Research Link Mod

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NeedSupport The mod Research Link Mod needs a new support person since the original mod developer or subsequent developers are no longer available to support the mod NeedSupport


Ambox notice.png The latest version of this mod uses the guidelines for TNG v12+ cust_text.php files. If you are using TNGv12+, and any cust_text.php file in this mod is marked with a Bad Target error, you need to update your cust_text.php files before you can install this mod. [Show instructions]

If you upgraded to TNGv12+, and did not update your cust_text.php files as instructed in the upgrade readme script, then you must use the TNG Mod Manager to update them. To do so:

  1. Go to Mod Manager, and select its "Recommended Updates" tab.
    (If the "Recommended Updates" tab is not visible, then go to the Mod Manager Options tab, select "Display Settings", and turn on the "Recommended Updates" tab.)
  2. Click the "Update" button in the "Recommended Updates" tab.
    Installed mods do not interfere with the update, and if you already have (or think you may have) run this update, it will not hurt for you to run it again.

[See details in the TNGv12 Change Impacts Article][Hide the instructions]

TNG 14.0
TNG 13.0
TNG 12.0


Caution The Research Link Mod v11.1.2.5 is compatible with Count Ancestors n Descendants, Relationship Display Mod, Signature Display and Living Color Mod, only if the #Installation with other Mods procedures are followed. There is also a conflict with the Simple_SEO mod which can be resolved with a small change to that mod.
V9.0.0.1 conflicts the aforementioned mods and also with the Age Calculation Mod.
Caution
Research Link Mod
Summary Allows context driven searches of genealogy sites;may require customization of links.
Validation
Mod Updated 03 Feb 2023
Download link For
TNG 14.0

Research_link_mod_v14.0.0.1.zip
For
TNG 13.0
TNG 12.0

Researchmod_v12.0.0.1.zip
For
TNG 11.1.2

Researchmod_v11.1.2.6.zip
For
TNG 9.0

Researchmod_v9.0.0.0.zip
Download stats
Author(s) Gerald 'Jerry' Leehan
Updated by Ron Krzmarzick V11.1.2-14.0
Homepage Research Link Mod (This page)
Mod Support TNG Community Forums
Contact Developer TNG Community Forums
Latest Mod 14.0.0.1 for TNG 14
12.0.0.1 for TNG 12 and TNG13
11.1.2.6a for TNG 11.1.2
9.0.0 for TNG 9 and 10
Min TNG V 9.0.0
Max TNG V 14.0+
Files modified
getperson.php
languages/English/cust_text.php
languages/English-UTF8/cust_text.php
languages/Czech/cust_text.php
languages/Czech-UTF8/cust_text.php
languages/German/cust_text.php
languages/German-UTF8/cust_text.php
languages/Spanish/cust_text.php
languages/Spanish-UTF8/cust_text.php
Files added
kicker.php
researchlink.php
Related Mods
Notes
v9.0.0.0 Conflicts with 5 Mods noted in the Caution above.

Purpose of the mod

This TNG modification allows you to do context driven searches of genealogy sites, like Ancestry, Family Search, Google, Google Images, Google Books, Ellis Island, Gendex, WWII Memorial, and many others. Navigate to the Personal Information Page of the individual in whom you are interested, scroll down the research menu that appears at the top of the page, and click on Research Site you wish to interrogate. You will then be presented with a new window containing the result of a search on that site driven by the person's name, birthdate, birthplace, spouse name, or some appropriate combination. Searchable sites include a couple paid sites like Ancestry which can be searched only if you have a membership 'cookie' on your machine, but most are free at least in part.

Sites can be added to the list. In the present release, you need to know a little about how site URLs are formed and must perform a script edit to add the site. In the future, I hope to have an Admin Script to simplify the management of this process. Most of the sites in the current list have a USA English language focus.

Advantages

This mod not only allows you to use TNG as a research tool, but it also provides your visitors a way to search additional sites for information on an individual whose page they are viewing. Note: There are out of date links in researchlink.php which are commented out but are present as placeholders for future use.

Developer

This mod was developed by Gerald 'Jerry' Leehan. Changes for TNG updates, conflict resolution, edit options and translations for Czech, German and Spanish provided by Ron Krzmarzick.

Requirements

  • A working TNG installation.
  • A backup of all affected files (see the list in the summary in the upper right corner of the page)
  • An installed current version of the Mod Manager.
  • Both English and English-UTF8 folders be on your site

Revision History

Mod Version TNG Version Date Contents
14.0.0.1 14.0 03 Feb 2023 Updated for TNG 14, mod filename changed to match mod name. by Ron Krzmarzick
12.0.0.1 12.0 19 Jan 2021 Added English cust_text anchor text targets.
11.1.2.6 11.1.2 13 Apr 2019 Changes to clear php warnings with php 7.2-7.3.
11.1.2.5 11.1.2 04 Dec 2018 Resolved conflicts with three other mods, Edit Options added and Translation for German, Spanish, and Czech.
11.1.2.0 11.1.2 27 Nov 2018 Updated for TNG 11.1.2 and 12.0

Conflicts and Issues

Version 11.1.2.6-12.0.0.1:

  1. If installed with the Count Ancestors n Descendants Mod, that mod's Edit Option to genlib:$xerxxLimit is overriden by the same option in in Research Link Mod. If the Research Link Mod is uninstalled, then the Edit Option reverts back to Count Ancestors n Descendants Mod.
  1. If installed with the Relationship Display Mod and/or the Living Color Mod , they must be installed before the Research Link Mod, and conversely, the Research Link Mod uninstalled before those mod(s). If this sequence is ignored, Mod Manager status will be 'cannot install' may result. Do not delete either Mod. Instead Uninstall the mod with 'Installed' status, and redo the installation in the proper sequence to achieve an 'OK to Install' status.
  1. Conflict with the Simple SEO Mod. Mod Manager will display a 'Cannot Install'. This can be resolved by editing that mod's cfg file and commenting these lines

(64-71 in v12.0.3.6) ,

target: getperson.php, location #5.
%location:%
	echo tng_DrawHeading( $photostr, $namestr, getYears( $row ) );
%end:% 
%replace:%
// BEGIN: Simple SEO
	echo tng_DrawHeading( $photostr, $namewid, getYears( $row ) );
// END: Simple SEO
%end:%

Version 8 - Modifying

Edit the getperson.php script:

Replace the line (about line 108):

echo tng_DrawHeading( $photostr, $namestr, getYears( $row ) );

with:

// added  for research mod
global $gotperson, $gottree, $maptest_url;
$gotperson = $personID;
$gottree = $tree;
include_once($cms[tngpath] . "researchlink.php");
echo tng_DrawHeading1( $photostr, $namestr, getYears( $row ) );
// end added for research mod

Ok, you're done. Go back to your Gatorade and the let your users enjoy themselves while you use your newfound tool to do a little more research on GreatAunt Tillie.

This version of the Research Mod has been updated for compatibility with TNG Version 8.02, but should be compatible with all previous TNG versions.

Installation

  1. Uninstall and delete previous version of this mod (if installed)
  2. Download the appropriate zip file as shown in the mod summary in the upper right corner of the page.
  3. Extract the file from the downloaded zip file into the mods folder or FTP the extracted file to your mods folder.
  4. Follow the normal automated installation for Mod Manager, as shown in the example Mod Manager - Installing Config Files to install the mod.

In the event of a problem

Uninstalling the mod

If you want to completely Remove (uninstall) this mod and any tables if created, you should

  1. click the Uninstall button to uninstall the mod
  2. click the Delete button to delete the config file from the mods folder.

Upgrade

  • Uninstall and eventually Delete the current Mod.
  • Proceed as for an installation with the new Mod.

Mod Edit Options

Version 11.1.2.6, 12.0.0.1+:

1. Same option as Count Ancestors 'n Descendants mod: $xerxxLimit . Limits number or count of Ancestors and Descendants to display. Default is '100'.

2. Users Restrictions: admin user only = 1 ; registered users only = 2 ; general access = 3 . Default is '2'.

3. Allow display of Research Links for Living Persons: set option to 'true'. Default is 'false'.

Getting the File

Version 11.1.2.6, 12.0.0.1+:

Mod updated by Ron Krzmarzick for compatibility with TNG version 11.1.2 through 13.0.2. Same procedures as below.

Version 9:

This mod has been upgraded with assistance from Ken Roy for compatibility with TNG version 9. Download the http://tng.lythgoes.net/wiki/index.php?title=File:Researchmod_v9.0.0.0.zip file Extract the files and folder from the downloaded zip file into the mods folder or FTP the extracted files and folder to your mods folder. Follow the normal automated installation for Mod Manager, as shown in the example Mod Manager - Installing Config Files to install the mod.

Version 8:

Download the ResearchModV802.zip file and unzip its contents into the same directory that contains your getperson.php script. The files should include this file ResearchModInstall.txt, Researchlink.php, and kicker.php. ResearchModV802.zip Note: This file was modified on 11/30/2009 to fix a problem associated with personIDs longer than 7 characters and on 1/3/2011 to allow compatibility with TNG V8.02. GWL Note: A conflict exists between this mod and the Signature Display mod. Members wishing to install both mods should contact this author for a workaround. GWL

Visualization of This Mod

Version 12.0.0.1

With Count Ancestors n Descendants Mod and Relationship Display Mod installed.

Sample display.png

Addenda - Adding Additional Sites

The 30+ sites contained in the existing scripts should give most US webmasters plenty to work with, but inevitably many folks will want to add their own sites to the list. Perhaps we will develop an admin page to facilitate this, but, in the interim, folks with some understanding of how variables are passed thru urls can follow this procedure to enhance their list:

To add an additional site, you must add 3 lines to researchlink.php:

Add below similar lines a line like the following (with 37 replaced by the next consecutive integer):

<option value=$callres[37] >$rv[37]</option>

Add Two lines like the following below similar lines toward the end of the script (with 37 replaced by the next consecutive integer)

$retval[37] = "http://www.wwiimemorial.com/default.asp?page=registry.asp&subpage=search&LastName=" . urlencode($Surname) . "&FirstName=" . urlencode($Given) . "&drawtable=YES\" target=\"_blank\"";
$rv[37]="WWII Memorial";

Now follow these directions to edit the $retval[] line you added

First navigate to the search page of the site you wish to add to the menu... In this example we will go to http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search Fill in the search boxes on the page with the information for some individual you believe you should be able to find on the page and execute the search... in this example for Oliver Fisher Winchester... You should receive a page of results Use the 'BACK' button on your browser to return to the page from which you initiated the search. Copy the contents of the Address Bar on your browser into a text processor like WordPad... it should look something like this:

http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/search_all1.asp?first_name=Oliver+Fisher&last_name=Winchester&fathers_first_name=&fathers_last_name=&mothers_first_name=&mothers_last_name=&spouses_first_name=Jane+Ellen&spouses_last_name=Hope&event_index=1&to_date=&from_date=1810&juris1=&juris2=&juris3=&juris4=&standardize=&date_range=5&date_range_index=3&batch_number=&serial_number=&film_number=&file_number=&Social_number=&region=%2D1&regionfriendly=&juris1friendly=+USA&juris2friendly=+Massachusetts&juris3friendly=&juris4friendly=%22%29%3B%22+onClick%3D%22setRefineValue%281%29%3B%22%3Erefine+search%3C%2Fa%3E%5D%22

You will notice the information you enterred in the search boxes is now shown in expressions after the ?... for example: first_name=Oliver+Fisher Look in the table at the end of this section for a research variable that you believe would contain this information... in this case we are looking for a first or given name, so the variable would be $Given. Replace the the information in the expression with the urlencode of the variable (the urlencode just cleans up spaces and special characters) to the replaced information becomes:

first_name=" . urlencode($Given) ."

do the same for the other variables:

last_name=Winchester becomes last_name=" . urlencode($surname) ."

spouses_first_name=Jane+Ellen becomes spouses_first_name=" . urlencode($SpGiven) . "

etc.

Note that some of the parameters in the expressions have no values, eg: fathers_last_name= Leave them as they are Some of the parameters do not have equivalent variables in the table, eg: date_range=5 Leave them as they are

Make all the substitutions using variables from the table and get something like:

http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/search_all1.asp?first_name=".urlencode($Given)."&last_name=".urlencode($surname)."&fathers_first_name=&fathers_last_name=&mothers_first_name=&mothers_last_name=&spouses_first_name=".urlencode($SpGiven)."&spouses_last_name=".urlencode($SpSurname)."&event_index=1&to_date=&from_date=".urlencode($Birthyr)."&juris1=&juris2=&juris3=&juris4=&standardize=&date_range=5&date_range_index=3&batch_number=&serial_number=&film_number=&file_number=&Social_number=&region=%2D1&regionfriendly=&juris1friendly=".urlencode($Birthcountry)."&juris2friendly=".urlencode($Birthstate)."&juris3friendly=&juris4friendly=%22%29%3B%22+onClick%3D%22setRefineValue%281%29%3B%22%3Erefine+search%3C%2Fa%3E%5D%22

Next copy this expression and paste it over the the equivalent expression in the $retval[] statement you are adding to the script, eg

$retval[37] = "http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/search_all1.asp?first_name=".urlencode($Given)."&last_name=".urlencode($surname)."&fathers_first_name=&fathers_last_name=&mothers_first_name=&mothers_last_name=&spouses_first_name=".urlencode($SpGiven)."&spouses_last_name=".urlencode($SpSurname)."&event_index=1&to_date=&from_date=".urlencode($Birthyr)."&juris1=&juris2=&juris3=&juris4=&standardize=&date_range=5&date_range_index=3&batch_number=&serial_number=&film_number=&file_number=&Social_number=&region=%2D1&regionfriendly=&juris1friendly=".urlencode($Birthcountry)."&juris2friendly=".urlencode($Birthstate)."&juris3friendly=&juris4friendly=%22%29%3B%22+onClick%3D%22setRefineValue%281%29%3B%22%3Erefine+search%3C%2Fa%3E%5D%22\"target=\"_blank\"";

If this gets too complicated, or if the string is too specific to product results, you can try to simplify it by leaving out most of the search terms, eg

$retval[37] = "http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/search_all1.asp?first_name=".urlencode($Given)."&last_name=".urlencode($surname)."\"target=\"_blank\"";

Table of permissable variables:

$Surname $Given $Birthdate $Birthplace $Spouse $Deathdate $Deathplace $Sex $Birthyr $Deathyr $Birthtown $Birthstate $Birthcountry $Marrdate $Marrcountry $Marrcounty $Marrstate $Marrcity $Deathdate $Deathcountry $Deathstate $Deathcounty $Deathcity $Fathergiven $Fatherlast $Mothergiven $Motherlast $Spousegiven $SpouseID $SpSurname $SpGiven $SpBirthdate $SpBirthplace $SpSpouse $SpDeathdate $SpDeathplace $SpSex $SpBirthyr $SpDeathyr

Sites using this mod

If you download and install this mod, please add your TNG site to the table below:

URL User Note Mod-Version TNG-Version User-language
NorthwesternPa.net A site dedicated to the folks whose relatives settled in the townships and boroughs that roughly now comprise the Northwestern School District of Erie County, Pennsylvania. EN
Our Acadian Family Randal Suire Public/Media Private - Mod modified 9.0.0.1 12.0.2 EN,FR
Carr's Garage Regis Carr Public & XAMPP - critical to my research efforts - I do not import from another program. 12.0.0.1 13.0.0 EN
Lathrope Family Genealogy S Sharpe Public 12.0.0.1 13.1.2 EN
Daniel Bender - Generations Allison Sibert Public/ Living Private 12.0.0.1 13.1.2 EN
Discovering My Ancestors Sheryl Perry Public 14.0.0.1 14.0 EN
Onze familiegeschiedenis Wim van der Horde Public/Private 14.0.0.1 14.0 NL
stone/mott genealogy Albert Stone Private 14.0.0.1
TNG 14.0.4
EN
Familjen Johnson Leif Johnson Public See here See here SE, EN