A dominating set S of a graph is a metric-locating-dominating set if each vertex of the graph is uniquely distinguished by its distanc es from the elements of S , and the minimum cardinality of such a set is called the metri c-location- domination number. In this paper, we undertake a study that, in general graphs and specific families, relates metric-locating-dominatin g sets to other special sets: resolving sets, dominating sets, locating-dominating set s and doubly resolving sets. We first characterize classes of trees according to cer tain relationships between their metric-location-domination number and thei r metric dimension and domination number. Then, we show different methods to tran sform metric- locating-dominating sets into locating-dominating sets a nd doubly resolving sets. Our methods produce new bounds on the minimum cardinalities of all those sets, some of them involving parameters that have not been related so farPostprint (published version