Similar Name Matches
Can fmSearchResults find "similar" names?
Yes! A close-name match is included in fmSearchResults, so if you search for James and it doesn't find anything, it will loosen the search to look for Jim.
If you want it to loosen and look for Jim even when you find matches, edit the script "Integration Settings" and find the last set of comments under "Set Options". Switch the variable "$$sr Close Name Match" to 1 (this is set to 0 be default).
Adding names to the close-match search.
If you'd like to edit the list of close-match name matches, simply edit the script "Search - Iterate" and look for the comment "Edit list of names to substitute here". Edit the following Set Variable step and you'll see that our names are stored in a simple calc like this:
- n="Aaron";"Ron";
n="Abel";"Ebbie";
n="Abigail";"Gail";
n="Abraham";"Abe";
To add a new pair, just insert the names where you'd like as we've done with "Aron" below:
- n="Aaron";"Ron";
n="Aaron";"Aron";
n="Abel";"Ebbie";
n="Abigail";"Gail";
n="Abraham";"Abe";
A little theory
The name substitution in SearchResults is simple, and unidirectional. In general, it goes from formal to informal (ie Robert to Bob) but not necessarily the reverse, though in some cases the translation list does include the reverse pair. You can extend this list to include reverse pairs if you'd like to.
Also, note that some pairs like Dick/Richard can ONLY be done via a name substitution list, whereas Rich/Richard already works perfectly in one direction, and could be done by just shortening the search to the first four characters in the other direction, so it is not a good candidate for the substitution table.
As you read through the names included (we chose every one of these by hand from a much bigger list) you will hopefully see this theme expressed.
