Family Historian User Group

When using the Find Record icon (binoculors), is there a way to trick it into listing a person if you do not use their full name as entered in the Name field in the Property Box?

For example, I have a relative named "Wayne Eugene Howard". I could not remember his middle name, so I just typed "Wayne Howard" into the Find Record icon box. It returned no results.

So, I went to my Individual Records window and found him that way by scrolling down the list of names. Then when I type "Wayne Eugene Howard" into the Find Records icon box, it brings him right up. But it seems that you have to use the exact name as it is entered in the Name field in the Property Box.

If I just type "Howard" in the Find Records box, and just tick the Name box, I get every Name and File record in my database that includes "Howard".

So, is there any way to omit a person's middle name (or initial) and still have the Find Records option list just that person?

I don't think so, the Find option is a string search, i.e. it searches for the specific string. The Filter on the Records Window list splits the name into two fields so it is better for searching for names.

As Jane says, the Records Window has a separate Filter at the top for Last Name and First Name so you should use those rather than scrolling down the list of records. That has the advantage that you only need to enter partial names to get a match, so you could enter Last Name as how and First Name as wayn or eug and it would produce a shortlist that probably only includes your Wayne Eugene Howard.

Another tip is when using the Find dialogue enter surnames as /howard/ including the / delimiters so it only matches surnames in the Name field rather than Howard everywhere. It would also help to untick all except the Name option so it only searches Name fields.

Yep, the Records window filter is the way to go. The delimiters option with the binoculars icon is also a good tip.

Thanks for the info.
Bob