When will the search capability be scrapped and the old one resumed?
Answers
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There will be no going back, I fear. Quite clearly, FamilySearch has listened to its users, but decided that a 90% + thumbs-down on the new design will, at the most, lead to a few tweaks. However, never to a return to the old Search engine, which was replaced regardless of such negative reaction from those who should count.
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Personally, I think 90% of the complaints could be solved if they would redesign the search and search results back to something that mirrored the the old search layout and search results. Whenever any online community combines an overhaul to major feature and then launches a completely new portal design at the same time it creates a mountain of issues. Change is fine if it makes sense, and makes work easier. Change for the sake of change is a disaster waiting to happen.
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Yes, I advocate the idea of perhaps an option for a 'minimal functional' interface versus the more GUI (graphically intense) current version - more similar to the previous version. I don't know the algorithmic changes in the new version - and await FamilySearch 'substantive education' to these changes. Currently the best I can determine is that the algorithm 'casts a wider net' resulting in 'more results' and requires filtering down to display the results you would like. But it is best to give specific Feedback button feedback to engineers - so that they can understand your frustrations with the Search Results. There do appear to have been some tweaks and resulting 'better' Search Results.
As noted in another post: The current Search> Records may have changed the default Life Event options from 'birth' to 'Any' - this can result in seemingly unintelligible Results - but may actually be following a specific algorithm that returns Results for 'Any' Life Event. If you want just Life Events for birth, marriage, death or residence - make sure you choose one or other of those options. I do not know why it was chosen to default to 'Any' Life Event. Changing 'Any' to any other Life Event (deleting the default 'Any' event and choosing some other one) also appears to introduce a possible bug - upon entering the parameters for the selected Life Event - the engine appears to default back to 'Any' and in fact auto-populates such an Event (as of today 10/18/2021 1:59 MDT). If this default is the cause for the algorithmic Search Result variations - I hope it can be resolved soon.
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The new "search" input screens are useless - why did you "fix" what was not "broke"?
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Please take a look at this and this and consider and / or comment
https://community.familysearch.org/en/discussion/comment/380934
[ Yes I'm Still Banging the Drum ! ]
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The 'new Search' parameters are the same as the old - plus add in a few new features. They are far from 'useless'. They are different - located in different locations than 'old Search' - but function largely the same.
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The new search is totally different from the old! It is much more limiting and does not provide capabilities such as date ranges .... please reinstate the old search or at least provide a choice ....
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You state: "It is much more limiting and does not provide capabilities such as date ranges".
I make searches on date ranges all the time. Perhaps you are staying on the opening page and not moving on, via MORE OPTIONS. Searching on an event on that page will open up more search options, including "Year (Range)".
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I am trying to search for Ann Williams but her death. So her name is Ann Miles. How do I change the search to Ann Miles? I used to be able to edit the name field.
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You can either add an Alternate Name - or you can edit the person's last name. Then click Search at the bottom of the page.
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This thread amply illustrates just how completely and utterly FamilySearch has failed in its aims with this new search interface.
People of all levels of experience simply cannot figure out how to use it.
People of all levels of experience find the presentation confusing.
People of all levels of experience are failing to find what they were looking for.
FamilySearch, is anyone even listening?
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Thank you for providing the link. I doubt if anybody at FamilySearch will want to dispute Casey's claims for being the "sole design contributor in redesigning FamilySearch's highest used products". However, there must have been others who allowed him such a free rein, which has led to an unparalleled degree of discontent among its users.
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confermo giudizio assolutamente negativo sul cervellotico nuovo sistema.
chi lo ha disegnato non ha MAI fatto ricerca genealogica.
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I have 50 years of experience in the IT industry and I have seen some pretty bad software delivered but this new user interface is clearly one of the worst I have seen. Yesterday I was searching on Norfolk, England with a date range ... the search seemed to completely ignore this criteria to display records from Kent a century later .... this is so bad ... both impossible to use and as one members observed untested ....
Not surprise the designer/developer is no longer an employee ....
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I am very critical of the changes, but not having serious problem in actually getting the desired results. With reference to your Norfolk search, see https://www.familysearch.org/search/record/results?count=20&q.birthLikeDate.from=1780&q.birthLikeDate.to=1810&q.birthLikePlace=norfolk&q.birthLikePlace.exact=on&q.givenName=william&q.givenName.exact=on&q.surname=greengras%2A&q.surname.exact=on.
Checking the "Exact" boxes generally works for me. All the results here were as expected. If I had wanted I could have easily filtered out the census ones.
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Thank you so much for your help and assistance. So many organisations take no notice of their customers and just go ahead and make changes that often leave the user worse off ... Microsoft - Linkedin - Findmypast - are also good examples ... we should not just sit back and accept this attitude the larger the negative response the more the organisation has to take action ... other than looking "nice" I see absolutely no benefits or additional capabilities in this new version .... no one has so far objected to "please go back to the old version idea" ... but is anyone listening? Do they read these posts? Like many I guess they have their heads in a very dark place (like an ostrich) ...
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The old Familysearch was always my go to place but it is so cobbled up now that it will not even rate as a last resort. It was so intuitive in the past but is the least user friendly search I have encountered
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Please, give us back the old presentation for FIND in research
I can't find good results with this new one. Thanks.
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FYI
I am just another 'lowly' User/Patron ...
Just in passing ...
In regards to the NEW "Search Records"; and, the resulting "Results" page/screen ...
You are certainly not alone ...
We are ALL 'Struggling' ...
And, just in case you, were not aware ...
Here are some FOUR (x4) posts, in date (and, post) order of being posted, from someone, stating, to be part of the 'FamilySearch' Team that, 'Designed'; and, 'Developed", the the NEW "Results" page/screen, for "Search Records", which appears, in some of the posts, to give some "Instruction", on HOW to use the NEW "Results" page/screen, for "Search Records".
"Ideas" (ie. 'Feedback) Section
15 July 2021
[ 1 ] Discussion 90536
'Category' = Records (Searching And Viewing)
Home > Ideas > Records (Searching And Viewing)
Hello FamilySearch Community! Try out the new update to Record Search.
29 September 2021
[ 2 ] Discussion 103619
'Category' = General User Interface
Home > Ideas > General User Interface
FamilySearch's Updates to the Search Page
https://community.familysearch.org/en/discussion/103619/familysearchs-updates-to-the-search-page
[ 3 ] Discussion 103620
'Category' = Records (Searching And Viewing)
Home > Ideas > Records (Searching And Viewing)
FamilySearch Employee Responding to Search Page Feedback
[ 4 ] Discussion 103621
'Category' = Records (Searching And Viewing)
Home > Ideas > Records (Searching And Viewing)
FamilySearch Employee Responding to Search Page Feedback
I hope, that some of the information in these posts, may offer some help/assistance.
And ...
There are OTHER posts throughout this Forum, where the instigator of the above posts has responded with, advice; direction; instruction; help/assistance, on the NEW "Results" page/screen, of "Records Search" ('FamilySearch').
Now ...
That Said ...
You may like to ADD, your thoughts/comments, in those particular posts; so that, your thoughts/comments, like those of MANY other UNHAPPY Users/Patrons, ARE 'seen', by the Team, in 'FamilySearch', that 'Designed'; and, 'Developed" the NEW look "Search".
As you can 'see' from those posts ...
DESPITE, all the NEGATIVE 'Feedback', with regard to the NEW "Results" page/screen, for "Search Records", from those that matter, the 'lowly' User/Patrons, where the NEW "Results" page/screen, for "Search Records", was 'foisted' upon them; BEFORE, being "Fully" released to ALL User/Patrons - 'FamilySearch' RELEASED the NEW "Results" page/screen, for "Search Records", to ALL Users/Patrons.
As I already suggested ...
You are not alone ...
We are ALL 'Struggling'; and, NEED "Help", with the NEW "Results" page/screen, for "Search Records", which is NOT very 'User Friendly'.
MOST Users/Patrons want the NEW "Results" page/screen, for "Search Records" to be "Reverted" BACK to the PREVIOUS "Results" page/screen, for "Search Records".
But ...
That Said ...
SADLY, I doubt that will happen ...
And ...
Finally ...
'FamilySearch' has made, MINOR "Changes", to the NEW "Search Records"; and, the resulting "Results" page/screen, hopefully such will keep occurring ...
I know, that this may NOT help/assist; but, I hope, that this gives you, some additional, insight; and, perspective.
Brett
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