Where is the Simple Search that used to be at the top of the screen above the results?
I logged in today to find the search page had dramatically changed for the worse:
- Where is the old simple search name entry that used to be at the top of the search page? There is an advanced search, so somewhere there should be a simple search or there'd be no need to call one advanced.
- Speaking of advanced search, I can not close the advanced search window so right off the bat I lose 1/3 of my screen real estate to a feature I usually do not wish to use.
- The record types and any other parameters I had selected in advanced search used to appear above the results, highlighted in blue when I closed the advanced search. It was super simple to see exactly what I had entered and which parameters were being searched with a single quick glance. Now I have to mouse over to the advanced search and scroll up and down through multiple screens worth of data to see if I left a spouse name or any other info irrelevant to my current search that may negatively impact my search results.
Less informative, more labor intensive, more time consuming, greater chance for error and failed searches due to leftover data remaining in unseen parameter entries, and a 33% smaller window in which to display results. Please, how is this an improvement?
Answers
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So until today, directly above the search results you could enter names to search, as well as a couple other data points, and any parameters you had selected in advanced search would be displayed up there as well, highlighted in blue. This made it super easy to see what you were searching, and for whom, and the specific parameters being used. One quick look and I could see who I was searching for, and that I was searching for them in birth and christening records, marriage records, death records from 1750 - 1882, results from Pennsylvania only, and any event that occurred in one specific city.
Now all of that is gone and I am stuck with the advanced search only, and can't even close that to get it out of my way, so I'm losing 1/3 of my screen real estate to something I neither want nor need to see, and rarely use. If there's an Advanced Search there should be a regular, Simple Search, otherwise there's no need to call the only one Advanced, right?
On top of that, since my entered data and chosen parameters no longer appear on the page in a way that enables me to see them all at once, there is now a far greater chance of failed searches due to irrelevant data and parameters being chosen, left over from a previous search. Now, instead of doublechecking my search terms with a simple glance I have to mouse over to the advanced search and scroll up or down through 3 screens worth of data entry fields and parameter selection to see what I've entered and/or selected.
Searching is now more labor intensive, is less informative, wastes more time, and increases the odds of failed searches, How on earth is this an improvement?
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Pardon the double post. Immediately after posting I tried to edit to correct a spelling error and this entire post disappeared. I received a site error message stating the page no longer existed and something about vanilla permission needed, and My Discussions stayed at 0 count even after multiple refreshes.
After reposting the same issue, this one re-appeared, and I can find no way to delete it.
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Jeff
Welcome to the "Community.FamilySearch" Forum.
I am just another 'lowly' User/Patron ...
And, in relation to, the "Changes" of, the NEW "Search Records"; and, the resulting "Results" page/screen ...
You are certainly not alone ...
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 DOES NOT help/assist; but, I hope, that this gives you, some additional, insight; and, perspective.
Brett
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Jeff
Welcome to the "Community.FamilySearch" Forum.
I am just another 'lowly' User/Patron ...
Pictorially ...
I hope, that this may help/assist.
Brett
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@Brett . Thanks for that, but the three dots only show a "delete" option for comments, not for the original post. The three dots there show only an "Edit" option.
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ok, it's getting weirder. I went to the beta URL, and it is what I've been using heavily for 3 months, with data fields at the top of the screen as I described, and clicking More Options opens advanced search that I can close when done.
So I've been using the new beta one all along without going to the beta URL? And now I somehow have the old one back?
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ok, now I'm super confused.
A comment I typed was saved three times as a draft, though I never tried to save it.
A duplicate post I couldn't find a way to delete is now gone, yet it's contents appear in this discussion now.
The beta search URL takes me back to what I have been using, while the regular search URL takes me to what is new? Maybe?
Somehow, a whole different discussion, regarding updates to this Community Forum, has appeared in this discussion of the Record Search page, with comments dating back 2-1/2 months before my question was even posted.
Nothing here makes sense. I yield.
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@Jeff Schneider_1 - Your thread is all fixed now. My apologies. That was my fault.
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