All of the records on ProbateCt.org are likely still in their original form, or scanned PDFs. This means you are looking at an image. When you are using Ancestry or the Family History Library sites, what you are actually searching is a digital record that someone has created from that original record. That is why the FHL (LDS) site is always asking for volunteers, and that is why Ancestry.com is a paid subscription site. It takes a lot of manpower and hours to do all that transcribing. Since they've provided all the records free, I imagine that the courthouse couldn't justify hiring the people it would require to enable a search engine to be of use on the site. Maybe it will be part of their efforts in the future. Or maybe the local genealogical society volunteers could help too. I am reading a lot of frustration from everybody about these records. I know it is frustrating to think we might have finally had a new chance of finding more about our ancestors, only to still run into dead ends. But try to keep in mind that it is still a new thing for a courthouse to provide these records to the public free of charge, and easily available without requiring travel. My suggestion would be to just be patient with digging through the records. You never know what you might stumble upon as you go. Best of luck, Amy On Thu, Jan 7, 2010 at 1:54 PM, <harand8479@aol.com> wrote: > > Could someone on the list who knows a lot about computer programming and > search engines, please tell us why the county court could not list the > records to INCLUDE a name search. > > how is it that Ancestry, LDS site, Rootsweb, and on and > on..............search by name and the probate court site cannot. > > is it not possible with the records they have, or is it a monetary thing. > > no long detailed technical explanation required..........just any ideas of > why. > > thanks..............Helen in Florida > > > > > > > > > To contact the List Administrator, send an email to: Kaesemein@aol.com > > Did you miss a message? You can find it in the list's archives here: > > http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/OHHAMILT/ > > Don't forget--there is also a message board for Hamilton County: > > > http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.ohio.counties.hamilton/mb.ashx > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > OHHAMILT-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >