Search by Two Events

RootsMagic
1

Is there a way to set up a search for two (or more) events? Specifically, I’d like to be able to set up a search that would find people with a death event but who do not have a burial event. I’m not seeing a way to do this. What am I missing?

2

In Advanced Search, the logic is Death Fact Exists Is True AND Burial Fact Exists Is False.

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1 Like
3

Thanks. Got it. Didn’t realize how to add the additional criteria.

4

The add multiple criteria might take some getting use to.
if ALL AND or ALL OR – its mostly straight forward.
When combine both its gets tricky and often you might need BUT NOT (false or positive)

From AI:

In RootsMagic’s Advanced Person Search, rules can be combined dynamically using standard logical operators (AND, OR, and BUT NOT). Constructing complex queries requires a strategic approach to ensure the database evaluates criteria in the correct logical order.

Key Concepts for Combining Operators in RootsMagic

  • AND (Inclusion/Narrowing): Every time you add a row with an AND operator, you are telling RootsMagic that the person must meet both the previous criteria and the new criteria. This narrows your total result pool.

  • OR (Expansion): An OR operator broadens the search. It dictates that a person can match either the preceding criteria or the new criteria.

  • BUT NOT (Exclusion): The BUT NOT operator filters out records that match the specified exception, ensuring those individuals are stripped from your result set.

Advanced Tips & Best Practices

1. Mind the Order of Evaluation (The Top-Down Flow)

RootsMagic processes advanced search criteria sequentially from top to bottom. Because it reads rules line-by-line, the placement of your AND vs. OR operators drastically changes your output.

  • Tip: Group similar concepts together. If you are looking for people from specific locations using OR, keep them bundled consecutively before introducing a strict AND filter for a time period.

2. Avoid “Mixed Operator” Confusion

When mixing AND and OR in a multi-line search, remember that standard logic applies sequentially.

  • If you write:

    • Birth Place [Equals] New York

    • OR Birth Place [Equals] Pennsylvania

    • AND Death Year [Greater than] 1900

  • RootsMagic evaluates whether they were born in NY or PA first, and then checks if that combined group died after 1900. Structuring this improperly can accidentally isolate your OR statement to only apply to the adjacent row.

3. Leverage the Redesigned Rule Categories

Modern versions of RootsMagic separate advanced search criteria into distinct rule types (such as events, names, attributes, and family associations).

  • Tip: When combining clauses about events (e.g., Birth Place and Birth Date), ensure they are tied to the same event rule category. Event rules require a single event to match all criteria natively, preventing false positives where a person’s birth place matches one record and their birth date matches an entirely different event.

4. Turn Complex Searches Into Groups Instantly

If you build an intricate multi-line query utilizing a mix of AND, OR, and BUT NOT operators that you plan to use frequently, do not rebuild it each time .

  • Tip: Use the option to save your search directly as a rules-based group. It will live dynamically under your People -> Groups tab, updating automatically as you add new data to your tree