|
Ancestry Daily News
1/30/2002 - Archive
| • |
The British CDs: How Do They Work? |
The British CDs: How Do They Work?
Ancestry View does not take long to grasp and it is very good at its job. The
simple search is indeed simple. Put the name/word of interest into the search
box at the top of the screen, click on the green GO button just to the right,
and the results come up promptly. There are buttons in the toolbar for Next
and Previous hits, making it easy to work back and forth within the results.
The default screen, seen when the program opens, has two parts. On the right,
taking up more than half, is the display window and on the left is the contents
window. Their titles reveal their function, one shows the results of a search
and the other the parts of the database within which that information is located.
You can eliminate the contents screen, but take my advice - don't. It's a real
help in tracking your search.
For each new search, the display in the contents window changes to reflect the
main and sub-headings, i.e., the summary of search results. These can be printed,
but they cannot be copied and pasted. Clicking on the plus and minus signs expands
and contracts the sections of the contents list. To see this fully extended,
place the cursor somewhere in the search results list, and press F5. This does
not work when the CD is first accessed, a search result must be there. Another
way is to hold down Control and press 'a.' To return to the shortest, condensed
format it is necessary to click on each of the main, or left-most, minus signs.
As for the boxes in the contents section, they are markers for use in the advance
search feature and with printing instructions. Advanced search options are worth
learning. Click on the Search button in the toolbar (or F2) and the Search Wizard
appears. It has six parts, the line for inputting search words, the (optional)
area to define search limits, an alphabetical list of all words in the database,
the records with hits figure (bottom left - don't miss it), some tips on the
right, and the 'results map' lower right. I like this. You discover how your
combinations stack up, at a glance.
There is space here for one sample search; so, try a copycat search yourself
and read the section in 'Help.' The Wizard creates opportunities for new and
unusual search techniques, especially where the CD contains a real mix of miscellaneous
records.
From the contents description of the Middlesex CD I discovered that it contains
finding aids to court records of the 1600s. Think about London at this time
and plague comes to mind. Here is what I tried.
1. Type 'plague' in the word box, top left of the Search Wizard window -- as
I did so the alphabetical list in the 'word' box below scrolled forward to that
word, and the 'records with hits' line showed forty.
2. Returning to the word box, I added two words so my phrase said 'plague and
how*' ( * extends the word by zero or unlimited letters); this presented six
hits.
3. Finally I left 'plague' in the word box alone and typed 'how*' in the name
box below; result, two hits.
What was going on? The Wizard followed instructions; finding all references
to the word plague; finding it together with 'how*' which included a place name,
'howse' and plain 'how'; and lastly, finding 'plague' associated with 'how*'
names. For example, George Howland was in trouble for having people with the
plague in his house and he was faulted for endangering others. I wonder whether
he survived.
This is one of the best search tools I have come across. I like the extra features,
too, for notes and bookmarks. Mark anything interesting or jot down notes to
yourself; come back weeks later, and there they are. The booklet in the CD case
is another good idea; just enough to take you in and start you up. With the
Help feature and the capabilities of the Search Wizard you will soon be performing
complex searches.
EDITOR'S NOTE:
The English Parish Records CD for Middlesex that Sherry refers to in her article is on sale today
in The Shops @ Ancestry.com.
View a complete list of AncestryView CDs that are available.
Sherry Irvine, CGRS, FSA (Scot) has been researching her British ancestry
for thirty years. She founded Interlink Bookshop and Genealogical Services (www.interlinkbookshop.com)
in 1988; she currently lectures in Canada and the United States and is vice
president of the Association of Professional Genealogists. You can e- mail Sherry
with suggestions for future British genealogy articles at sherryirvine55@myfamily.com.
She will not be able to send personal replies, but will feature some questions
in upcoming issues of the Ancestry Daily News. Sherry also regrets that
she is unable to assist with personal research.
Sherry is also the author of:
Your Scottish Ancestry: A Guide for North Americans
Your English Ancestry: A Guide for North Americans
|
|
 |
|
