Research Tools

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Research Tools
Summary Adds tools for external searches or information relevant to the individual page
Validation
Mod Updated 9 Mar 2019
Download link for
TNG 12.0

Researchtoolsv12.zip


Download stats
Author(s) A. S. DuPree
Homepage Research_Tools (this page)
Mod Support TNG Community Forums
Contact Developer [1]
Latest Mod
Min TNG V
Max TNG V 12
Files modified
getperson.php
Related Mods
Notes
External sites can change at any moment. This mod connects but it is necessary to understand what it is doing.


Introduction

The mod adds a customized set of links on the right hand side of the page as "Research Tools" or just a single link (i.e. Google) if you only choose one. In some ways it is similar to the Research_Link_ Mod.

Mod allows you to choose to display up to five links: Surnamedb, Wikipedia, Geni, Google and FamilySearch. These links will open the page in a popup window, and perform a search on the individual. Surnamedb just searches on the surname.

Rt1.png

Which expands to this:

Rt2.png

When link is opened a popup shows a webpage search with useful information pre-filled:

Here is a surname search on Surnamedb:

Rt4.png

Or a simple Google search:

Rt5.png

The bar on the top of the popup contains menu buttons to allow you to add in additional information or to restrict your search by adding quotes around names.

WARNING - Search engines change the method of their searches regularly. A dead link can cause your webpage to 'hang.' If this happens disable the link in the mod options. Also this mod employs iframes, something which should be avoided but are the only way I know to bring information like this onto the site. The research links mod will open links in a new tab and is a viable alternative.

Finally, Familysearch requires login. So you need to login and then go back to find the page you were on. This is irritating and potentially confusing for public sites. It is thus set by default to only be visible to logged in users of a site.

Developer

This mod was developed by A.S. DuPree (a novice, happy for any help on improving it)

Requirements

  • A working TNG installation.
  • An installed current version of the Mod Manager.

Language

The mod is only in English and French. It is easily customized for other languages.

  1. There is a language option in the mod manager to choose your language. This attempts on some sites to get the version in your language if available.
  2. . The text is revisable. Change the text between quotes below and place into your cust_text.php file in your language folders.


$text['aboutsurname'] = "About Surname";
$text['onlinetree'] = "Geni";
$text['opennewtab'] = "Open in New Tab";
$text['surnameonly'] = "Surname only";
$text['placeonly'] = "Search place";
$text['morerestrict'] = "Restrict search";
$text['addspouse'] = "Add spouse(s)";
$text['addmother'] = "Add mother";
$text['addparents'] = "Add parents";
$text['wikisearch'] = "Wikipedia";
$text['treesearch'] = "Search an online tree for this person";
$text['internetsearch'] = "Do an internet search for this person";
$text['rightclick'] = "Right click link for new tab";
$text['familysearch'] = "Requires login. Will go to new page. Log in. Hit back button. Refresh. Does not work in all browsers";
$text['Research Tools'] = "Research Tools";

Automated Installation

  1. Download the zip file in the status area in the upper right.
  2. Extract the research_tools_V12.0.0.1.cfg to your mod folder.
  3. Note both the cfg file and the folder called "researchtools" need to be placed in the mod folder.
  4. Follow the normal automated installation for Mod Manager, as shown in the example Mod Manager - Installing Config Files .

Conflicts and Issues

11/3/19 - In Internet Explorer and Edge, if this mod is installed with Research_Links_Mod, the links for Research_Links_Mod will be dead. Issue only seems to happen in these browsers. Investigating but have not found the cause.


This is an early version but all attempts have been made to minimize conflicts.
Other issues might emerge for dead links. And the familysearch link requires some trial and error as described above.

In the event of a problem with your TNG site

  1. Try using the Mod Manager to Remove the mod

Customizing a URL Search String

  1. Do a search on a site that you want
  2. Copy the whole url after you have searched
  3. Identify the query. It comes after the '?'
  4. Find the field names (generally before an = sign)
  5. Copy the appropriate variables below after the = sign
  6. Optional (get rid of unused stuff in the string - hint anywhere there is nothing after the =, you will see =&)


List of Variables
Paste exactly as provided
Website Language in google place two-letter format - {$ihlang}
Person's Surname - {$ihsurname}
Person's Firstname - {$ihfirstname}
Person's Birth Year - {$ihbirthyear}
Person's Birth Year Range - {$ihyrrange}
First year in range - ($b)
Last year in range - ($c)
Person's Spouses first names - {$ihspousenames}
Person's Mother: first - {$ihmfname} and second - {$ihmsname}
Person's Father -{$ihffname} and second - {$ihfsname}
The first section of the birth or christening place name ex Minneapolis - {$first_word}
The first section of the birth or christening place name Minnesotta or United States - {$second_word}
(Note, you may have a lot in the middle of a placename, but it is hard to know what part is important...)
*********************************************

  1. Try it out in the custom field in mod options. It replaces the Geni Search
  2. Some websites do not allow embedding their site in another. All of them appreciate recognition. So add a new custom text for $text['onlinetree'] in your cust_text.php file if it works and you use it.

Also feel free to copy your strings below this text so others can use them:
i.e.:
FindaGrave
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gsr&GSfn={$ihfirstname}&GSmn=&GSln={$ihsurname}&GSbyrel=all&GSby=&GSdyrel=all&GSdy=&GScntry=0&GSst=0&GSgrid=&df=all&GSob=n'
FindmyPast
https://search.findmypast.com/search/world-records?firstname={$ihfirstname}&firstname_variants=true&lastname={$ihsurname}

Customizations in Mod Manager

  1. Choose links/tools to display
  2. Placement of popup (width, height, left and top)
  3. Add a custom search -- if you dare!

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
Adupree.com A.S. DuPree Mod Developer 12.0.0.1 12.0.3 English
Roots & Relatives Remembered Ron Krzmarzick Public & Private 12.0.0.1 See Here EN,DE,CS,ES
Genealogy of the van Heerden Family Emile van Heerden Public & Private 12.0.0.1 12.0.3 English