Hi Susannah If the name you are researching is very rare, then even searching the entire database does not return a complete page, let alone multiple pages. And if your research interest is as a 'one-name studier' then even if you did get several pages of information you would be interested in every person on those several pages. So in my opinion the 'sensible way of working' depends upon how common the name you are searching is, and also your research interest. For example, one of the variants of my surname had died out in Cornwall by 1891, although it is the most common contemporary variant in Australia. When I searched the entire >14 million entries last week the search returned only 1 entry, excluding the death entries that I have uploaded myself from my one-name study information. Excluding the information I have uploaded as one-name study file, for all the variants of my name there are about 35 entries in total. I did the search as 1 search per surname variant spelling and received the results for each variant in a few seconds. So to those who want to change the search engine, please consider the whole range of people who will want to use FreeBMD, including the one-name study style or researcher, and those researchers whose family names are extinct in 20th century England and Wales. Mary Trevan Guild of One-Name Studies: http://www.one-name.org/ Membership no: 3530 - Treveighen / Trevan / Trevean / Trevains / Trevehen -----Original Message----- From: Ian Miles <[email protected]> To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Date: Saturday, 21 July, 2001 7:45 PM Subject: Re: The Complex Search Issue >Since I spend most of my time transcribing & uploading names I only >occasionally get around to searching for my elusive ancestors. > >Last night I spent a few hours investigating my SHAW family from Boston, >Lincolnshire. Since I know names in many cases but not dates I find it easy >& much more logical to do "small" searches. It makes more sense to me to >search each event, B,M or D separately & in time frames of 10 - 15 years. > >Why would anyone want to set up a search that is going to provide multiple >pages of names that then need printing & careful checking? Aren't you just >making a rod for your own back? > >Regards >Susannah Miles > > >============================== >Visit Ancestry.com for a FREE 14-Day Trial and enjoy access to the #1 >Source for Family History Online. Go to: >http://www.ancestry.com/subscribe/subscribetrial1y.asp?sourcecode=F11HB >