Editing Family Names

eCatholic ChMS builds each family’s name automatically from the Primary and Secondary Contacts. Now, you can replace that automatic family name with one you enter yourself. This is especially helpful when a household goes by a name the automatic format can’t produce, like a double surname, or couples where each spouse keeps their own last name.

What's new

• Each member keeps their own last name. Adding a Secondary Contact, or any other member, never changes another member's last name.
• You can set a custom family name. A pencil icon next to Family Name lets you enter the family's last name and first name exactly as the household uses them.
• You can switch back at any time. Use Member Names returns the family to the automatic name.

How family names work automatically

Unless you change it, the family name is built from the family's contacts:

• Last name: the Primary Contact's last name
• First name: the Primary Contact's first name, plus the Secondary Contact's first name if there is one

In the last example, the family name uses John's last name, but Jane's own member record still shows Jane Dough.

The automatic name updates whenever the contacts change. For example, if you rename the Primary Contact or switch the Primary and Secondary Contacts, the family name changes to match.

When to use a custom family name

Use a custom family name when the automatic name doesn't match how the household registers or wants to be addressed. Common examples:

• Double or compound surnames. In many Hispanic families, the household uses both parents' surnames, for example Hernández-Martínez, Maria & Jose.
• Spouses with different last names who want both names in the family name, for example Smith-Dough, John & Jane.
• A Primary Contact whose last name differs from the rest of the family. For example, Jane Dough handles the family's parish communication, but her husband and children are Smiths. You can make Jane the Primary Contact and still keep the family name as Smith, Jane & John.

Set a custom family name

You can do this when you create a new family or edit an existing one.

1. Open the family record and choose Edit Family. To start a new family, choose New Family.
2. Find Family Name on the Members tab and click the pencil icon next to it.
3. The Edit Family Name window opens. Enter the family's Last Name and First Name.
   • Last Name: the family surname, for example Hernández-Martínez. This field is required.
   • First Name: how the members' first names should appear, for example Maria & Jose.
4. Click Save to close the Edit Family Name window.
5. Click Save on the Edit Family window to apply the change.

The family will now appear as Hernández-Martínez, Maria & Jose.

What happens after you set a custom name

The custom name stays in place. Member changes won't overwrite it. That includes renaming a member, adding or removing members, and changing the Primary or Secondary Contact.

Member records stay as they are. Changing the family name doesn't change any member's own first or last name.

The custom name appears everywhere the family name is shown, including:

• The family record heading
• Family Explorer
• Reports that include the family name
• Family Search in Classic View

Go back to the automatic name

If you want the family name to follow the contacts again:

1. Open the family and choose Edit Family.
2. Click the pencil icon next to Family Name.
3. Click Use Member Names.
4. Click Save on the Edit Family window.

The family name is rebuilt from the current Primary and Secondary Contacts, and it will again update automatically when they change.

Use Member Names only appears on families that have a custom name.

Family Name vs. Mailing Name

Family Name and Mailing Name are separate fields.

• Family Name identifies the family throughout ChMS, including on the family record, in Family Explorer, in search, and on reports. It's the name described in this article.
• Mailing Name is on the family's Addresses tab. It controls how the family is addressed on mail, for example The Lopez Household or Mr. and Mrs. John Smith.

Changing one never changes the other. If you want a custom name on both the record and the mail, update each one separately.

Existing families

You don't need to do anything to existing families.

• Families whose names follow the automatic format will keep updating automatically, just as before.
• Families whose names were already set to something different from the automatic format were marked as custom when this update was released. Member changes won't overwrite those names. You can use Use Member Names on any of them to return to the automatic name.

Frequently asked questions

Will setting a custom family name change anyone's last name? No. Each member's first and last name stay exactly as they are on their member record.

I renamed a member, but the family name didn't change. Why? The family probably has a custom name. Custom names don't follow member changes. To update it, edit the custom name with the pencil icon, or click Use Member Names to go back to the automatic name.

Does this change the Mailing Name? No. Mailing Name is a separate field on the Addresses tab and isn't affected.