Validation failed. [Unsupported parameter=exactSearching=[true]]
Do a search with Show Exact Search set on in the Advanced Search tab of More Options.
Then in Preferences, Export Results with one of the Excel formats.
The file that is downloaded will not open with Excel. The error message is shown in the following screenshot.
If you open the Excel file as a text file, you will see one line of text which says:
Validation failed. [Unsupported parameter=exactSearching=[true]]
Turn off Show Exact Search and repeat the search. Excel fails to open the new file. The file contains the same message even though Show Exact Search was turned off.
I have seen this problem using Chrome, Edge and FIrefox browsers.
- Why is exact searching unsupported for downloads?
- Why is exactSearching still true when the Advanced Search tab says Show Exact Search is turned off?
Best Answer
-
@Sally Olsen_1 Engineers report that they have fixed the problem with exporting search results when you use an Exact Search. Please try again. Do let us know if you still get an error message, please.
0
Answers
-
Sally
Welcome to the "Community.FamilySearch" Forum.
I am just another 'lowly' User/Patron ...
FYI
Here is a related post ...
'Q and A' Section
'Category' = Search
Download results from exact searches
https://community.familysearch.org/en/discussion/104436/download-results-from-exact-searches
Brett
0 -
Thank you for connecting my questions to related questions of others. I'll join the others who are waiting.
Sally
0 -
😀
0 -
You may need to delete your cookies and temporary files.
Over time, a large cache of temporary files and cookies accumulates and can cause problems when you use the FamilySearch website.
- Your computer automatically creates a temporary file every time you open a web page. The browser saves these temporary files so that it can return to them quickly.
- Cookies are small pieces of code that FamilySearch and other websites store on your computer. Cookies allow FamilySearch to customize your experience for you. For more information about FamilySearch cookies, go to the bottom of the FamilySearch home page, and click Cookie Preferences.
Clear your cache or cookie in these circumstances:
- Your computer does not respond quickly and efficiently.
- Data on FamilySearch displays poorly or not at all.
Steps (website)
If you clear all cookies, it can affect your access to other websites. Try these steps first:
- Make sure you use a supported Internet browser.
- Delete just the cookies that FamilySearch uses.
- Go to https://FamilySearch.org/cookies.
- When the message Reset your cookies? appears, click Yes.
- If the problems still occur, clear all of your temporary files and cookies. Then restart your computer. Please search the web for instructions for your specific browser.
- If you still have problems, delete your autocomplete history. Search the web for instructions for your specific browser.
- (Optional) Reset your cookie preferences on FamilySearch.
If this does not work, please check to see if your browser is updated.
To update Google Chrome:
- On your computer, open Chrome.
- At the top right, click More .
- Click Update Google Chrome. Important: If you can't find this button, you're on the latest version.
- Click Relaunch.
If you use another browser, do an internet search for directions.
If you are still having problems, try another browser.
Supported browsers
Regardless of the operating system you use, our website works with these fully supported browsers:
- Apple Safari—the current version and one previous
- Google Chrome—the current version and one previous
- Microsoft Edge—the current version and one previous
- Mozilla Firefox—the current version and one previous
If you are still having problems, shut down your computer and reboot it.
Steps (website)
- Sign in to FamilySearch.org.
- Click Search, and select Records.
- Enter information about the person you want to find, and click Search.
- On the search results page, click More Options.
- Click Preferences.
- Under Export Search Results, select the file type and number of results.
- Click Export Results.
- If you attempt to export many pages of search results, you see a message about improper use of the website. If you see such a message, and want to continue to export, send an email to the email addresses you see in the message. Explain why you should be allowed to continue to export.
Tip: To combine results from multiple downloads, you can copy and paste the results from one spreadsheet to another.
Hope one of these steps helps.
0 -
I have cleared cookies, etc. I have tried different computers. I have tried a computer at the Family History Center. By the way, I was told to clear cookies while waiting on a chat, which of course broke the chat.
"If you attempt to export many pages of search results, you see a message about improper use of the website. If you see such a message, and want to continue to export, send an email to the email addresses you see in the message. Explain why you should be allowed to continue to export."
What kind of message are you writing about? email? message in FamilySearch? I have looked for a message and have not found one. Have I missed a message that was sent but not received? What happens if I was clearing cookies when you sent a message? How can I send an email to the email addresses if I cannot see the message?
0 -
They are indicating a message in the Spreadsheet file itself. If you are using Exact Search and exporting large amounts of Index - they want to know why you need that access.
What I am wondering about is the reason Exact Search breaks Search - the FamilySearch employee responding to Search Feedback - indicated that Exact Search has peculiarities. Why? Shouldn't it perform a filter on the Search Results to return exactly the Search Parameters? I don't understand why it would break Search.
0 -
Turning off exact search in the search options does not get rid of the exact search message in the download file.
Resetting does not get rid of the exact search message in the download file.
familysearch.org/cookies clearing cookies does not get rid of the exact search message in the download file.
These 3 ways don't turn off exact search. Is that part of the problem?
0 -
Quite possibly. The other thread on this topic:
says FamilySearch engineers are aware and working on this.
What I am wondering about is the reason Exact Search breaks Search - the FamilySearch employee responding to Search Feedback - indicated that Exact Search has peculiarities. Why? Shouldn't it perform a filter on the Search Results to return exactly the Search Parameters? I don't understand why it would break Search.
0 -
I did a couple exact searches and was able to download those results.
Thank you to the engineers and others who assisted with this problem.
1
