-
To do a
n
Advanced
Search:
Click on the tab that says
"Busqueda Avanzada".
-
In the box labeled "Buscar"
(Search) type in what you are searching for. Although you
CAN search for a particular name, please remember that the files
are not indexed that way. So if you do a search for a name that
is common (ie: Juan Rodriguez) you will get an alert
[Aviso
Importante] that states that too many results
were found and suggestions are made as to how to decrease the
number of results.
-
The above search for Juan Rodriguez will look for all the
pages that contain either "Juan" or "Rodriguez".
Therefore if you search for "Juan Rodriguez" (name in
quotation marks) the search engine will only list pages that
include the two names (Juan and Rodriguez) NEXT TO
each other. This option will help limit some of the results. As
a rule, I search using both formats.
-
An
option to include in your search is "Fecha" (Date).
You can include the date search "desde" (from) a
certain period "hasta" (to) a certain period. See
below for the date formats available. You DO NOT need to include
a date to do a search.
-
DATE FORMATS YOU MAY USE INCLUDE: Year format (1765);
Month and Year format (1765-10);
Day, Month and Year format (1765-10-18);
Day and Year format (1765--18)
[there are 2 hyphens in the place of the month]; Day, Month
and Unspecified Year format (sa-10-18)
[sa or SA means "sin año" or No Year); Day, Unspecified Month
and Year format (1765-sm-18) [sm
or SM means "sin mes" or No Month]; Unspecified Day, Month
and Year format (1765-10-sd) [sd
or SD means "sin dia" or without day]; and finally you may use
the Century format (XVIII)
[use Roman numerals].
-
The other option available is the type of file you would like to
view. You may choose to view "Todos los registros" (All
records) or the "Registros digitalizados" (Digitalized
records) or the "Registros no digitalizados"
(Non-digitalized records). The most beneficial option would
be to leave the default option of "Todos los registros" (All
records).
-
Up
until this point, the Basic Search and Advanced Search
are the same.
-
The next section allows you to specify a particular "archivo"
(archive) within the site or access all the archives. The
default for the drop down menu is set to "Todos" (All).
If you would like to view only the records from a particular
archive, such as the "Archivo de Indias" (Archive of
the Indies), you would use the drop down menu and select
"Archivo de Indias" (Archive of the Indies).
-
If
I attempt the same search of "Juan Rodriguez" with NO
archive specified I would still get the alert that states that
too many results were found. However, if I choose "Archivo de
Indias" and then perform the search, I would get a list of
files WITHIN the Archive of the Indies that contain the
name "Juan Rodriguez".
-
All files in PARES have a "signatura" (file code)
that is used to index them. If you have this code you may enter
it in the field labeled "signatura" right below "archivo".
All files referenced on the CGC site have an information page
that includes their "signaturas". If you use this
information while performing your search, make sure you select
the option "Búsqueda por signatura exacta" (Search using
complete file code) below the "signatura" field.
-
The "Índice
Descripción" (Index
Description) should be left at the default category of "Todas"
(All).
-
The "Resultados" (Results)
option should also be left at the default setting of "Mostrar
100 más revelantes" (Show the 100 most relevant results).
-
The last 2 buttons on the page are "Limpiar formulario" (Clear
form) and "Buscar" (Search).
-
On
the upper right hand of this search page is the link to their
"Ayuda" (Help) file. It is a downloadable PDF
file, although it is only available in Spanish.
