Record Location in Search Results
Right now, I find myself frustrated by many aspects of the new search interface. Setting search parameters takes far more clicks to get meaningful results. I'm sure there are some improvements but I have not yet been able to identify them; perhaps I just can't see the forest because all the new trees make it inaccessible.
Anyway, I'm accustomed to being able to see the locations of records appearing in search results. With the new interface, I've tried selecting view "all information" in search preferences but the location still does not display in search results. It appears I have to load the preview of each record in order to view the location, which is quite time consuming. Is there a way to display the location of all search results or, if not, could that be added back as an option in future changes?
Answers
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Dear Tyrams,
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Dear Tyrams, did this answer your question? Yeah, didn't help me either. I've had the same issue. I have sent feedback, and asked the same question yesterday. I still have no answer. As a researcher, I do not have time to click on every return to see the location and make a determination whether it is a record I need to pursue.
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I've figured out that sometimes, switching to the "Data Sheet" format helps -- at the price of needing to scroll horizontally as well as vertically.
I don't know what criteria or mechanism they're using in this new display for choosing which indexing fields are shown, but whatever it is, it is Doing It Wrong -- making the "All Information" label a blatant falsehood.
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FamilySearch is always trying to improve their website. The current change is to help beginners be more successful. If you will click More Options you will be able to add additional information to narrow your search. Once you do a search, on the results page, there is another More Options link in the top right corner. However, I do not see where it shows the a more precise location. I agree with you, that would be more helpful.
The engineers are looking for feedback to continue to improve the the changes. By clicking on the Feedback tab usually found on the right side of the page, your suggestions go directly to the engineers and will be read by them immediately. They do not browse community.
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Losing the precise location is a huge deal. You now have to click on every record. PLEASE bring this feature back. (Yes, I've left feedback.)
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I find some of the place name issues to be interesting. For example hints that were sitting on a person prior to the rollout and change in Search/locations - may have had old locations that will now 'error' due to the new functionality/system - these 'hints' will need 'refreshing'. My assumption - as others have mentioned - is that this is in a state of being worked on by the engineers - thus these issues will resolve over time and we will recognize and come to understand the 'new Search/location' features better than we currently do - or we can still be lost in the trees (I know I have to relearn features over and over).
I know this doesn't resolve the frustration you are experiencing - the topic has many other Community threads. Your patience - especially with the records you are wanting results for today - is appreciated! As a FamilySearch Community I think we - myself included - need more patience for some of these issues to resolve. In the meantime - the initial Community response above - although not verbose - is correct - we can all submit our Feedback.
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@Teresa Winterton wrote: "The current change is to help beginners be more successful."
Well, they've failed in that, utterly and completely. When even the experts cannot successfully use a site, what hope do the newbies have?
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We are happy to share some ideas on how to enjoy the new look and Search features for Search Records and record results page.
The Search Records update is inviting and helpful for our new users, but the features that our experienced users love are still available, even though it has a new outward appearance.
The update provides a new look and feel, but just click on “more options” to see the more familiar search page for a more specific search. The same search engine is the gate to finding wonderful records.
On the new Search Historical Records page, there is a wonderful link for “Tips for Effective Searches.” We hope that the explanations to what a historical record is and how records help us learn about our family are helpful for experienced users as well as for beginners.
As you get used to the new features in the search results page, you may discover new features that can help in sorting, saving and viewing your record search results. Many of our guests are discovering marvelous ways to use the new features. These updates may be challenging at first, but a great deal of work, research and experienced planning has gone into this update for our benefit. Please give it some time. Experience the search. Experiment with each feature. We hope that you will grow to love the new update to FamilySearch records search.
May we suggest some articles from the Help Center.
Best practices and search tips for historical records. https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/article/when-i-am-searching-historical-records-what-are-the-best-practices-and-tips
How do I filter the search results in historical records? https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/article/filter-the-search-results-in-historical-records
How do I change how search results in historical records are formatted? https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/article/how-do-i-change-the-format-of-the-search-results-in-historical-records
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Feedback: I think most of the Search Feedback here - and on other posts I have seen - is fairly specific and generally three-fold - not as general as you have replied - not operating as users 'expect' in comparison of efficiency with 'old Search':
- The Search Preference> Fixed Table> All Information ≠ Display all information from the record details. (specifically residence/location is missing) Using 'Data Sheet' is the option here if you want 'All Information'.
- the 'old Search' was vertically scrollable on left-hand side - not toggle between Search parameters and preferences (which some users say takes longer to input and currently has no options)
- the Search Results in Data Sheet format take up too much space and are not as efficient to scroll. There is too much whitespace and 'responsive web design' is not being implemented to determine layout of results for smaller screen devices. (no options other than browser zoom that I am aware of)
I also think some of the features are improvements but I can also understand the desire for a more efficient setting of Search Preferences. Perhaps the idea - similar to others I have seen suggested - allow Search Preferences to be set on the Search homepage and not tabbed 'behind' the actual Search Parameters? There is also a point about being allowed to move Search Parameters/Preferences to the left-hand side - so as not to interfere with the browser scroll and the Feedback button is a little in the way. Is there a reason why these couldn't be moved to the left-hand side? I'm ok either way but do see the valid points of these requests.
Thank you.
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"The Search Records update is inviting and helpful for our new users, but the features that our experienced users love are still available, even though it has a new outward appearance."
How do you reconcile this statement or belief with the many, many, many postings here (and elsewhere) characterising the new interface as confusing and difficult (or impossible) to figure out and use?
I believe the evidence is that this statement is simply wrong. The update is NOT "inviting and helpful", for anyone. It is confusing, hard to use, and leads to failure and disappointment, among newbies and experts alike.
"The update provides a new look and feel, but just click on “more options” to see the more familiar search page for a more specific search."
I am strongly reminded of that scene in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, where the important report was perfectly accessible: "But look, you found the notice, didn’t you?" "Yes," said Arthur, "yes I did. It was on display in the bottom of a locked filing cabinet stuck in a disused lavatory with a sign on the door saying 'Beware of the Leopard.'"
"The same search engine is the gate to finding wonderful records. "
The search engine may be the same, but the interface is neither sending the same commands to it, nor displaying the same part of the results: filters aren't filtering, and only the highly-unwieldy "data sheet" format actually displays the event place and date for non-birth-record results. This renders the only actual improvement in the interface -- the choice of display detail -- basically useless. In its current state, the options are an instance of "nice thought, but the devil is in the details".
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