Hi everyone - I've been through three stages in the divided database 'path' 1) had two different ones, one for my dad's family and one for my mom's. Then I began the work of going back and actually putting source data in both databases. When it became apparent that a lot of the work would be duplicate (duplicate sources, etc), I merged the two databases and now have one. I agree with the comments that one is just easier. 2) had a sep. db for my husbands family. this has actually worked out OK - all this research is in both different countries and different languages - dutch, norwegian, russian. this one is still distinct. 3) most importantly, a 'test db' where I can do merges, gedcoms, and other data-checking before I transfer it into the 'real db'. hope this helps. Regina Barry * rmbarry1066@earthlink.net * http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~rbarry4145/index.htm Man's mind is so formed that it is far more susceptible to falsehood than to truth. Desiderius Erasmus