I've decided that they need to come up with special genealogy computers with cushioned computer screens, so that during frustrating database searches when I bang my head against the computer, it won't hurt so much. OK, maybe that's asking a bit much, but I'm sure there are many people like me out there. This is the break we've been waiting for in a line that has given us nothing but trouble. So with our hearts pounding, we enter the information, reach for our research logs ready to enter some brick- wall busting information, and . . . Here are some tips that can resuscitate some fallen hopes.
Databases are very nit-picky things.
But you may be giving the database too much information. For example, when I search for my grandfather's entry, I know his date of death, but if I enter his name and the date 6 March 1968, I get no results. If I leave the date off, I see that the database has it listed simply as March 1968. In light of this, it is best to start with as little information as possible in a search, and if you get too many results, add in other facts one at a time. The database description will often provide details that can help you focus your search.