Ease of searching at GRO

[redted]

The first time I went through to Edinburgh to do research I disappointed to find that the search method available is much less flexible than on the scotlandspeople site, is there no way that the search facility from the website can be applied to the Records Office ?

[DavidWW]

The first time I went through to Edinburgh to do research I disappointed to find that the search method available is much less flexible than on the scotlandspeople site, is there no way that the search facility from the website can be applied to the Records Office ?

Given the present hardware and the restrictions imposed on alterations by Historic Scotland with respect to the fabric of New Register House, basically only with very great difficulty and considerable cost

Hopefully, all such problems will be solved when the new ScotlandsPeople family history centre open later this year - see http://scotlandspeoplehub.gov.uk/News.htm .

David

[redted]

Just had another frustrating day at Edinburgh....

It drives me nuts flicking through year after year on the DIGROS system...
then doing it again for the opposite sex..

You know the info is there but it takes an age especially if you are looking for the birth of John Crawford, or an equally common name, scanning through the reams of names looking for a possible Parish of birth, whilst crossing your fingers in the hope that it is the parish you thought.

I am sure it could be improved.

My thought would be to give each researcher a special user name and password to access a browser with the familiar scotlandspeople search facility, the luxury of putting in a year range ....ahh!! .....which terminates at the end of the visit.



Come on scotlandspeople we know we have the best records lets make them easier to find....

....

[Rach]

Frustrating at times, yes. Hit or a miss at times, yes. However, by ploughing through digros I have come upon material that I would probably not have found even with spelling variations, approximate dates etc. I may not have found what I was looking for each time but the other information was a bonus.
The first time I went it took some time to get my head round the best way to find information. It gets easier each time you use it. This is fine for those who can go fairly often but frustrating if it is the only time you can visit.

[fmackay]

I agree it can be frustrating at times having to seach the records using the system and believe me I know all about that having to seach for Mackay's .
However, like Rach I have uncovered so much more information accidentally which makes it worthwhile. To be able to pay your fee for the day and then to have unlimited access to the records is for me fantastic.