NORS: Norfolk Online Record Search
User Guide
How to Search the NORS database: Browsing Records (Find a Source)
Records are stored in the NORS database according to a Classification Scheme which contains a list of Norfolk Parishes and Registration Districts. Each parish is sub-divided into classifications for Baptisms, Burials, Banns and Marriages and transcripts may then be sub-divided according to the period covered.
To search for a baptism, burial, marriage or banns in a particular parish it is probably quicker to use the 'Browse Records' menu rather than to use the 'Find A Person' advanced search.
Browsing Records
The Browse Records menu is composed of a tree structure. At the top level records are divided into alpahebetical letters, 'A', 'B', 'C', etc. The 'Plus' Symbol 
denotes the existence of a sub-class and clicking on it will expand the menu to the next sub-classification for Parishes, Register Types and Period covered by a Transcript.
Clicking on a Node Link in either the 'Browse Records' menu (to the left of the screen) or in the main Window will take you to the Record for that Parish Register Transcript.
The below example shows the Node for Baconsthorpe Banns 1758 - 1896 under the 'Browse Records' menu, together with the related Record.
Find a Source
An alternative, quicker way to view records available for a specific parish is to use the 'Find a Source' search function available from the main menu.
You are given two options under the Heading of 'Search What': 'Class Details' and 'Record Details'. Both will display details of records available in the NORS database, but the 'Record Details' option operates further down (i.e. at a more specific level) within the Classification Scheme. Therefore, when searching tick the 'Record Details' box.
The 'Find a Source' screen contains various menu options under the heading of 'Media Types' which are not used in NORS currently. These tick boxes may be ignored.
The name of the parish you wish to search should be entered in the 'Keyword or Phrase' box. Once the details have been entered, click 'Search' to display Records available for that parish.
Performing a Search of a specific Parish Register
Once the Record for the individual parish transcript you wihs to search is displayed in the main window, click on the 'View Record' 
icon to display a Search Screen specific to the Parish Register in question.
The Search Screen contains two search fields - one titled 'Search this Dataset', the other titled 'Search this Source'. The distinction between these two search fields is important:
- Search this Source
- This field will search Surnames only.
- Search this Dataset
- This field will search All data fields within the parish transcript. It is therefore possible to perform a search based on forename, occupation or a specific date (e.g. 28.03.1758).
Both search fields will search for exactly the text entered and wildcard ( % ) characters are not allowed. Therefore, a search for the surname 'EVERIT' will not display any surnames recorded as 'EVERITT'. To search for variations in a Surname then the 'Find a Person' Advanced Search facility should be used.