Name Permutation Generator

written by Edward Rosenbaum

The internet has many sites where you can search for your ancestors.  Places like Ancestry.com have millions (and sometimes even billions) of names.  However, for most of these sites, you need to know how your ancestor spelled their name.  If you don't know the exact spelling of their name at the time a specific record was created, you may never find them.  Even if you know how the name was spelled, it may have been entered into some databases incorrectly, making it virtually impossible to find.  

So what can this program do to help?  

Spelling variations... This program will generate a list of possible spellings for the surname you are interested in, based upon

1. Alternate spellings based upon confusing letters like "i", which could have been entered into the database as an "l", a "j", or maybe even a "y".
2. Alternate spellings based upon the American soundex system.
3. Alternate spellings based upon the Daitch-Mokotoff soundex system.

Speed...  You can then quickly search the various websites supported by this program by simply clicking on all of the possible spellings that this program has determined for your surname of interest.  

Versatility...  The Name Permutation Generator program can search any number of websites.  The program comes standard with two website 'plug-ins', which will enable you to access Genseeker.com and the FamilyHistory.com surname message boards.  Additional website 'plug-ins' may be purchased at any time.  These additional 'plug-ins' will allow you to access additional websites without having to install additional software.  (Click here for a list of available website 'plug-ins').

Multiple search options... You can search for your ancestors in either of two ways...

Single search This method will allow you to specify all of the searching criteria that the web page allows (surname, first name, etc), and then show you a customized list of possible spellings to click on and try.

Mega Search This method will allow you to search all available web pages at one time by the primary search option (usually surname).  If, for example, you have 10 website plug-ins whose primary search option is surname, then you can search these 10 websites at the same time.  A list of alternate spellings can also be generated, and you merely need to double click on an alternate spelling to use it in a mega search.

A powerful combination... Speed, spelling variations, versatility, and multiple search options.

Example...  Let us assume that you are researching the surname BELLER.  The Name Permutation Generator program will determine that there are 162 possible alternate spellings based upon letters that can be confused for each other, 2 alternate spellings based upon the American soundex coding system, and 9 alternate spellings based upon the Daitch-Mokotoff soundex coding system.  The program will then create a customized web page for you, containing links to the desired website for each alternate spelling.  

Alternate spellings based upon easily confused letters	American soundex alternatives	Daitch-Mokotoff soundex alternatives
Bcller, Bebler, Beiler, Belber, Belier, Bellcr, Bellen, Bellor, Boller, Bcbler, and 152 others...	Beler, Beller	Aueler, Beler, Fbeler, Feler, Peler, Pfeler, Ppheler, Veler, Weler

Version 1.2.0 is now available.

The latest version now allows you to search by a "single search" or by a "mega search", as well as to save the name permutations in an Excel file.

Upgrading from a prior version?

1. If you are currently running the Name Permutation Generator program, please exit it.
2. Download the upgrade to your PC.  Remember the name of the directory that you download this file to.
   
   If you have problems downloading the file, please see I am having problems downloading the program.
   
3. Select "Save this program to disk".  
4. When prompted for a "Save As" location, navigate to where you originally installed the program.  If you did not change any of the default options, this will be "C:\Program Files\Name_permutations\Name_Permutations.exe".
5. When prompted to replace the existing file, click on the "YES" button. 

Trying it for the first time?

If you have not yet installed the "Name Permutation Generator program", you may do so using the instructions below.  Please be aware that the program costs $9.95 to register.  For this price, you will be given a registration key that will give you full access to the programs features, and will entitle you to program updates as they become available (additional website plug-ins not included).  If you choose not to register the program, you will only have limited access to the program.

The program comes standard with two website 'plug-ins', which will enable you to access Genseeker.com and the FamilyHistory.com surname message boards.  Additional website 'plug-ins' may be purchased at any time.  These additional 'plug-ins' will allow you to access additional websites without having to install additional software.

NOTE: Currently this program is only available for IBM-compatibles.

1. Download the program to your PC.  Remember the name of the directory that you download this file to.
   
   If you have problems downloading the file, please see I am having problems downloading the program.
   
2. When asked for the file name, enter "setup-name.exe"
3. In Windows Explorer, click on setup-name.exe in the directory that you downloaded the file into.  
4. Follow the on-screen instructions.   By default, the program will install into the directory "c:\program files\Name_permutations".
5. If you did not change any of the default options, you can run the program at "c:\program files\Name_permutations\Name_Permutations.exe" 

Purchase the program:

Purchase additional plug-ins

Once you have installed the Name Permutation Generator program, you can increase the number of websites that it can search by purchasing additional 'plug-ins'.   To do this,

1. Run the Name Permutation Generator program
2. Click on "Order Additional Plug-ins", which appears at the top of the program
3. You will be shown a list of the plug-ins that you currently have, and a list of available plug-ins for purchase.  
4. Once you have made your selection, and pressed the ORDER NOW button, you will be told the final cost and be prompted to pay using your credit card and PayPal. 
5. Once your payment has been made, you will be shown a web page with  with instructions and links for downloading our new plug-ins.
6. Exit and re-start the Name Permutation Generator program, and you will be able to search additional websites.

Click here for a list of available website 'plug-ins'.

FAQ:

• I am getting the error 'No CE Signature Found' when trying to install the program
• I am getting the error 'The file may not be supported by AOL.  AOL will try to open it as a test file if you choose to continue' when trying to install the program
• I am having problems downloading the program
• I cannot see the entire screen.  The right side and bottom are missing.
• I downloaded the files, but do not know what to do with them
• I want to uninstall the program.  How do I do this?
• Is there a MAC version?
• It seems that not all variants of the exact same Daitch-Mokotoff soundex code are produced.  Why not?
• What 'plug-ins' are available?
• When are new website 'plug-ins' made available?
• I still have questions.  What do I do?

Question: I am getting the error 'No CE Signature Found' when trying to install the program

This error is caused when the file download did not complete successfully.  Please download the file again.  If you continue to have problems, look at I am having problems downloading the program.

Question: I am getting the error 'The file may not be supported by AOL.  AOL will try to open it as a test
file if you choose to continue' when trying to install the program

If America Online is your default Web browser, use Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator as your default Web browser.  For information about changing your default Web browser, see the online Help in Internet Explorer or Navigator, or contact AOL for instructions.

Question: I am having problems downloading the program

You may be having problems downloading the file due to its size.  I would suggest that you download and install Netscape's SmartDownload.  

"SmartDownload is a service from Netscape Netcenter designed to assist you with downloading files from the Internet. Key features of SmartDownload are its ability to pause and resume downloads, recover from a dropped Internet connection, and show informative content from Netcenter while downloading."  

Read more about SmartDownload 

Download SmartDownload

If you continue to have problems downloading the file, please contact me, and I will email you the file.

Question: I cannot see the entire screen.  The right side and bottom are missing.

One of two things can cause this problem.

1. Your computer resolution is set to 600x480.  This program requires a minimum resolution of 800x600.  To change the resolution of your monitor, please do the following

1. Minimize any programs that you have running so that you can see your computers desktop.
2. Click on MY COMPUTER
3. Click on CONTROL PANEL
4. Click on DISPLAY
5. Click on the SETTINGS tab
6. Change the resolution to 800x600
7. Click on OK

or

2. Your computer is set to LARGE fonts.  This program requires SMALL fonts.  To change the font size, please do the following

1. Minimize any programs that you have running so that you can see your computers desktop.
2. Click on MY COMPUTER
3. Click on CONTROL PANEL
4. Click on DISPLAY
5. Click on the SETTINGS tab
6. Click in the ADVANCED button
7. Change the FONT SIZE to SMALL
8. Click on OK
9. Click on OK again

Question: I downloaded the files, but do not know what to do with them

1. When you downloaded the file setup-name.exe, you indicated where on your computer the file should be saved.  Let us assume the name of this directory is c:\windows\temp.   Using Windows Explorer, go to this directory and run setup-name.exe (it might appear as setup-name application).  setup-name.exe is a self extracting zip file, and will prompt you for where the extracted files should go.  Enter the directory on your computer that the extracted files should go, and press FINISH.
   
2. Once you have run the setup-name.exe program, use Windows Explorer and go to the directory that you 'unzipped' the files to.   In this directory you need to run the file setup.exe (it might appear as setup application).  Follow the on-screen instructions to install the "Name Permutation Generator" program.

Question: I want to uninstall the program.  How do I do this?

1. Using Windows Explorer, delete the "c:\program files\Name_Permutations" folder.

Question: Is there a MAC version?

Unfortunately, there is currently no MAC version available.  

Question: It seems that not all variants of the exact same Daitch-Mokotoff soundex code are produced.  Why not?

The Name Permutation Generator program will only display up to 500 different Daitch-Mokotoff soundex alternate spellings.  If the surname you entered has more then 500 alternate spellings, then the program will only show those names with the same first letter as what you entered.

Question: When are new website 'plug-ins' made available?

Additional website 'plug-ins' are made available when I become aware of valid websites.  If you know of a searchable website that does not yet have a plug-in, please let me know.  The first person to report a searchable website will get the plug-in free of charge.