Putting your family information into the database is simple.
To enter a name into the database, simply do a search on the name you want to include. The search results will verify whether your proposed entry is already in the database. If not, then click the button at the bottom which asks if you want to enter information on your ancestor (it doesn't have to be an actual ancestor of yours).
You will be presented with the data entry screen. Simply fill in whatever information you have into the spaces provided. It is best if you leave unknown information blank. When you are finished entering information, click on the 'Input' button to add your information to the database. That's it!
Searches:
To do a broad search, limit your search fields to as few as necessary. For example, search on just the surname to see every entry in the database containing that surname. Converesly, for a specific search, use more search criteria. The more search criteria you use, the more you narrow the down the results.
The searcher uses 'look-alike' criteria when it searches. For example, if you put '1898' in a date field, the searcher will find all of the following entries:
24 AUG 1898
ABT 1898
C1898
JANUARY 16, 1898
However, if you put 'Abt 1898' in the date field, the searcher will find only one entry:
ABT 1898
So, be careful when you do a search that you don't over-specify...you may miss the very entry you are looking for!
STATE NAMES:
Please make every attempt to abbreviate names of U.S. states with the two-letter postal abbreviation. Otherwise, searches using state names will have to include, for example, 'Virginia', 'VA', and 'Vir.'. Using the two-letter abbreviation will simplify things for everybody!
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We wish to thank Business Development Testing, Inc. for donating this web space and designing the search database and interface. It is folks like these that make family research fun!