tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5512311610334754148.post7564215510038223171..comments2023-04-20T12:46:11.858-06:00Comments on The Ancestry Insider: Kehrer Webinar: Wildcards and Exact SearchThe Ancestry Insiderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02490682912125335188noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5512311610334754148.post-9781794259373537682012-07-11T08:02:33.435-06:002012-07-11T08:02:33.435-06:00Ron, this post is about searching at www.familysea...Ron, this post is about searching at www.familysearch.org, not Ancestry. You may know what sort of characters are used as wild cards, but many do not. I have used familysearch sites for years, and did not know wild cards could be used until a blogger mentioned it in passing. The "help" link at www.familysearch.org lists nothing that would obviously be a quick outline about how to use the search page. Clicking on the initial help page's link to FamilySearch takes one to a corporate mission statement, together with a link offer to search the "former site" -- which has been deleted except as host to the old Library Catalog. I used the search box on the main "Help" page to search for the term "searching historical records." This produced as its fourth result an extremely helpful article, dated June 20, 2012, including information on available wild cards and what they do; its title is "Options and Tips for Searching Historical Records," but where exactly it ~is~ on the site is not indicated, and there is no indication as to how to find it if one does not search for that exact phrase ("searching historical records"). Like most of the other helpful information on the site, it is extremely well hidden.Geoloverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12050268303916428230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5512311610334754148.post-33487975758153086422012-07-10T23:44:32.017-06:002012-07-10T23:44:32.017-06:00In all search web sites I always try wildcards any...In all search web sites I always try wildcards anyway.<br />and read the help<br />In Ancestry.co* I use wildcards continually and minimise the amount of letters.<br />In all areas of search - places - names <br />Ancestry does have powerful wildcards unlike some competitors. <br />Example my gran's surname Robbins aka Robins and variations could be Robens etc<br />well I search for something like r*b*nsRonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01898855599160925012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5512311610334754148.post-44641636930720746932012-07-10T23:39:18.384-06:002012-07-10T23:39:18.384-06:00Why not search for FRAN* that way you get Frank an...Why not search for FRAN* that way you get Frank and Francis and also Frances as the names get confused twixt the genders.<br />Maybe if you want females even F*AN* which I think will include FRANCES and FANNYRonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01898855599160925012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5512311610334754148.post-14292469447230835242012-07-10T16:04:38.461-06:002012-07-10T16:04:38.461-06:00I agree with Geolover. I've used the exact sea...I agree with Geolover. I've used the exact search boxes but nowhere does it tell you that wild cards are allowed nor what they are.Rosemaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07230436754902585388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5512311610334754148.post-4759713337952104222012-07-10T12:35:09.910-06:002012-07-10T12:35:09.910-06:00So why does the search form not mention wild-cards...So why does the search form not mention wild-cards and not label what the little squares are for? For such simple tips the user should not have to go to a hidden video or webinar (which many cannot view anyway) that are not labeled by content-outlines or searchable.Geoloverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12050268303916428230noreply@blogger.com