Victor,

I have experienced the same issues as you.  It is very frustrating 
not to be able to download more than 50 records.  Also I own the VRI 
cds and they have the same limitations, except the cap is 100 
records.  As a mentioned in a previous post, I tried to download all 
the records into my family tree program and then reconcile them.  
Except, (i am little slow, and...) it took me a while to realize that 
even though I would tag over a hundred records it was only 
downloading the first 100.  Had to throw out that work and start 
again, since I couldn't figure out which records I was missing.  So I 
started again and downloaded a 100 records at a time.  But then I 
realized that I was downloading some records twice...argh...  
Needless to say...I gave up.  Couldn't figure out a good way to do it.

I wish I had access to the raw data.  Then I could manipulate it as I 
pleased.  I figured since I had the cds, it must be on there 
somewhere.  But I have not been able to figure it out.

I imagine that the reason they have the cap at 50 records is because 
anymore would put a strain on the server...well not more then 50 but 
if you think about it... 100's of people each downloading more then 
50 would put a strain on the server.  But I don't know why there is a 
cap on the cds...

This is what I have done for myself.  All the information that I get 
from IGI/VRI I have placed it in a Access database that I have 
created.  This gives me an easy flexible way to search the data.  
Once I put all my data in Access, which is over 6000 records, I 
created a program that converts this information into a GED file.  
Then I open the GED file in PAF.  Well I only needed to do that part 
once.  Now I have all my data in an Access database and PAF.  I use 
PAF for the reports and tools and I use access for cataloging my data 
and searching through it...which allows me to find more records, etc, 
etc...

I imagine that all the information on familysearch website is in some 
database...I wish...that I had access to the raw data instead of the 
download records...I can work wonders with databases... ;-)

Thanks,
Angie Godina

P.S.  I haven't been able to get the wildcard to work...and I have 
tried them all...


--- In ranchos@yahoogroups.com, "v.h.villarreal" <raices_regias@y...> 
wrote:
> Jonathan,
> 
> Good to know about your work.  When it comes to doing research on 
the
> IGI, I've always wondered if it would be possible to query the
> database thru a more flexible or versatile user interface, like one
> that could use a greater number of filtering criteria, among other 
things.
> 
> I don't understand either the reasons, for example, of limiting the
> download of recordsets to 50 records at a time.  Why aren't we 
allowed
> to download a full recordset by batch number instead. Just imagine 
if
> we could process a batch of records at once and have some kind of
> tools to normalize and reconcile all the records in a whole book!  
> 
> That would be a blessing not only for genealogists but for the 
Church
>  own purposes and everyone else.  Short of being able to display
> online the digital image of the parochial records, these are some of
> the things that I would like to see.  Just some thoughts!
> 
> Best Regards!
> Victor Villarreal
>