Exact Matches increase when Projects Joined ?

[Mudgeeclarke]

Is this normal ?

Today, checking FTDNA and Y Search for exact matches (at 25 markers - still waiting on 67), I noticed that an additional red "flag" had appeared on the 'Map' and by clicking on it I saw that the ancestor (OAKLEY) was only about 25 miles from my ancestor, and in the same timeframe more or less. (Bedfordshire/Cambridgeshire UK).

Checking the DNA projects then, I found an OAKLEY project. As I had an exact match at Y25 (and a NPE in my paternal line) I applied to join the project.

Immediately, my former (6) exact matches at 25 on the FTDNA/Y Search list increased by another three.

Therefore my question right now is : Are some matches not available until you join projects and if so, and you have no paternal family name to look for, how do you find these extra matches if they do not show already at FTDNA and Y Search? Surely you don't have to randomly join projects to see what happens ...

Edit: Just to clarify - the former FTDNA exact match at 25 increased by three on the FTDNA summary (all Oakley project members), and the Y Search exact match list was unchanged at 3 (including a duplicate from FTDNA)

[k.o.gran]

Hi Mudgeeclarke.

Under "User Preferences", there is a setting to choose if you want your YDNA to be compared to the entire FTDNA database, or only to projects. If someone chooses "only project", then you won't see them as matches until you join that specific project.

-Kai

[Mudgeeclarke]

Hi Mudgeeclarke.

Under "User Preferences", there is a setting to choose if you want your YDNA to be compared to the entire FTDNA database, or only to projects. If someone chooses "only project", then you won't see them as matches until you join that specific project.

-Kai

So, it's true, at least in one sense ... if a person does not upload to YSearch, and elects "only project" at FTDNA, then - especially my case with a NPE - I would need to join all vaguely possible projects to see what pops up. Theoretically, I could have an exact match at Y111 with another person whose ancestor was from the same village, and neither of us would ever know. Seems to me there would be two losers and no winners ...

You'd think that FTDNA could at least give a "wink wink nudge nudge" to say "it might be worthwhile to join X project". Or do they ? (They didn't tell me so far but then at exact matches for 25 markers, I am not that excited but at 67 markers I would be ...)

Does the same apply for MtDNA Full Sequence etc?

Thanks for the reply, K O Gran, BTW.

[mkdexter]

Hi Mudgeeclarke.

Under "User Preferences", there is a setting to choose if you want your YDNA to be compared to the entire FTDNA database, or only to projects. If someone chooses "only project", then you won't see them as matches until you join that specific project.

-Kai

I might be wrong I'm pretty sure it has to do with primary projects plus choosing to view only from project.

• If you choose display from entire database you would see everyone.
• If you choose display from a project and so did the other person(s) and you both have the same primary project chosen you would see them.
• If you choose display from a project and so did the other person(s) and they have a different primary project chosen than you, you will see them if they happen to belong to your primary too, but not if they don't.

I think that's how it works. Of course that doesn't seem to fit the issue of having more matches after joining the Oakley project. I guess its something to look into.

[mkdexter]

Ok I just had to check...

Among other things, I belong to M222, Ireland YDNA, Cowan and Doherty projects.

If I choose display project matches only here is what I get:
If my primary project = M222 - then I have 32 M222 matches
If my primary project = Ireland YDNA - then I have 8 M222 matches
If my primary project = Cowan - then I have 11 M222 matches
If my primary project = Doherty - then I have 12 M222 matches

However if I choose to display from entire database I have 43 M222 matches.

[Mudgeeclarke]

Ok I just had to check...

Among other things, I belong to M222, Ireland YDNA, Cowan and Doherty projects.

If I choose display project matches only here is what I get:
If my primary project = M222 - then I have 32 M222 matches
If my primary project = Ireland YDNA - then I have 8 M222 matches
If my primary project = Cowan - then I have 11 M222 matches
If my primary project = Doherty - then I have 12 M222 matches

However if I choose to display from entire database I have 43 M222 matches.

Thanks for your interest and note, mkd.

I just checked to be sure, and my preferences are still as I set them originally, with one exception.

The button "I want my matches to be set against the entire database." is certainly still checked. My only change since I first logged on and set my account has been that when I look for matches, I have excluded 12 markers - just to reduce notifications and weight of numbers.

As for Projects, I don't really have any project which I would be somewhat confident I may find a few matches. The East Anglia Project seems to be right (ancestors from Cambridgeshire UK), but the Admin for the project has been out of touch for quite a long while, and is not taking on new project members for the time being. There are two Clarke projects - both have politely declined because I have a NPE in the early 1800s ! I was asked to join the Morris project, and did, but I think that was for someone else's benefit really.

When I get my Y67 and Deep Clade (twice delayed already) I may have more grounds to join some projects. Meanwhile, I guess I have to accept the fact that some folks have restricted their results to their project - perhaps not knowing that they also lose the opportunity to find exact matches elsewhere.

Shades of "I know your grandfather's date of birth but as I had to search for it, so should you". Pity, really.

[similligan]

Thanks for your interest and note, mkd.

Meanwhile, I guess I have to accept the fact that some folks have restricted their results to their project - perhaps not knowing that they also lose the opportunity to find exact matches elsewhere.

Shades of "I know your grandfather's date of birth but as I had to search for it, so should you". Pity, really.

I think a lot of people do it without realizing they might be hindering other people who might have a need to find them. It may be because they get too many emails. When I see that my project members have done this, I suggest that they change to match entire database and maybe suppress the 12 marker matches. It doesn't always work, but at least I try.

Susan

[rivergirl]

[/QUOTE]Shades of "I know your grandfather's date of birth but as I had to search for it, so should you". Pity, really.[/QUOTE]

You can always look up the project website and the results page, to see if you have any matches.
If I have a close match at 25 or 37 with a surname I then check the project to see if any others match me well.

I keep an Excel spreadsheet with my results, and results of close matches for comparison.

[Mudgeeclarke]

You can always look up the project website and the results page, to see if you have any matches.
If I have a close match at 25 or 37 with a surname I then check the project to see if any others match me well.

I keep an Excel spreadsheet with my results, and results of close matches for comparison.

Thanks, RiverGirl. If only I knew the surname ... (NPE in paternal line at GGF). It is quite a task to go to every project and check off the numbers. (Just seems like the 'master' data bank computer would do this in the blink of an eye and tell us ' hint ... join X project'.)

[similligan]

You may have already done this, but if not, joining your haplogroup project could help you narrow down your choices. You could see who clusters around you.

But I think this is an issue that could use some kind of help from FTDNA. Maybe a change of wording on the preferences page where you choose which matches to see. Maybe separate options for which matches you receive email notification on and which to display. There are some people who are close to the modal for their haplogroup and they may have hundreds of matches, so any solution needs to work for them, too.

Susan

[dwight]

I'm totally confused here - where is there a setting or indication of one's "Primary project"? I'm not seeing that anywhere! Thanks.

I might be wrong I'm pretty sure it has to do with primary projects plus choosing to view only from project.

• If you choose display from entire database you would see everyone.
• If you choose display from a project and so did the other person(s) and you both have the same primary project chosen you would see them.
• If you choose display from a project and so did the other person(s) and they have a different primary project chosen than you, you will see them if they happen to belong to your primary too, but not if they don't.

I think that's how it works. Of course that doesn't seem to fit the issue of having more matches after joining the Oakley project. I guess its something to look into.

[mkdexter]

Under the My Projects list anyone that is a member of more than one project can click on the little button next to its name and that will be the one chosen as primary.

http://forums.familytreedna.com/atta...1&d=1313470865

In this case, Cowan is selected.

Matt.