WorldConnect now supports alternate shorter URLs (Web addresses) such as http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/~usercode (substitute your actual user code for "usercode"). This should make it easier for you to remember your WorldConnect database's URL.
In addition to faster searches, other new features users will appreciate include:Among the new items added to the Advanced setup page are:
- Global search on names of father, mother, and spouse. These features support first and/or last name searches. All support "trailing wildcards" -- three or more characters followed by an asterisk. All possible results are displayed.
- "Fuzzy searches" available. Fuzzy in geek-speak means "not exact," but a fuzzy search will find variant spellings. WorldConnect fields (excluding birth and death year) are Soundex searchable. The surname field has a drop-down menu offering the option for an exact spelling, a Soundex, or a Metaphone search. For more information about Soundex and Metaphone, see http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/tips/tip-13.html
- Birth and death place searches support recognition of two-letter state abbreviations (KS) as well as the state's full name (Kansas).
- Date range searches added. Birth year and death year are searchable with a drop-down menu with the selections of exact, plus or minus 2, 5, 10 or 20 years. This gives a range to the searches of a maximum of 40 years -- 20 years in either direction from the year you are using as your starting point.
- Christening dates and/or places will be used automatically if birth dates and/or places are missing; burial dates and/or places will be used when death dates and/or places are missing. This feature has been added to simple and advanced searches for individual databases as well as Global Search.
- Advanced searches available on an individual file. Start within the database you wish to search and click on the "advanced search" link.
- Ahnentafel reports (item #12). On the Advanced setup page you can select two through six generations for this genealogy- style report. For more information about Ahnentafels see: http://www.rootsweb.com/~rwguide/lesson3.htm#Ahnentafel The default is six generations on the Standard setup page or for GEDCOMs already on file at WorldConnect.
- Additional individuals to remove (item #36). This allows you manually to select an individual or individuals, or even certain individuals and their descendants, mark them as living or mark them for removal, without having to create and upload a new GEDCOM. Use the identification number for the individual you wish to remove or mark as living as follows:
I0001 removes individual I0001 I0001,L marks individual I0001 as living I0001,R* removes descendants of I0001 I0001,L* marks descendants of I0001 as living I0001,R* # Removes descendants of I0001; allows for comments
(example: "this person requested that they be removed").
Removal of an individual or his descendants has no effect on the display of the spouse of the removed individual unless you remove the spouse separately. Each entry must be shown on a separate line. Items on the Advanced setup page have been renumbered to accommodate these new options.
WorldConnect is not only faster, with more options, but has increased capacity to allow for its continued growth.
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