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# Split, merge, or archive a group

You split, merge or archive a group from its **Settings** tab. None of these erase history: past records, costs and activity stay with the group, and each animal keeps its own profile history.

## Before you start

**Split** and **Merge** show for groups chosen by hand and for count groups (groups that track animals by number). A group updated by rules changes when you change its rules, so it has no split or merge. If you need a fixed part of a rules group, create a new group and choose its animals by hand.

## Split a group

1. Open the group and select the **Settings** tab.
2. Under **Split**, enter a **New group name**.
3. For a group chosen by hand, pick the animals in **Animals to split**. For a count group, enter the **Count to split**.
4. Select **Split group**.

![Split card with the new group name Glen Lyon show string and Isla and Magnus chosen under Animals to split](https://cdn-test.creatures.com/e6f/7fe/fb6/2c6dc.png?width=966)

Creatures makes the new group with the same type, owner and location note, and moves those animals (or that count) into it. A message confirms the split and offers **Undo**, which moves them back. Past group records and money entries stay with the original group, and the split is noted in **Activity**.

## Merge two groups

1. Open the group you want to fold into another one, and select **Settings**.
2. Under **Merge**, pick a group in **Merge into**. The list shows your other active groups with the same owner and the same kind: groups chosen by hand with each other, count groups with each other.
3. Select **Merge group**, then confirm with **Merge group**. **Keep separate** cancels.

![Merge card with Merge into set to Choose group and the Merge group button](https://cdn-test.creatures.com/096/e7c/a46/62b22.png?width=966)

Every current animal (or the whole count) moves into the other group, and the group you merged from is archived. A message offers **Undo**. If you see **No compatible active groups to merge with**, you have no matching group to merge into.

## Archive a finished group

1. Open **Settings**. Under **Lifecycle**, select **Archive group**.
2. Confirm with **Archive group**. **Keep group** cancels.

![Archive this group? confirmation with Keep group and Archive group buttons](https://cdn-test.creatures.com/edd/bbe/406/2fbc9.png?width=1136)

Archiving pauses the group: you can still read its records, activity and costs, but you cannot edit it or add records until you restore it. Records already saved on each animal's profile stay there.

Upcoming care plan tasks for the group are cancelled, and its care plans show **Archived group**. You can still open **Manage plan** to end one, but you can't add or change care plans until you restore the group.

## Find or restore an archived group

1. On the **Groups** page, select **Archived**. The list now shows archived groups along with your active ones. Each is marked **Archived**. Select **Hide archived** to go back.
2. Open the group.
3. Select **Unarchive** in the banner at the top, or **Unarchive group** under **Settings**.

The group is active again, with its history in place.

### Related information

- [Create and manage animal groups](https://help.creatures.com/en/article/create-and-manage-animal-groups-xbv2ht/)
- [Track animals without individual profiles](https://help.creatures.com/en/article/track-animals-without-individual-profiles-nbado5/)
- [Choose a group's animals by hand or by rules](https://help.creatures.com/en/article/manual-smart-and-hybrid-groups-xjmhru/)
- [Care plans for animal groups](https://help.creatures.com/en/article/care-plans-for-animal-groups-1ginhfu/)