New Search

Nancy Brown_3

Has Family Search impleted a new search format? Are there instruction for learning the new search criteria? It's not a very user friendly experience.

Carla Tobler

@Nancy Brown_3 

Yes, FamilySearch has developed and is testing a new Search experience for some users. You are welcome to use the Feedback button on the right side of the screen if you like. Your Feedback is always welcome.

Also, if you will try the blue links on the screen: MORE OPTIONS, BROWSE ALL COLLECTIONS, and BROWSE PLACES, you will see pages that look familiar to you.

We appreciate your input. Best Wishes!

Brenda Becker_1

@Nancy Brown_3

Can you post a screen shot of where that would be? I see a More Options highlighted in blue on the far right of the screen, but all that does is bring up a menu to input information, such as residence and year, and alternate names. I did this, and still come up for over 1,000 entries.

With browsing, there should be a list of countries, states, counties and years, etc. Am I missing something?

Thanks.

Nancy Brown_3

I don't understand this question A screen shot of what? I have posted several questions on the new format. I need more information of what you are expecting to see.

Paul W

@Brenda Becker_1

It can be rather difficult to post screenshots at present, as one day you might be presented with the new format when you log in, but the next day it might be back to the "old" format. Even switching browsers (at exactly the same time) can give you the "other" format.

I have found working with the new Search pages to be a fairly slow process - well, it depends on your adaptability to sudden change, I guess. Like many users, I would hope the new pages are not permanently adopted, but think (after all the time and cost in creating them) that might be wishful thinking on my part!

Just remember to move on from the "new Home page" as soon as possible. From the next page you will have the same options (to search on collections and with filters) as before, although they might now be found on the right hand side of the page instead of the left, etc., so it all takes a little time to get used to.

BTW - you can reduce your results considerably by making "Exact" searches and specific collections (e.g. just search on census collections, if that's all you want to see).

Dspinks41

I think the developers of this site need to read some of the feedback ... for instance the new search facility is a lot less easy to use than the old one ... some of the search capabilities have been removed ... clearly by those who know nothing about family history or searching ....

Haze05

New search facility is not very user friendly, more time consuming and the results don't even appear to be particularly accurate. So many family history websites seem to keep changing formats, usually for the worse. I don't have a great deal of time at present for family history so when I do have time I don't want to waste most of it trying to work through a 'new exciting experience'. I'm not against change but I don't see the point in keep changing things when they work perfectly well. Please can we have the old search facility back.