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Geoff's Search Engine for the CWGC database
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Stewartry



Joined: 19 Dec 2006
Posts: 274
Location: nr Nottingham

PostPosted: Thu Sep 24, 2009 10:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Paul,

I hope David Stacey takes the time to read your email; I think you have presented the negative implications of the proposed change clearly and respectfully.

Jim,

Without meaning to be cheeky, I would expand your sentence, 'I suspect when a new CWGC search appears it will be more helpful to researchers than is currently the case' with 'but sadly, still a poor substitute for Geoff's Search Engine.' Pessimistic or realistic outlook? I think both in this particular case.

I feel that this change displays a very blinkered approach to remembrance. In fact, I still haven't got over the pettiness of the reasoning behind the new implementation. Substitute 'database security' with 'data control'.

Stuart
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DelBoy



Joined: 12 Jul 2007
Posts: 4858
Location: The County of Angus

PostPosted: Tue May 25, 2010 10:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Geoff's WW1 search Engine but not the WW2 or SNWM versions now requires a payment to charity in order to use it.
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geoff501



Joined: 15 Mar 2007
Posts: 40
Location: Worcestershire

PostPosted: Wed May 26, 2010 7:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

DelBoy wrote:
Geoff's WW1 search Engine but not the WW2 or SNWM versions now requires a payment to charity in order to use it.


No, it 'requires' a donation, which is optional.

It does require registration, or use it as a guest from 10pm til midnight.


cheers,

geoff
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WW1, WW2:
www.hut-six.co.uk/cgi-bin/search14-21.php
www.hut-six.co.uk/cgi-bin/search39-47.php
SNWM search:
www.hut-six.co.uk/cgi-bin/searchswm.php
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DelBoy



Joined: 12 Jul 2007
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PostPosted: Wed May 26, 2010 9:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ah, I see. Thanks for the clarification Geoff.

Derek.
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Stewartry



Joined: 19 Dec 2006
Posts: 274
Location: nr Nottingham

PostPosted: Wed May 26, 2010 8:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi Geoff,

Is there a reason why your WW1 search requires registration but not your WW2 search engine? Just wondering why the difference.

Also, after the time elapsed since the CWGC attempted to alter their search facility, do you think that they have now decided against making the change, or is it just taking a very long time?

Cheers,

Stuart
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geoff501



Joined: 15 Mar 2007
Posts: 40
Location: Worcestershire

PostPosted: Fri May 28, 2010 6:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Stewartry wrote:
Hi Geoff,
Is there a reason why your WW1 search requires registration but not your WW2 search engine? Just wondering why the difference.

Hi Stuart,

I often put updates into the WW1 engine first. One thing I had wanted to do was find out how many users there are, how much they are using it and when. Hence the registration. I was getting fed up with the system and without the donation thing, would have closed it at the beginning of April. There is now a reason for me to keep it going, at least for a year, when it will probably close.
However perhaps I did not expect that the number of users has now dropped by 80% I've drawn a few conclusions on this but I'm probably guessing.
Whether the registration will be added to the WW2 engine, I don't know. It would be nice to know how that is used also, and it will probably be a free registration. But can I be bothered with the effort to do it?

Quote:

Also, after the time elapsed since the CWGC attempted to alter their search facility, do you think that they have now decided against making the change, or is it just taking a very long time?


I've no idea what their intentions are, I've never been involved in any discussion. Guessing, probably they will not remove the link feature. I think there was enough backlash, regardless of the search engine, from other linkers.
But they seem to be having severe maintenance problems with their existing system - it has only recently allowed updates to be added, there have been problems since last December. I suspect they are short of in-house IT skills and probably paid a small fortune for the last fiasco. I suspect who ever set up the original system is no longer responsible for it and who ever did the last update was unfamiliar with the system. But this is only my guess.

Incidentally, I think you are only the third person, to my knowledge, to comment (publicly) on my current system. It always was a big secret, but even more so now Smile

cheers,

geoff
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WW1, WW2:
www.hut-six.co.uk/cgi-bin/search14-21.php
www.hut-six.co.uk/cgi-bin/search39-47.php
SNWM search:
www.hut-six.co.uk/cgi-bin/searchswm.php
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Stewartry



Joined: 19 Dec 2006
Posts: 274
Location: nr Nottingham

PostPosted: Fri May 28, 2010 10:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
Incidentally, I think you are only the third person, to my knowledge, to comment (publicly) on my current system. It always was a big secret, but even more so now Smile


Hi Geoff,

What happened to the other two, or shouldn't I ask? Sad Funny thing is, I'm usually good at keeping secrets!

I was just wondering out loud, really. I hadn't used your WW2 search engine for a long time, but the topical news re Dunkirk led me there to check on the fate of the men surrounded at St. Valery with the 51st Highland Division (the Commanding Officer, General Fortune, was from my village), and I noticed the difference.

Thank you for the interesting reply - an 80% drop-off certainly passes the statistical 'significance' test. Yes, a few conclusions could be drawn, none of the particularly positive and probably not an encouragement to keep it going, I'm sorry to say. As an early advocate of your search engine (I think my web site has linked to your since about Oct 2007??), I can say it will leave a huge hole in research terms if/when you pull the plug. I have a big project on Kirkcudbrightshire men in WW1 which I hope to publish in 2014, so it looks like I will have to bring forward my research timetable. (The KOSB project which you helped me out with previously is also ticking along in the background).

Re the CWGC site - yes, it looks as though it was one of those episodes where it is decided not to mention it again in the hope that it will eventually be forgotten about. Not having an easily updatable system must be a real problem at this time, when so many non-comms cases are being presented and accepted.

As always, Geoff, a very big thank you for all your help so far.

Cheers,

Stuart
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spoons



Joined: 09 Jan 2007
Posts: 4991
Location: St John's Town of Dalry

PostPosted: Sat May 29, 2010 9:04 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have used both search engines fairly extensively in the past and find them invaluable when I do. My usage tends to be concentrated so I may run 10 or 20 queries over a day or two and then nothing much for a couple of weeks. I have not yet registered but will shortly do so.

I would certainly hate to see these 2 great resources go, they have certainly helped me answer many queries that I could not answer in any other way.

\Paul
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DerekR
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Joined: 19 Dec 2006
Posts: 3013
Location: Hawick, Scotland

PostPosted: Sat May 29, 2010 9:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm similar to Spoons in useage, don't use the system for weeks then I'll have a purge - and it is an invaluable system.
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geoff501



Joined: 15 Mar 2007
Posts: 40
Location: Worcestershire

PostPosted: Fri Feb 25, 2011 3:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

.
.
In case you missed it elsewhere:


http://www.hut-six.co.uk/cgi-bin/faq.php
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WW1, WW2:
www.hut-six.co.uk/cgi-bin/search14-21.php
www.hut-six.co.uk/cgi-bin/search39-47.php
SNWM search:
www.hut-six.co.uk/cgi-bin/searchswm.php
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Stewartry



Joined: 19 Dec 2006
Posts: 274
Location: nr Nottingham

PostPosted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 8:38 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Geoff's WW1 Search Engine.... is no more.

Bummer, huh!?
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Adam Brown
Curator


Joined: 14 Dec 2006
Posts: 7312
Location: Edinburgh (From Sutherland)

PostPosted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 12:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nice headstone!

Many thanks for providing this database over the years Geoff, it's been a real asset.

Don't forget that Geoff's SNWM Search Engine is still available:

http://www.hut-six.co.uk/cgi-bin/searchswm.php

Kind regards

Adam
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spoons



Joined: 09 Jan 2007
Posts: 4991
Location: St John's Town of Dalry

PostPosted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 3:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It's been a great asset and I will miss it. Thanks Geoff - it was great while it lasted. In addition to the SNWM search engine, I note that the CWGC WW2 search engine is still up and running.

\Paul
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DelBoy



Joined: 12 Jul 2007
Posts: 4858
Location: The County of Angus

PostPosted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 5:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Adam Brown wrote:
Nice headstone!

Many thanks for providing this database over the years Geoff, it's been a real asset.

Don't forget that Geoff's SNWM Search Engine is still available:

http://www.hut-six.co.uk/cgi-bin/searchswm.php

Kind regards

Adam


My sentiments also.

Geoff's SNWM search engine is the one I've always used in the past and hopefuly will continue to use to find the correct casualties I'm researching.

Cheers,
Derek.
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anne park
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Joined: 25 Sep 2007
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Location: Aberdeen

PostPosted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 5:53 am    Post subject: Searching for info Reply with quote

Can I also say I too use the site for finding those with common names and find it helps sort out the correct mannie......
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