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General => The Common Room => The Lighter Side => Topic started by: Cog on Monday 07 May 07 23:42 BST (UK)
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is anyone else out there having trouble with the LDS site ? for the past two days it has been very slow to search almost 10 minutes last night, and the same tonight. Just wondering if anyone has come across the same problem, if not it must be my end
Carol :(
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I am in Aus and having difficulty as well. I was blaming my ISP :-[
Cheers
cando
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Hi Cando
at least we know we are not alone in this problem, wonder what is going on tho ? thanks for the reply
Carol
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Not too bad via Hugh Wallis, but hopeless searching directly
Spring
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Yep l am in oz and have had the same thing thought it was my isp. Was getting pretty angry so glad to hear l was not the only one affected.
Jean
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See the following similar topic:
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,231396.
Liz
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Hi Liz
thanks for the link - unfortunately not having much luck with that either ! getting a message to say that I am not allowed access to it ???
carol
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I couldn't even get the search page up yesterday so gave up!!
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I am getting totally brassed off with it now >:(
Now getting the message "due to current level of activitiy on the site etc etc please try again later etc etc" do they mean in a couple of years, I have never known it be this busy, figures it happens when I have new names to search for. ::)
Will try again later I supose
So glad it aint just me tho !
Carol
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hang on a bit !
Spring, without trying to look a complete narna, what is Hugh Wallis ?
Carol
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Hi Carol
This is the site referred to:
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~hughwallis/IGIBatchNumbers.htm
Bren
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I can't access either site now!
I managed a couple of searches this afternoon through the Hugh Wallis site.
I don't think I've known the LDS site be like this for so long. If a site is under maintenance they usually post a message to that effect, but there's no explanation. Surely there can't suddenly be that many more people using the site. We haven't just had a WDYTYA series - and it's Spring! I might understand it if it was the middle of winter and everyone was indoors!! ::)
Anyone got any idea what's going on? ???
Jill
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Are you all talking about Familysearch.org or another LDS site, as I am having no trouble at all with Familysearch and haven't had. I just did a search now, just put in a name of someone I know is on the site, but didn't put country, dob or anything and up came the name, plus about 100 other options.
Liz
ps Just accessed it via Hugh Wallis too.
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Well, I don't know what you're doing right and I'm doing wrong!! ???
I just had another go and did actually access the site and do a search but it's very very slow.
Was your search as slow? Please say yes or I shall feel victimised!! :'( ;)
Jill
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why is this happenin ! >:( ???
just tried it again through my favourites list, got on to the site after 2 mins, clicked on search after 3 mins it took me to the message "Internet Explorer cannot display the web page" I investigated the connection and it says everything is fine ???
Would someone please send me a link to the site, I would like to try it that way to see if its any better.
Carol
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Hi cog
I can't even get to their site, just get a timeout message.....
I think they have the problem.
Bren
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Hi All
Sorry to disappoint you, but the site was as quick as usual with searches - perhaps it's because most of you can't get on to the site that I'm finding it so easy!
Are you all using Internet Explorer, because I'm using Mozilla Firefox, so maybe it is something to do with IE and not the LDS site itself.
Liz
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Not sure what version of IE folks are using, but I had massive problems with same when I bought a new computer. It somehow related to java & I kept getting timeouts all over the place - hence I started to use Firefox. Like lizzie, I am able to access and search at familysearch (I very rarely access it through the Hugh Wallis site - I think it's luck that an alternate way to access sometimes works). I am finding it slow & believe they are updating :) (and probably changing things around again - web master love to do this :( ).
Firefox is free to download if anyone feels like trying it.
Trish
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I'm using Firefox, and just got straight in after earlier troubles....
Bren
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Just did a few searches tonight. Didn't find my people (again!) but would have been surprised if I had. But the site worked fine - no probs! I use Safari with a Mac.
MarieC
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I'm still finding it impossibly slow or timing out, the same whether I use Explorer or Firefox. I haven't known it be like this before - obviously my turn to suffer!
Anne
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It is a bit slower today, but I have found some interesting films to order from the Family History Centre, which I don't remember seeing before. I think they must be updating and/or adding more information to the site.
Liz
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I'm not sure they have added new films to the catalogue - but they have definitely added new indexes to the IGI - I found my previously not found gg grandfather in Kent ;D ;D
Trish :)
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I tried all day yesterday to get familysearch.org but couldn't.
I also tried Rootschat, and had trouble getting that as well!!!
Both O.K. today though.
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I use IE7 and up until today I have had no trouble but couldn't get on today.
It must be an intermittent thing with family search.
Will try again later.
wini
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It is very slow today in my world
Trish
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From time to time, people say that Family Search have added entries but I've never ever seen any evidence of this.
Now Trish says it's definetly happened. Do you think we're in any danger of LDS actually telling us what they've added? I know family history research isn't their primary 'raison d'etre' but it would be helpful! ;)
Jill
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Hi Jill
I've had a few new ones over the years - in recent times if you find any extracted records in lower case, they are often recent additions. It would obviously be nice if they had a section for new additions, but being free & being done by volunteers perhaps the time is better spent adding the new records.
Whenever folks complain about the IGI being slow - I always go & check my unknowns - in case there has been an update. Keep checking - I'm sure you'll find some soon :)
Trish
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Well ! whatdayknow ! ;D tried today and had not a problem at all, hooray. Get a feeling that I shouldn't celebrate so loudly, tempting fate and all that, this topic has been well worth it though as I have found out other stuff, like the Hugh Wallis site, the firefox thing, the fact that there may have been an update, also the fact that I am not alone in this world when it comes to frustrating geneaolgy problems. Hope the site gets better for all concerned, I am keeping my fingers crossed that I will be able to search later today with the same speed we are all used to. ;D
Carol
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Hi Cog & CO.,
Thank goodness (in a way) that some others are having problems with this site. It's been driving me mad for a week!
I'm either getting the message "Internet Explorer cannot display the web page" or it reaches the fourth progress "green square" after about 10 minutes and I give up. I was also thinking it was my ISP, which seemed odd as I have just changed to a faster speed. >:(
Twiss.
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Hi Cog & CO.,
Thank goodness (in a way) that some others are having problems with this site. It's been driving me mad for a week!
I'm either getting the message "Internet Explorer cannot display the web page" or it reaches the fourth progress "green square" after about 10 minutes and I give up. I was also thinking it was my ISP, which seemed odd as I have just changed to a faster speed. >:(
Twiss.
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I couldn't get on last night. I got the same as 'Twiss' , Today I can get a result, but its very slow. I have a fast internet provider, IE and a new computer.
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I am also having the same problem, together with Ancestry.co.uk. Waiting for the pages on the census to turn over is driving me so potty, I have found resorting to my census CDs much faster.
Perhaps we are so used to speed these days, that when things go a little slower our patience grows thin. Oops! I'll have to dash, hubby just shouted hurry up with the tea and biscuits ;D
Su
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No problem here, using Opera 9 and ADSL on a 2 year old PC.
However, regarding updating the site, one of the American geneology newsletters I received this month reported:-
"*** HELP TEST THE NEW FAMILYSEARCH.ORG ***
A recent issue of EOGN (Eastman's Online Genealogical Newsletter) had an interesting article on how the Family History Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as Mormons) is working on improvements to the Website familiar to most of us at www.familysearch.org. Eastman says several new tools are available for beta testing, on a Website called "FamilySearch Labs." The idea is, if the testing proves successful, the features will be implemented on the Familysearch.org site.
If you're interested in helping test these tools, you can read more here:
http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2007/04/you_can_help_te.html "
Not that I've done anything more, as I'm too busy elsewhere at the moment!
Watermusic
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Hi Su,
I'm having the same problem with Ancestry on the Census pages, but if I can manage to log on late at night, it's much quicker.
Twiss.
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Me again !
Now I dont want to scare anyone but after sucessfully getting on the LDS site yesterday I received a message from LDS saying that they were temporarily suspending my connection with the site as I or someone from my computer was attempting to access large volumes of information from them ! funny that as I couldn't even get one ! I had never received a message like this before and in the past spent hours searching LDS. I asked a friend of mine about it and he told me some nasty so and so's out there attach what they call "parasites" to your files to try and bring down microsoft etc. This in turn slows down your computer and can eventually crash it ! He recommended that I download a thingy called "spybot", which I did immediately and found 21 parasites attached to files. I have purchased the software, it cost 42 Aus dollars and my computer is now clean.
As I say, I dont want to scare anyone but thought you could benefit from my experience as this could also be the answer as to why you may be having problems with the LDS site. The address is you want it is www.spywarebot.com
Carol
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Hi Carol,
I really don't think it's a "nasty" - I'm pleased to say :D
Over the last few weeks I've sometimes received such a message (though not in the last few days) - I've assumed it's just some glitch on the LDS site. So I tried again a couple of minutes later and all was well.
People on other genealogical sites have reported the same thing.
The recent slowness of the site is, I think, something to do with them implementing updates/upgrades.
A specific part of the site which has had problems in the last few days is the Census. For a while it wouldn't work at all. Then it sort-of worked ... One could use it but could not select a specific census, or certain parameters. And relationships were in the index but not in the household screens. It still seems to be having problems ...
But the site as a whole is, I'm pleased to say, working beautifully and really fast for me.
I guess we just have to be patient!
JAP
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I think you can end up with that message if you have done a name search using FTM. It usually clears it self after a while.
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I think you can end up with that message if you have done a name search using FTM. It usually clears it self after a while.
jksdelver, By FTM do you mean Family Tree Maker?
Certainly doesn't apply in my case!
I think it must just be a random glitch produced from the LDS site itself.
And yes, I do agree that the glitch does clear itself after a while.
JAP
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Yes I did. Its only happened when I searched through them.
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I agree with Jap, just a glitch, I had a little bit of trouble yesterday but fine again today
wini
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For those having problems with spyware,
'Spybot, Search and destroy' is free and downloadable. It works very well. :)
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New message on the home page of the above site:-
<Web Site Maintenance In Progress
Periodic delays and interruptions expected for several days>
Twiss.
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The site owners must have had e-mails from people, probably in the US, they are better at complaining than we are, and have decided to put up a message explaining what they are doing.
Liz
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It is worth reading their news items
http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Home/News/frameset_news.asp?PAGE=Press/2007-5-14_Access_World_Records.asp
Trish
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Thanks for the link Trish.
Well, I read it.....perhaps I just don't understand American.....what on earth are they trying to tell us?
Jill
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The way I read it Jill
Any records office/genealogy organisation/family history society that would like to put its genealogy images online
a) Will have the records digitised at a minimal cost by the LDS Genealogy Society
b) Will be responsible for creating its own index to same
c) Will NOT charge people to access the index - a copy of which will be on familysearch (and on the home website)
d) Will have the images on their home website (with assistance from LDS if required) & may charge a fee to see the full image.
The theory, with which I tend to agree, is that they have developed expertise in digitising/imaging and will share this expertise with whoever requires same.
My imagination looks at the A2A catalogue - you do a search & then request the scan of the found item - rather than have to travel 10 000 miles to see same :)
Apologies if I have some of the detail incorrect
Trish
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My imagination looks at the A2A catalogue - you do a search & then request the scan of the found item
My problem is that whenever I try to find anything on the A2A catalogue, all I keep getting is a list, that leads to another list until I get back where I started from, I've never found anything I wanted that I could request to view.
Liz
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I have problems like that with the NationalArchives catalogue, but the A2A works for me Liz
It gives me a list of items - I browse them & find the one I want & then realise I live on the other side of the world & that particular office doesn't have a copy service (or I can't afford to use same :( )
Trish
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Here is an interesting thread:
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/1%2C1249%2C660221331%2C00.htm
Its an American newspaper report stating that LDS are going to put 80 billion records on the site
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They'll all be American and then we'll never find the ones we want if there are 80 billion extra records.
Liz
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If you had read the article you would have seen they they will be world wide
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Hello:
I was at a genealogy seminar last fall and one of the speakers was a fellow from Salt Lake who spoke on the digital programming that they are doing.. They are scanning all the records that they have and everyone will be able to look at the actual record.. Will put a surname in the search box and it will come up the the names and then you can click on the name and you will be able to see the actual record. Just like you were looking at a microfilm or fiche.. The reason for doing this is that Kodak and Fuji film are going to stop making film so Salt Lake will not be able to get mircofilm or fiche to copy the records.. I think this is a wonderful thing they are doing as it will make it much easier to find lotst people... If you don't know where they move to or where they died, just insert the surname and check each one out.
Cheers
Anne
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Indaloman - I scanned the article but obviously not thoroughly enough. How long is this going to take them. or was that in the article too?
Liz
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Indaloman
That's a fascinating news report! They don't seem to say how long it will take, but I can hardly wait! ;D
MarieC
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Hm from what I heard yesterday when I went to the Local LDS these images will be pay to view like any other commercial site. I can't imagine that all these images will suddenly become free to see by all of us out there :-\ I hope I am wrong ???
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Well, jmp,
They will have spent a lot of money doing this, so I think they are entitled to charge something! A lot of what you can get through the LDS has always been free, and when you do have to pay (eg ordering microfilms), the charges are very reasonable. I have no issue with it. I think they do a superb job for us family historians!
MarieC
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I have found many reasonably priced genealogy sites & certainly don't mind a small fee. I find ScotlandsPeople one of the most reasonably priced pay to view sites & would be happy for any other sites to charge similar. I do find the price of index CDs and certificates in Australia to be way over reasonable & there are a few overpriced UK sites as well.
The LDS Genealogy organisation is "non profit" - sooner or later some free enterprise wonder will come along and demand they charge competitive rates! One is rarely allowed to offer "free" services anymore - it restricts competition and stops a one day wonder from making a million dollars. Hopefully the LDS will be able to continue as friend of the family historian :).
Trish
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I may be wrong, but the way I understood it, it wouldn't actually be the LDS making any charges. It would be just
the records made available through the LDS project by another body/institution - if that body/institution wanted/needed to make a charge.
I agree with Marie, we really can't quibble about a small charge to have access to what sounds as if - in time - it is going to be as invaluable as Family Search has been for years.
Jill
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Members of the LDS church believe in baptising their ancestors into their faith. This is why they started the IGI. They were given access to church registers on the condition that they made them available to all. This is why not all churches are on the IGI as some vicars objected. The things they do are to help their own church members and not especially for family historians.
I always thought it amusing to think what my grandfather would have said about being baptised into the Mormon faith.
Having said that I probably couldn't have got much past 1837 without them and I don't object to paying the very small fee they charge for ordering films.
Sylviaann
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No dont get me wrong Marc, I have absolutely no objections to a small charge but I think it is more likely to be a commercial one which of course would be more than most people can afford to pay.. As I say I hope Im wrong
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Hello:
I was at a genealogy seminar last fall and one of the speakers was a fellow from Salt Lake who spoke on the digital programming that they are doing.. They are scanning all the records that they have and everyone will be able to look at the actual record.. Will put a surname in the search box and it will come up the the names and then you can click on the name and you will be able to see the actual record. Just like you were looking at a microfilm or fiche.. The reason for doing this is that Kodak and Fuji film are going to stop making film so Salt Lake will not be able to get mircofilm or fiche to copy the records.. I think this is a wonderful thing they are doing as it will make it much easier to find lotst people... If you don't know where they move to or where they died, just insert the surname and check each one out.
Cheers
Anne
I wonder what makes the speaker think that, microfilm has a life of around 500 years digital has a life of around 25 years.
There is as yet no digital image process that comes up to archive standards easily achieved by microfilm.
There is one difference in the process now than before and that is images are captured digitally and then transferred to microfilm for optimum quality and shelf life.
That is why institutions such as banks who adopted digital storage for their records have now gone back to microfilm.
Cheers
Guy
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I'm attempting to search for a last name without entering a first name and get the following message which doesn't make much sense to me ... "If you enter a last
name without a first name, you must not fill in any other field except a country."
Could someone explain to me how this can be done ???
How do you bypass the event section ???
Christopher
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I'm attempting to search for a last name without entering a first name and get the following message which doesn't make much sense to me ... "If you enter a last
name without a first name, you must not fill in any other field except a country."
Could someone explain to me how this can be done ???
How do you bypass the event section ???
Christopher
Hi,
which search page are you using? If you are using "all resources" with just a surname you can't select an event . You will get that message if you select an event, which means what it it says - you leave the event "as all", you don't select anything from that box .
If you want to select an event with just a surname you can use the search on the IGI search page (if it's the IGI's that you're after) with the person's surname, place and event.
Kind Regards :)
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Hello Christopher,
As Cell has explained, the messages which one gets vary according to what part of the FamilySearch site one is searching and more can be specified in an IGI search.
It's just an outcome of the way the search engine has been programmed i.e. in an 'All Resources' search, it's been programmed to allow surname-only searches with or without a country specified - but not to allow you to specify anything else.
If you try to enter anything else up comes the following red message:
If you enter a last name without a first name, you must not fill in any other field except a country.
In the 'IGI' however, the search engine has (much more helpfully!) been programmed to allow one to search with several other parameters specified.
One can, for instance, search with just two parameters - the surname specified plus a region selected.
Or, as well as those two parameters, one can also specify all or any of
-an event
and/or
-a country
and/or
-a county.
But nothing else! If one tries to enter anything in the parents boxes, or the spouse boxes, or the year boxes, one gets the following red message:
If you enter a last name without a first name, you must either not enter parent or spouse names, a year, or you must enter a batch number or a film number
I hate those red messages ;)
JAP
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In the 'IGI' however, the search engine has (much more helpfully!) been programmed to allow one to search with several other parameters specified.
Thanks for that JAP - now I know why people can find ancestors I can't. It makes life so much more simple.
Lizzie
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Well ....
I thought I'd tried most searches on the IGI.
But no!
Only today, I've learned from a post on another forum that, in the IGI, one can do the following search:
Given name only
Mother's name only
Region
One can also add Country and County if wished.
Not a bad search if the father's name is very variable, but one knows the mother's name, and suspects there is a child with a particular given name.
We all keep learning :D
JAP
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Could be an update going on?
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Hi stonechat,
I don't think so - though I can't guarantee that.
My understanding (certainly far from perfect!) is that the online IGI isn't being updated - though I know for certain, from personal experience and written correspondence with FamilySearch, that corrections (perhaps I'd better use the word amendments!!) are being made to the IGI.
I suspect it's just that this is a search that I've never tried in the past ...
Cheers,
JAP
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I'd be interested in how you do a search on mother's name only? I've never been able to manage it! What other info do you need to include?
Jill
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Jill
You have to search on IGI only, not the whole of Familysearch. Just put in the child's first name, mother's surname, then you can choose the region, i.e. British Isles and the country, i.e. England (but it won't let you choose the county too), you can even put in the event, the year and the time span.
It also works with father's surname, but not both parents surnames, unless you put in a surname for the child, which rather defeats the object of finding a missing person, whose name you are not sure of.
Lizzie
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Got it, thanks Lizzie - although it did allow me to put country and county in.
What would be really helpful would be to search by surname only, with either father or mother's name but at the moment you can only do it with both names - or have I missed something there as well? ???
Jill