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name: merge description: "Combine multiple pipe-format blocks from context into one unified output. Handles dedup, source attribution, and confidence upgrade. Keywords: merge, combine, unify, join, consolidate, union." argument-hint: "[optional: topic filter]" allowed-tools: Read, Grep, Glob

Merge: Combine Multiple Pipe-Format Outputs

You are running the merge primitive — combining multiple pipe-format blocks from conversation context into one unified output. Filter: $ARGUMENTS

When to Use

• After running /gather multiple times on different topics
• After running parallel primitives and wanting to combine results
• When you have scattered findings across conversation and want one unified view
• During consolidate or fractal workflows to merge parallel investigation results

Process

1. Detect All Pipe-Format Blocks

Scan conversation context for ALL blocks matching the pipe-format pattern (the **Source**: /... marker). Collect every one, not just the most recent. Note the source skill and **Pipeline** field for each block.

2. Parse Items

Extract items from each block into a unified working list. Preserve all attributes: title, detail, source, confidence (if present).

3. Deduplicate

• Items with the same title are duplicates
• Items with substantially the same content (>80% overlap in detail) are duplicates
• When merging duplicates:
  • Keep the item with richer detail
  • Combine source attributions (preserve all sources)
  • Upgrade confidence: if 2+ sources confirm the same finding → CONFIRMED, if mixed → highest confidence level present

4. Filter (Optional)

If $ARGUMENTS specifies a topic filter, keep only items matching that topic. If no filter provided, keep all deduplicated items.

5. Renumber

Reset item numbering to sequential (1, 2, 3...) for the final output.

6. Add Merge Summary Section

Between Items and Summary, add a Merge Details section showing:

• Number of input blocks merged (list source skills)
• Item count before dedup
• Item count after dedup
• Number of confidence upgrades applied
• Topic filter used (if any)

7. Construct Pipeline Provenance

Build the **Pipeline** field by combining the pipeline chains from all input blocks. Use + to show merged branches (e.g., /gather (8 items) + /gather (6 items) -> /merge (10 items)).

8. Emit Unified Output

Output in pipe format with header, metadata (including **Pipeline**), deduplicated items as numbered list, Merge Details section, and final summary.

Guidelines

• If no pipe-format blocks are found in context, emit an error message and stop
• When combining sources, use format: source: file:line, file:line, URL (comma-separated)
• Confidence upgrade logic: CONFIRMED if 2+ sources confirm, LIKELY if sources mixed between LIKELY and POSSIBLE, POSSIBLE if all sources POSSIBLE
• Preserve original item detail when deduplicating — merge into the richer description
• If $ARGUMENTS is empty, merge ALL items from ALL blocks (no filtering)
• If merging results in zero items (all filtered out), emit empty Items section and explain in summary