* Filter on Place Record tab.

[ELM]

Using the filter on the place record page any place starting with commas then the place name are ignored. For example searching for USA brings up all places with USA in them except ,,,USA which I use when I don't know a more precise location. Entering ,,,USA in the search box does not display the entry. Is this a bug?

[tatewise]

I cannot reproduce all your symptoms, but the main thing to recognise is that most Records Window Filters use a Start of Any Word match. Exceptions are Individuals, Families and Sources that have Options to change their match criteria.

The reason USA does NOT match ,,,USA is there are no spaces, so ,,,USA is treated as one word. Simply enter a space after each comma and all will be well, i.e. , , , USA will match USA OK.

Contrary to your posting, I found that ,,,USA matches ,,,USA just fine.

It may still be worth reporting to Calico Pie for several reasons:

1. Options to change the match criteria would benefit all record types.
2. Places should treat their comma (,) separator as a word delimiter as well as space ( ).
3. Arguably, all punctuation characters should act as word delimiters in all record types.

[ELM]

Thanks Mike,
Rechecking I find that ,,,USA does match ,,,USA.
Can I use the plug in Rearrange Address and Place Parts to put the spaces in?
I will report it to Calico Pie.

[tatewise]

No the Rearrange Address and Place Parts Plugin won't do that, but the Search and Replace Plugin will.

I presume you have a lot to change, otherwise it is probably easier to do them manually one at a time.

In the Search and Replace Plugin follow its Help & Advice > Usage Examples > Place Name Changes in FH V6 > Global Change Example. i.e.
Set Search Scope: Place Records (_PLAC) and tick Place fields but clear all other Basic Filters.

Also select LUA Pattern Mode top right.

In Search box enter ,([^ ]) which matches comma and (captures) next char if not a space [^ ]
In Replace box enter , %1 which is a comma and a space and a copy of the capture %1.

Click Search & Replace and click Replace to Confirm every item found but if you untick that option then a global Replace is performed.
However, if there are multiple adjacent commas as in ,,,USA you will have to repeat the Plugin once only, but it remembers all your settings so that is easy.

FYI: LUA Pattern Mode is explained in Help & Advice > Major Options and plugins:understanding_lua_patterns|> Understanding Lua Patterns.

[ELM]

Thanks Mike
Search and Replace Plugin worked a treat. I have used the plug in before but never in LUA Pattern Mode. I will have to study the reference you gave as it appears to be very useful.