option from the menu:

To speed page loading, select a lower value.

Buttons

permanently saves changes you make to the page layout. You can rearrange the columns in the grid. If you move them, you can permanently save the new layout by clicking this button.

resets the page layout to the default configuration. You can rearrange the columns in the grid. If you move them, you return the grid to the default layout by clicking this button.

opens the Select Grid Columns window, where you can customize the Merge Queue grid by selecting the columns you want to include. By default, all columns are selected. The following illustration shows the Select Grid Columns window for family merges. Deselect the checkboxes for the columns you do not want to include in the grid.

exports records in the grid to a .csv file.

(Families grid): if you determine that certain family records should not be merged, remove them by clicking this button. For instructions on removing a record from the queue, go to Remove a Record from the Merge Queue.

(Member grid): if you determine that certain member records should not be merged, remove them by clicking this button. For instructions on removing a record from the queue, go to Remove a Record from the Merge Queue.

: click to create a Merge Queue quick report. For instructions, go to Create a Merge Queue Quick Report.

Merge Queue Grid

The Merge Queue grid shows you the records scheduled for merging in the next overnight batch job. Each record occupies a single row in the grid.

Families Grid

For each record listed in the families grid, the following information is provided:

• Family: shows the name of the permanent family.
  • To view information for a duplicate family, click . To view information for the permanent family, click the name link.
• Status: shows the status of each record, either as Pending (waiting to be processed) or Failed (did not merge).
• Date Merge Created: the date the staff user took action to either add the duplicate member record as new or to merge the duplicate member record into the permanent family’s record.
• Envelope #: envelope number of the permanent family.
• Permanent family’s contact information (physical address, primary phone number, and email address).
• Permanent family’s registered organization ID and the name of the organization of registration.
• Diocesan ID, Family ID, and Family DUID: unique IDs that identify the permanent family.

Members Grid

For each record listed in the members', the following information is provided:

• Member: shows the name of the permanent member.
  • To view information for a duplicate member, click . To view information for the permanent member, click the name link.
• Status: shows the status of each record, either as Pending (waiting to be processed) or Failed (did not merge).
• Date Merge Created: the date the staff user took action to either add the duplicate member record as new or to merge the duplicate member record into the permanent member's record.
• Envelope #: envelope number of the permanent member.
• Permanent member's contact information (physical address, primary phone number, and email address).
• Permanent member's registered organization ID and the name of the organization of registration.
• Diocesan ID, Family ID, and Family DUID: unique IDs that identify the permanent member.

Flexible and Responsive Columns

The Merge Family Queue grid has flexible, responsive columns you can adjust as needed to suit your viewing preferences. The columns have these features:

• Sortable: click a column header to sort entries in the grid based on the information in the column. For example, to sort in ascending order on the Family column, click the Family column header. To reverse the sort order, click the Family column again. For details on column sorting, go to Sorting the Display of Records.
• Resizable: grab the border between two columns to increase or decrease the width of one of them. For details on resizing columns, go to Changing Column Widths.
• Moveable: drag and drop columns in the grid to suit your preference, and the order in which the columns in the grid are arranged. For details on moving columns, go to Changing Column Width and Rearranging the Columns.

(Plus Button)

Click to view information for the duplicate family. The word “Duplicate” is appended to the family’s name to identify it as a duplicate. Duplicate records are listed in the order in which the user added them to the master family record.

To view information for all duplicate families at once, click in the column header. You can use this information to verify that you are merging the right families.

Permanent Family Name Link

In the merge queue for families, the name link is associated with the permanent family. Clicking the link opens the permanent family's Family Details record in ParishSOFT Family Directory.

Permanent Member Name Link

In the merge queue for members, the name link is associated with the permanent member. Clicking the link opens the permanent member's record in ParishSOFT Family Directory.

Checkboxes

: this checkbox control appears next to each record in the grid. Select the checkboxes to indicate which records you want to work with. For example, if you want to delete one or more records, select the checkbox next to the record, and then click.

(the column header): select this checkbox in the column header to select all records in the grid.

Page Control Buttons

Total Record Count

To the right of the Show menu, the total count of records in the grid is displayed. In the following illustration, the total record count is 13:

Page Navigation

The number of pages in the Family List is displayed in parentheses at the bottom of the page. Select a page to go directly to that page in the list. Alternatively, click to page back or click to page forward through the list.

Updated February 16, 2026 22:08