Sorting and Storing Tools:
Using Origins Network Features Part II
By Sherry Irvine, MSC CG FSA Scot
The sorting and storing tools available at the Origins site provide useful options for working with search results. Searches at British Origins and
Irish Origins result in a list of hits that match the criteria chosen for a search; a search across all databases means databases need to be selected one at a time to see the different lists of names. When you look at the results for a single set of data they appear
in alphabetical order by surname. You can alter the way the results are sorted and you can also decide to store the search.
Sorting Data
The 1871 census is used as an example for options available in sorting data. Column headings and, therefore, sorting options will vary from database to database. Listed below are the column headings found in the table of results to a search in the 1871 census database. Results can be sorted according to the type of data in any column that has an underlined heading.
Last name
First name
Relation: this may be expressed as head of the household or a familial relationship like son or daughter or as something else, e.g., lodger, apprentice, servant
Sex: appears in the record combined with age, which is in one column for males and another for females; occasionally placed incorrectly in the original record
Age: should be age last birthday
Birth county: the census record will usually have the place as well Street: not always given
Village: not always given
Town: not always given
Parish
County
"not always given" indicates address components that are not always in the record and hence not always in the table of results; it depends on whether or not the address is rural or urban.
Two columns on the census page do not appear in the table of results, marital status and occupation. As pointed out in the list above, it is
useful to remember that the relationship may be expressed by other than the more obvious terms, and this can sometimes be an occupation.
Any one of the columns showing data can be selected for the principal sorting element; by clicking on the heading you immediately re-sort the data
based on that detail first and surname second. The sorting tool always starts from the beginning of a new sort. If you are on page 3 of 5 pages in surname order and click on the Age heading, you then find the newly sorted data on the screen starts with the names of the youngest persons in the list of results.
Advantages of Sorting Results
Suppose a search results in many results, being able to look at them in a particular order you choose, best suited for your search objective, will
reduce the chance of your eyes missing something relevant. Sometimes we abandon a search when faced with a very large number of hits and this is not necessarily the best tactic, especially if few criteria are available for narrowing the search. Rather than discard a search
and start over, it makes sense to look for a logical way to break the results down into smaller sets; sorting can do this.
Anyone doing whole family genealogy, and looking for all the collateral relations, will find sorting useful in picking out people of the right age,
or the right birthplace or living in proximity to the principal ancestors.
Saving Results
The Origins web site allows you to save results of up to 10 searches; if you try to save an 11th search you will have to discard one to make room for it. The details of the search performed are remembered and stored. Each time you log in to begin searching you can see the list of saved searches, including the exact criteria used.
Advantages of Saving Data
If you are working late or have to stop to turn to some pressing obligation you can save the search, even before checking any images. No need to make notes or think about what you put in as the search criteria, the saved search will show these details when you come back to it.
Saving searches is a good idea simply to create a pause. This can result in fresh thinking or going through the results when you are more alert. You may notice something about your search criteria that needs adjustment.
Conclusion
Sorting data or storing searches at the click of a button - these are two very useful tools that should help you review results and avoid losing
valuable material when the unexpected interrupts research.