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Combine Households Tool

An overview of the Combine Households Tool in MinistryPlatform, including general information and instructions to combine households.

With the Combine Households Tool, you can merge duplicate Household records to maintain clean data and ensure that records contain complete and accurate information.

Note: There are several language differences for Catholic instances of MinistryPlatform. In this case, Catholic churches may see "Families" instead of "Households".
  • The tool is available on the Households page. You can launch it from an open record, a selection of records, or the data grid without a selection.
  • The tool is the perfect way to combine Households when the Heads get married!
  • SPoCs should regularly use the Combine Households Tool to keep data clean.
  • A drop-down list shows potential duplicate Households.
    • If you launch the tool for an open record, the open record displays at the top of the drop-down list.
    • If you launch the tool from a selection of records, the selected records displays at the top of the tool.
  • The Audit Log records any changes made to the kept record as a result of combining.
  • Potential duplicate Households are identified when they share ANY of the following:
    • The same Home Phone number
    • The same Address
    • The same Seasonal Address (Alternate Mailing Address)
    • The same Family Call Number
  • Need to find more duplicates? Click Find Duplicates and start combining!

Combine Households tool example showing two potential duplicates and which data to keep

Combine Two Households

Note: SPoCs can grant user access to this tool.
Note: There are several language differences for Catholic instances of MinistryPlatform. In this case, Catholic churches may see "Families" instead of "Households".
  1. Launch the tool from:
    • Households > Tools > Combine Households Tool
    • Households > open Household record > Tools > Combine Households Tool
    • Households > select two or more Households > Tools > Combine Households Tool
  2. Review the records to be combined.
    1. If needed, select the box for any additional households that "will be merged" that might be grayed out.
      Note: If the column for a household is grayed out and not selected, it is not part of the combined action.
    2. If you want, select the alternate option to change the Household to Keep.
    3. If you prefer to keep information other than what's included in the Household to Keep, select the alternate option.
  3. Click Combine Households.
  4. If you'd like, click Find Duplicates to find additional duplicate households. Or, when you're finished, close the tool.

You've combined the selected households into one Household record.