Genealogy Chat

It's gone funny on me again today, but at least I am better at trying to sort it. I am just no good if something changes on a computer.

That'll do just fine, Margaret

mgnv

You mean I try hard but never get it right?

I wish I knew how to import a smiley face. Will this do -:)

Margaret - re: "Why is it only me that has these problems?"

I put it down to your constant practice.

By Gad it has worked.

Search. Search All Records. Old Search.

I can't pull up BMDs like I used to, but be thankful for small mercies.

Why is it only me that has these problems?

Margaret

I am breaking all the rules by having two goes at the same problem, but I thought mine was a different problem. I promise I will delete/consolidate them. But Jim says:

The box for exact search is still there.
You need
"search" in top bar
"historical records" at top of search box
And it must say "new search" far right under top bar.

Jim, If I go to "search", I don't get anything that says "historical records". What do you mean it must say "new search" far right under top bar. Far right where? I found what I imagine is the top bar, cos it has "search" on it, but there us nothing underneath it.

Oh, there is a TAB that says Historical Records, but if I search on that, I get an enormous list of things like Census and Voter Lists, BMD,Military etc.

The main screen asks me for a year range. I have never seen that before. I've always just put in a year and say +/- x years. Where has that gone? And does it make any difference anyway?

Just tried it out, and this brings me to a VERY old screen layout, and certianly not the one I was using a couple of weeks ago.

Help gratefully received as I don't know what I am doing.

Margaret

The previous thread is connected but not directly, so I am going to cut and paste my query here.

Margaret

Ruth,

I think it was the previous thread that prompted me to ask but I felt my question was different. I have tried the tip on there re "old search" but that still doesn't bring me to what I used to have. In fact, what I used to have on the home page is identical to what I have now. It is just that when I start searching, the search engine isn't finding the right records. I mean if I ask for John Bradley born 1838 Macclesfield, Cheshire, I shouldn't be getting John Bradleys born 1892 in Wolverhampton before finding my John.

It is no doubt something that I am doing wrong, it usually is, I accept that.

But why has it suddenly altered?

Now you will all know I am noddy with technology. I have struggled over the past fortnight with what seems to be a new search system in Ancestry that is "doing my head in", and just thought I had to live with it. But I can't live with it.

Until a fortnight ago, I could put in John Bradley, b 1838, Macclesfield, Cheshire, and it would come up with nearest matches to that criteria, whether in 1841, 1851, 1861 or whatever. It would sometimes show a member's tree at the top that might be relevant. It might throw up people born 1837 or 1839, and people born Bollington or Prestbury, which are nearby, before moving on to less remote matches. That was fine.

But now I input the same criteria and first I have to choose a census year. Then I get all kinds of John Bradleys, born all over the country and not living anywhere near Macclesfield. I have to search to page 8 before I find one born Macclesfield, with the right year of birth. Why?

I have tried removing the date of birth, that does nothing productive.

I also use the detailed search, to input father and mother, or spouse. It seems to take no notice of those choices at all, so what is the point of giving me the option? Again, it is about page 8 before I find him married to the right person.

Someone has suggested that I keep my search address in my favourites - well I do. It is www.ancestry.co.uk - is that wrong? What else would I have there?

It worked okay till a fortnight ago.

Can someone please help?

Margaret