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Archiver > APG > 2007-04 > 1177968220


From: "Paul K. Graham" <>
Subject: [APG] Ancestry.com Wildcard Search Problem
Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2007 16:23:40 -0500


Can someone try an repeat my results on Ancestry.com?

-> Ancestry.com
-> Search
-> "Exact matches only" checked
-> [First Name] "Michael"
-> [Last Name] "Wazoo*" [with the asterisk]
-> Spelling "Exact"
-> Lived in "All Countries"
-> Click Search Button

The summary results page should show 1.5 million results in census, 5
million in B/M/D, and 18.3 million in Directories.

In the 1930 census, there are 4 people with the [indexed] name Wazoon, but
no others.

I can recreate these high numbers on any name in most databases when I put
in a given name and a last name using the * wildcard at the end. When the
wildcard is used in the surname field, the search is returned as if you ONLY
searched the given name. The surname is ignored. If you drop the asterisk,
it searches normally. If you drop the first name, it searches normally.

Just to demonstrate another way, go to the 1930 U.S. Census search. Put in
first name "Mary" and surname "fuwfujwof*" with the asterisk at the end. You
should get 3.8 million results.

If we can recreate these results across multiple users, Ancestry has a
problem on its hands.

Paul K. Graham
Frustrated in Atlanta, Georgia

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