Family Historian User Group

I have two Gedcom files that have a few records which are the same people in both. I have updated their records in one and would like to copy and overwrite in the other. Can you please tell me the procedure.

Ken, you asked that earlier this year in Can you copy a Record from one Gedcom file to another Gedcom File (16948).
Some advice was provided then (which still applies) but you did not respond to say whether the advice helped.

I'm sorry about that but it hasn't worked. Let me explain what I did. I exported some records from Gedcom "A" into a new Gedcom file just containing those records e.g Gedcom "C". I then opened Gedcom "B" and imported Gedcom "C" to merge. In the merge file dialogue box under the Action on the left hand side it says by the records I want to overwrite "null Merge". Do you have any advice

Firstly, it would help to understand what records you are trying to copy/merge.
Bear in mind that various types of records are linked to one another, so multiple record types are usually involved.
e.g. Individual and Family records hold spouse, parent, child relationships, and often link to Source and Media records.

It really does not help us to help you if you simply say "it hasn't worked".
Please explain what you think has not worked and why.
You description sounds like it worked perfectly ~ records were exported, matched, and merged into other GEDCOM.

Have you used the Merge File dialogue Help button to investigate the Features of the Merge/Compare Dialog?
There it explains that Null Merge means:

Only applies to matched records or fields. Indicates that the items will be merged, but that the nature of the 'merge' is such that it has no effect at all on the Merge Into record. This could happen, perhaps, because the 2 records or fields are absolutely identical; so no changes are needed. It could also be that there are fields in the Merge From record, which are not present in the Merge Into record, but the user has chosen to flag them all to be discarded. Or, again, it could be that the Merge From file record is a subset of the Merge Into record, and adds nothing to it.

Thanks for the update, in the dialogue box it does say Null Merge From file record is a subset of the Merge Into record. But the record I am trying to import has much more information, but when I close the dialogue box and check the record the extra information (additional children + extra notes) have not been updated.

Did you export the records for those 'additional children' from Gedcom A to Gedcom C? If you only exported their parents but no details in the parents' own individual records have changed that explains the null merge.

I see. But I don't understand why it does not update the notes from a record. It does not even update the fact they have a middle name. Obviously doing something wrong.

The short answer to your question is that you are not exporting enough records.
So, maybe you need to make smaller steps.
After exporting GEDCOM A to GEDCOM C there are options before performing the Merge File.

Firstly, when the export completes, FH asks if you wish to open GEDCOM C.
Answer Yes and review the records displayed in FH.
Are all the Individual records you expected included?
i.e. The parents, the children, and all their details including Names and Notes.
If not, then you are not exporting enough records, so go back and increase the Selected records.

Another option is to use File > Records Window > New Project for newly exported GEDCOM C.
The in that temporary project review all the records similar to above.

Only when all the desired record details exist in GEDCOM C is it worth trying to Merge File with GEDCOM B.

All this begs the question: "Why have you got two Projects with so many overlapping records?"

Thanks Mike, I'll try again with your updated information. The reason I have two projects (and realise now I shouldn't have gone down that path) is that I recently got back in touch with a relative of mine (1st cousin once removed). I had already done my side of the family tree and thought I would help her by making a family tree for her with information she supplied. When this was completed there were a number of records that overlapped from her and my family tree. Hence why I wanted to update certain records.