Saved Searches Recipes for Genealogists

 

Here's a one‑page Saved Searches Recipes for Genealogists you can drop into handouts or briefings. Each recipe assumes the tag vocabulary from the previous reference card.zotero+5

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Zotero Saved Searches Recipes (Genealogy)

Saved searches are "smart collections" that update automatically whenever you tag or modify items. Use them to create instant, dynamic views of your research without manually sorting items.zotero+2

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How to Create a Saved Search

1. Click the magnifying‑glass icon (🔍) in the Zotero toolbar or press Ctrl+Shift+F (Windows) / Cmd+Shift+F (Mac).

2. Click Saved Search in the Advanced Search dialog.

3. Build your logic using Tag conditions, Collection conditions, Item Type, and other fields.

4. Name the search and click OK.

5. The saved search appears in your left sidebar; click it any time to see current matches.zotero-manual.github+1

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Recipe 1: Ready for Analysis

What it finds: Items you've reviewed but haven't yet analyzed or correlated.

Logic:

• Tag is status: reviewed

• Tag is gps: collect

Why use it: When you sit down to work on a case, this gives you your "inbox" of evidence that's been read but not yet incorporated into an argument.[forums.zotero]​

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Recipe 2: Conflicts Not Yet Resolved

What it finds: Items tagged as part of a conflict but not yet marked resolved.

Logic:

• Tag is gps: conflict

• Tag is not gps: resolve

Why use it: Instant to‑do list for proof discussions. If the list is empty, you've cleared all known conflicts.[forums.zotero]​

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Recipe 3: Proof‑Ready Items for a Specific Line

What it finds: All items tagged for a family line that have reached the "proof" GPS stage.

Logic:

• Tag is line: Finnie (or whichever line you want)

• Tag is gps: proof

Why use it: When drafting a proof summary or article, this pulls every piece of evidence already vetted for that conclusion.zotero+1

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Recipe 4: All Primary‑Source Residence Evidence

What it finds: Primary‑source records documenting residence, regardless of person or collection.

Logic:

• Tag is type: residence

• Tag is type: primary

Why use it: Cross‑person view of where‑they‑lived evidence; useful for migration studies or FAN club analysis.[forums.zotero]​

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Recipe 5: To‑Do Items for a Specific Person

What it finds: Items in one person's collection that need follow‑up.

Logic:

• Collection is Finnie, John (1780–1855) – Kilmarnock

• Tag is status: to-do

Why use it: Per‑person action list so you don't lose track of lookups, record requests, or correlations.[forums.zotero]​

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Recipe 6: DNA Evidence Across All Projects

What it finds: Every item (test results, match notes, segment data) tagged as DNA evidence.

Logic:

• Tag is type: DNA

Why use it: Consolidated DNA library view. Add additional logic to filter by project (e.g., Tag is project: DNA cluster A5).[forums.zotero]​

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Recipe 7: Negative Searches (Documents What You Didn't Find)

What it finds: Items recording searches that found no result.

Logic:

• Tag is status: negative

Why use it: Negative evidence is part of reasonably exhaustive research; this search makes it visible and citable.[forums.zotero]​

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Recipe 8: Oklahoma‑Specific Records

What it finds: All items about a particular locality.

Logic:

• Tag is place: Okmulgee County, Oklahoma

Optional refinement (add one of these):

• Tag is type: residence

• Tag is type: occupation

• Tag is repo: Okmulgee County Courthouse

Why use it: Instant locality study for briefings, "Oklahoma Corner" posts, or local‑history articles.[forums.zotero]​

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Recipe 9: Items from a Specific Repository

What it finds: Everything from one archive or website.

Logic:

• Tag is repo: NARA (or repo: Ancestry, repo: FamilySearch, etc.)

Why use it: Quick inventory of what you've gathered from a repository; useful for citation consistency checks or tracking down a half‑remembered record.[forums.zotero]​

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Recipe 10: Annotated Items Only

What it finds: Items that have at least one annotation (highlight or note).

Logic:

• Item Type is Annotation

• (then look at parent items)

Alternative (simpler):

• Attachment Annotation contains . (matches any annotation text)

Why use it: See which sources you've actively marked up vs which are still "clean." Combine with other tags to find, e.g., all annotated conflict items.guides.library.harvard+3

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Recipe 11: Items With Specific Annotation Tags

What it finds: Items whose annotations carry a particular tag (e.g., arguments about identity).

Logic:

• Item Type is Annotation

• Tag is arg: identity

Why use it: Pull out just the highlights and notes you've tagged for a specific argument, then copy them into a draft proof statement.zotero+1

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Recipe 12: Unreviewed Items (Your True "To‑Read" Pile)

What it finds: Items you've saved but haven't yet read or assessed.

Logic:

• Tag is status: unreviewed

Why use it: Research session starting point: pick an item, read it, tag it properly, move on.[forums.zotero]​

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Tips for Building Your Own Recipes

• Combine tags: Use multiple Tag is conditions to narrow results (AND logic).

• Exclude tags: Use Tag is not to filter out resolved, archived, or irrelevant items.

• Use Collection + Tag: Limit a tag search to one person's collection for focused work.

• Date Added: Add Date Added is in the last 30 days to see recent captures.

• Attachment Content: Use Attachment Content contains [keyword] to search full‑text of PDFs.zotero+1

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Suggested Starting Set (Copy These First)

For a working genealogy library, create these four saved searches immediately:

1. Ready for Analysis (reviewed + collect)

2. Conflicts Unresolved (conflict + NOT resolve)

3. To‑Do (All) (status: to‑do)

4. Proof‑Ready (All Lines) (gps: proof)

Then add line‑specific or project‑specific variants as your research evolves.[forums.zotero]​

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