Peter_uk_can
06-06-2008, 7:09 PM
We are probably not unique in having a myriad of name variations which at times must task even the most experienced amongst us.
We tackle the problem by creating an Excel spreadsheet with the variations of a name. In the next column we keep a record of the number of times each variation has been found in an original document. The next columns record the page of the folder that houses the particular document. By using the powerful sort features of excel we can view the list in various ways.
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg251/phlawford/searchaidexel1b.jpg
We have now taken this a step further to assist in searching various websites.
Wildcards are of course extremely useful, but some searches, such as www.paperofrecord.com (http://www.paperofrecord.com) do not accept wildcards.
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg251/phlawford/searchaidexelandweb1c.jpg
What we do here, is open the spreadsheet holding the appropriate names and move it over to the right of the screen, then we open the website and adjust the page size so as to have the two things visible.
Starting at the top of the list we can now copy a name and paste it into the search box.
Working through the list, without having to read and re-read variations and then check we have them correct.
Any hits are immediately saved by hitting the "Print Screen" and saving the image to file. Once we have completed the search we can return to the saved "Print Screen" Images to relocate the successful search or on a good day searches
We find that this helps keep us on course as any sucessful searches can be perused at leisure without the natural tendancy to think, "what the heck was I doing, and where did I get to"
I trust that I have explained things clearly enough. If not please ask.
Good hunting.
We tackle the problem by creating an Excel spreadsheet with the variations of a name. In the next column we keep a record of the number of times each variation has been found in an original document. The next columns record the page of the folder that houses the particular document. By using the powerful sort features of excel we can view the list in various ways.
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg251/phlawford/searchaidexel1b.jpg
We have now taken this a step further to assist in searching various websites.
Wildcards are of course extremely useful, but some searches, such as www.paperofrecord.com (http://www.paperofrecord.com) do not accept wildcards.
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg251/phlawford/searchaidexelandweb1c.jpg
What we do here, is open the spreadsheet holding the appropriate names and move it over to the right of the screen, then we open the website and adjust the page size so as to have the two things visible.
Starting at the top of the list we can now copy a name and paste it into the search box.
Working through the list, without having to read and re-read variations and then check we have them correct.
Any hits are immediately saved by hitting the "Print Screen" and saving the image to file. Once we have completed the search we can return to the saved "Print Screen" Images to relocate the successful search or on a good day searches
We find that this helps keep us on course as any sucessful searches can be perused at leisure without the natural tendancy to think, "what the heck was I doing, and where did I get to"
I trust that I have explained things clearly enough. If not please ask.
Good hunting.