Restore search function
Hi, the previous search function was so much more powerful and useful. Please consider a way to bring back the search values for adding names and dates. This current search function keeps me from using this site at all.
Comments
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FYI
Welcome to the "Community.FamilySearch" Forum.
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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I find the search function in FamilySearch to be very problematic. Much of the time (really!) I have to do my research on ancestry.com and then try to cajole the FamilySearch search function into showing me records that I know exist.
Also, the default seems to be to show more of what I already have. Already have a birth record or a 1940 census record for a particular person? Look, here are more of them for people with similar names.
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Coming back to familysearch.org after over a year or two, I find that the search function now finds many 'residence" entries and many "military" entries, but few if any "baptism" or "marriage" entries. The useful results are about who is related to whom, less about residence locations or military service.
I'm finding this site to be so much less useful to genealogists than it was before, and cannot find crucial information either here or in Ancestry searches. What has happened to vital records?
Second, it seems that the names matching function is now somewhat strange, giving results that do not seem even close. (suspect that "AI" is being introduced without a lot of testing,, but could be incorrect here).
I hope that you hear this as it is meant, which is to be constructive. I am frustrated that the former excellent results are no longer here.
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It's always best to illustrate your issues with specific examples. In this way, you could probably be provided with advice from other users regarding the best way to obtain the required results.
One piece of advice I would always offer is to search for just one type of record at a time. For example, if you are seeking a marriage record, do not enter any birth or death detail when making a search. I would input the name of one of the individuals (and possibly the name of the spouse) together with the marriage location (possibly just a county / state, rather than a parish / city) and a date range. To reduce results, use "Exact" searches (by checking the box against each field - Name, Marriage Place, etc.) and using wildcards if there are altenative spellings to a name (e.g. RE*D to produce results for a person whose surname might be found as REED, READ or REID).
One other possible reason why you might be finding less results than previously could be connected to certain collections being removed from FamilySearch since you previously visited. Withdrawn records used to apply just to image-only collections, but is increasingly now found with indexed collections, too.
Please come back if you need any further clarification regarding "strategies" for making more fruitful searches, or if you would care to share an example of a record you were unable to find, when you were expecting to do so.
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