The surname spelling changes were a major problem for me in trying to manage my database. I found duplication of entries and figured out a system that seems to work for me. I click on "new unrelated individual" and, for example: type "BONUM, all changed to BONHAM - data mg't". Then, when I find someone where the name is clearly BONUM, I enter it as Patience (Bonum) Bonham. Right or wrong, it works for me. One other thing I do to try to manage my data is when I find a direct Mayflower descendant, I add (M) in the middle of the name. For example: Carol (M) Reed. That helps me research lines. Of course, my software tells me that I'm using a nickname, but I just override it. Carol (M) Reed Kennedy <<<<<In a message dated 12/13/2006 11:14:37 PM US Mountain Standard Time, [email protected] writes: This is one way duplications in surnames can be made - different spellings, yet the same person. I'm now going to merge the two spellings for Patience into one file, which will now leave only one other person named Bonum in my records, and leads to the next question. >>>>