Using the Name Anchor Indexing Method

Table of Contents

Patty Lindsay

How the Name Anchor Method works

The site manager/county coordinator registers the URLs of the query* pages for that site with Surname Helper. Surname Helper interrogates the queries looking for the following pattern: <a name="sh_Q_12345">Smith, Brown</a> (This is where "name anchor" comes from.)

It then stores the surnames in a database with the URL and name anchors of the page. It rechecks the page(s) on a weekly basis and reloads the data, picking up any new queries and deleting any old query* references.

When a visitor to a Surname Helper search page looks for one of those surnames it then displays a results page that links the visitor directly to the query*. You can try the search by clicking here.

*Other types of pages can be indexed with this method, query pages are used here as an example.

WARNING: HTML editors like Composer and PageMill have been known to "scramble" the name anchor tags. (The </A> tag gets moved from after the surname where it belongs to before the surname.) I recommend that you use a plain text editor (such as WordPad) to edit any files containing Surname Helper name anchor tags. When in doubt, copy the file first and check it after you edit it.

You have three options for using this method.

  1. Use a query submission form that formats queries in the required format.

    Two query submission forms that provide this format are:

    1. QueryExpress, available to USGenWeb and WorldGenWeb coordinators.

      You can sign-up for QueryExpress and Surname Helper indexing when you register your site:

      Site Id: (e.g. OHGREENE)

      For USGenWeb sites, use the 2 character state code followed by the first 6 characters of the county name, omitting punctuation and spaces.

      For WorldGenWeb sites, use 'WG' followed by the first 6 characters of the country name, omitting punctuation and spaces.

      Site Id: (e.g. OHGREENE)

      You will be prompted for your password, enter it and then click "Get Site Info".

      Once you see the Site Info for your site, click on "Add a new index module using the Name anchor method" at the bottom of the page and then click the SUBMIT button.

    2. TNGenWeb Autobot, available to Tennessee county coordinators.

      Sign-up for the Autobot. Once you receive some queries from the Autobot and post them to a query page, register your site:

      Site Id: (e.g. OHGREENE)

      For USGenWeb sites, use the 2 character state code followed by the first 6 characters of the county name, omitting punctuation and spaces.

      For WorldGenWeb sites, use 'WG' followed by the first 6 characters of the country name, omitting punctuation and spaces.

      Site Id: (e.g. OHGREENE)

      You will be prompted for your password, enter it and then click "Get Site Info".

      Once you see the Site Info for your site, click on "Add a new index module using the Name anchor method" at the bottom of the page and then click the SUBMIT button.

  2. Use the Add Name Anchor Utilities.

    This method is best used for pages which are relatively static and which contain surnames that are capitalized or where the surnames can be identified in one of the following ways:
    1. The surnames are in a particular column of an HTML table.
    2. The surnames are in enclosed with unique text (eg. <strong> and </strong>).
    3. The surnames are in a preformatted block (i.e. enclosed in <PRE> and </PRE>) in a columnar format.

    It works well for older query pages and transribed data and index pages.

    1. Follow the instructions on the applicable utility page:

      1. Add Name Anchors Utility #1 Add Name Anchors to the capitalized surnames on a page.

      2. Add Name Anchors Utility #2 Add Name Anchors to surnames in an HTML table.

      3. Add Name Anchors Utility #3 Add Name Anchors to the surnames enclosed in unique text.

      4. Add Name Anchors Utility #4 Add Name Anchors to the surnames in preformatted text (<PRE>).

    2. Once your page(s) have the name anchors added, register your site:

      Site Id: (e.g. OHGREENE)

      For USGenWeb sites, use the 2 character state code followed by the first 6 characters of the county name, omitting punctuation and spaces.

      For WorldGenWeb sites, use 'WG' followed by the first 6 characters of the country name, omitting punctuation and spaces.

      Site Id: (e.g. OHGREENE)

      You will be prompted for your password, enter it and then click "Get Site Info".

      Once you see the Site Info for your site, click on "Add a new index module using the Name anchor method" at the bottom of the page and then click the SUBMIT button.

  3. Format your queries or other entries yourself.

    You can code the name anchor HTML that Surname Helper keys on yourself by following these specifications:

    Here are some examples of queries using the Name Anchor method:

    Note: Use the "View Document Source" option on your browser to see the name anchor tags.

    Surnames: HIGGINBOTHAM
    Submitter: Ruth Digger (dig@nowhere.edu)
    Date: 07 Jan 1998

    This is one of the formats available from the USGenWeb QueryExpress. Note that the surname is enclosed in the <A NAME> and </A> tags. This is the "HTML format, surname index tags, no table format" format option.

    BROWN, SMITH, JONES

    This the format that the TNGenWeb autobot uses. Note that the surnames are enclosed with FONT and H3 tags which are not a problem for Surname Helper. The date includes the day of the week, the time and timezone. Surname Helper is able to pick up the date and ignore these extra bits of information. Note that the 4 digit year at the end of the date.
    Patty Lindsay

    Submitted on Fri Jan 2 03:18:48 EST 1998

    Here are some examples of using the Name Anchor method to index other types of pages:

    The following is an excerpt from "THE NEGRO IN THE EARLY LIFE OF OKLAHOMA" . Note the name anchor tags imbedded in the text. The post type for these entries is "H" for history. A search on one of the surnames in Surname Helper will link directly to the reference to the surname in the text.

    Among those who were over anxious to secure homes in the new territory were many Negroes who had come from various sections of the country.  They came with a determination to get homes and many were successful.  Some of whom were, John LILLIARD, Robert  LARKIN, John  BARBER, Emmitt COOPER,  John WOODARD,  Robert GARNEGAY,  F.  SMITH, Harrison  BLACKFOST,  Isaac  SAMUELS. Many of these pioneers made the run afoot.  They built rude homes, log huts, dug-outs of poles and began life anew.

    The following is an example of a death index displayed in a table format with the name anchor tags around the surnames.

    NameDate of DeathCert. Number
    ANDREWS, Robert E. Jun 25, 191907369-A
    BAKER, Mary L. Mar 13, 191912668-A

Once you have prepared the pages you want to index, register your site:

Site Id: (e.g. OHGREENE)

For USGenWeb sites, use the 2 character state code followed by the first 6 characters of the county name, omitting punctuation and spaces.

For WorldGenWeb sites, use 'WG' followed by the first 6 characters of the country name, omitting punctuation and spaces.

Site Id: (e.g. OHGREENE)

You will be prompted for your password, enter it and then click "Get Site Info".

Once you see the Site Info for your site, click on "Add a new index module using the Name anchor method" at the bottom of the page and then click the SUBMIT button.

Surname Helper is a surname engine for queries and surname registrations posted on various genealogy sites. Participating sites include many USGenWeb and WorldGenWeb sites. All GenConnect boards are indexed in Surname Helper. Surname Helper is also used by the USGenWeb QueryExpress system for registering counties.

Copyright © 1997-1999 Patricia A. Lindsay. All rights reserved.
Patty Lindsay

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