Searching in records should be easier

W Andrews · January 13

Please make searching in records easier. I'm sure I am not the only who has limited time to do family history. So, when I do, I'd like to get more accomplished and not waste time.

Doesn't work 2.jpg

Doesn't work.jpg

Julia Szent-Györgyi · January 13

That's not actually a "no results" message. That's a "nah, I'm too lazy to do that right now" message. Reload/refresh the page and it should (eventually) actually do the search.

donmthomas · January 13

I kind of agree with this patron that, "searching in records should be easier." - When I want to go searching in FamilySearch I hit on a new tab. FamilySearch then opens up to where it is showing this screen.

Note above there is NO "Search." I have to hit on "Recents" and bring up a name before it will show me the "Search."

Áine Ní Donnghaile · January 13

I have my FamilySearch home page set to search. When I open a new tab in FamilySearch, this is what I see:

And when I am concentrating on a particular place, I have tabs set for those specific locations.

donmthomas · January 13

I don't know if I would like it to always open to where it is showing just "Search." I would just like it when hitting on a new tab that it showed "Search."

Áine Ní Donnghaile · January 13

It does -

MaileLoveland · January 13

@donmthomas It may have to do with the size of the window that you are using.

When I have my window slightly smaller, I lose the navigation bar. It is still there in the menu icon that has replaced my account picture in the top right hand corner.

MaileLoveland · January 13

Another possibility is what version of the page you are using. In this example, the window size is set at the same width. The new view (top) shows the navigation bar while the old view (bottom) does not. Again it shows the menu lines, where you can choose where to navigate.

donmthomas · January 13

How would a person who is new to the FamilySearch "Family Tree," know how to do all the above to get to "Searching" if it is not showing? Again, I agree with this patron and their statement, "searching in records should be easier." I am not computer savvy and I have not done a thing to my computer, and yet it was not showing "Search" when I brought up a new tab.

And it is still not showing "Search" when I bring up a new tab.

Áine Ní Donnghaile · January 13

@donmthomas I'm not doing ANYTHING special, different, or difficult. The word Search is at the top of the page every time.

Julia Szent-Györgyi · January 14

Ah, the joys of adaptive web design.

@donmthomas, I agree that it shouldn't be this hard, but in case it wasn't clear from other posts, your view is a "condensed" one, where the top menu bar (containing Search, among others) has been hidden in the "hamburger menu" (the three lines at the top right, circled in orange in my screenshot of your screenshot).

Áine and I are apparently using a wider screen than you are, because we always see Family Tree, Search, Memories, Get Involved, and Activities across the top, after the FamilySearch logo-and-name. You'll notice that you just have the logo, not the name, to signal that it's a condensed/narrow view.

Áine Ní Donnghaile · January 14

Even on my 15-inch laptop, I have the word "Search" and the rest of that row unless I zoom to 133% or more.

donmthomas · January 14

Your above mentioning 133% got my playing around. If I put it at 90% the "Search" will show. Makes me mad though that I have to do anything. For years and years FamilySearch was working just fine, without me doing anything.