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Beginners => How to Use RootsChat (Please don't post requests here) => Topic started by: casalguidi on Wednesday 07 September 05 13:57 BST (UK)

Title: Search engine query
Post by: casalguidi on Wednesday 07 September 05 13:57 BST (UK)

Is there any way to use the search engine to find Hoo without bringing up every mention of ..............

school
neighbourhood
adulthood
hooper etc. etc.

which amounts to 47 pages of results :o

Casalguidi

 

Title: Re: Search engine query
Post by: C P Rayson on Wednesday 07 September 05 14:04 BST (UK)

Hi

Have you tried putting the term in speach quotes

e.g. "Hoo" it reduces the numbers on Google

Happy Hunting

Chris

Title: Re: Search engine query
Post by: trystan on Wednesday 07 September 05 14:06 BST (UK)

Casalguidi

Sorry, no, to speed up the search pages for everybody we have set it so that it looks for any occurrence of a search word.

It does result in a lot of matches unfortunately, but conversely it can be used to advantage if a person is looking for part of a surname.

One way to reduce the number of pages would be to click on "Advanced Search" and just search a county at a time where you expect the surname to crop up.

Sorry about that,
Trystan

Title: Re: Search engine query
Post by: casalguidi on Wednesday 07 September 05 14:10 BST (UK)

Hi Chris

Yes, I too, use commas frequently if searching google for a string of words

Thanks Trystan - no problem I was just wondering

Casalguidi  :)

Title: Re: Search engine query
Post by: dee-jay on Sunday 16 October 05 00:25 BST (UK)

Hi folks.
I never knew what a popular name Richard was until I tried a search for Chard [placename]!

Title: search rootschat
Post by: goff153 on Wednesday 26 April 06 12:22 BST (UK)

I have tried to use the Search Rootschat facility (top of the home page) to search for references to my surname ELAND.  However I get every reference containing that string of characters - most notably hundreds of references to irELAND - thus rendering the whole process pointless.

Can anyone advise me please how to limit the search to simply the five characters?


Moderator Comment: topics merged

Title: Re: search rootschat
Post by: RJ_Paton on Wednesday 26 April 06 12:30 BST (UK)

Unfortunately i do not believe it is possible (at the moment) to limit a search of the Rootschat message base in the way that you wish.

Title: Re: search rootschat
Post by: Gadget on Wednesday 26 April 06 13:06 BST (UK)

Hi

If it is a surname, it might be worth your while searching the Surname Interests Table - click on <Your Surname Interests> at the bottom of this page, then search for Eland. You will then get a list of members who have entered that as an interest.

Gadget

Title: Re: search rootschat
Post by: goff153 on Wednesday 26 April 06 16:18 BST (UK)

Thanks for your help.

Title: Searching the Rootschat postings
Post by: Tony Drew on Sunday 21 May 06 11:23 BST (UK)

How do I search for just the name Wicks ?   When I put Wicks down I get all answers including Warwickshire - by far the majority and similarly the name Burton with all the Burton on Trent's turning up ?


Moderator Comment:  topics merged

Title: Re: Search engine query
Post by: goff153 on Sunday 21 May 06 22:31 BST (UK)

I've come to the conclusion there's no answer to this.

Which makes the search facility virtually useless.

Title: Re: Search engine query
Post by: Shropshire Lass on Sunday 21 May 06 22:52 BST (UK)

Hello goff,

Well yes, the search facility isn't much help for some names but on the other hand we're not paying anything for Rootschat, for all the time spent keeping the site going and for all the costs involved.

If you have a more unusual name, it's fine, and you can always use the Surname Interests Table for the common ones and ones that bring up loads of other hits - try searching for the Wiltshire family on the search facility!

Monica