Tips for Searching

at
HymnSite.com Logo

If you are accessing this page in the frames environment it was designed for, then the frame beside this one has a form with a text area, a button that says "Go!", and perhaps some drop down options. There are also "tabs" across the top of the form. Here are some tips to help you select the best tab for you, and to use the search scripts to locate what you are looking for.

  1. The Tabs

    The tabs on the top of the form look something like this:

  2. The Text Area

    The first part of each form is a blank text area that looks something like this:

    Click your mouse inside of the window and type a phrase or any words that you want to search for. A couple of quick pointers:

  3. The "Go!" Button

    This button does just what it says. When you have your search text and options set, you can click on this button and the search will spring into action.
  4. Drop down boxes

    The HymnBase and the Full Text search forms have drop down option boxes to help you customize your search.
  5. Include titles without MIDIs: This applies only to the HymnBase. Many hymn tunes are subject to copyright or other restrictions and cannot be posted. However, the HymnBase contains all titles, numbers, and other information for looking up hymns. Check this box if you want to include results, even if they do not have MIDI files available at HymnSite.com.


Here are some tips to help you find the hymn you are looking for.
  1. Hymn Number Searching
  2. Word Searching
  3. Searching for writers, composers, arrangers, translators, etc.
  4. Capitalization
  5. Punctuation and Special Characters

If you are still having trouble, you may be searching for a hymn that isn't here. If it is copyrighted or otherwise restricted, I cannot post it. You can check for copyrights in the hymnal.

BIGsearch

at
HymnSite.com Logo

BIGsearch is a search and link feature of HymnSite.com. It is intended to help you locate hymn titles that are available on the internet.  It is not an endorsement of any other site; it is simply an effort to help you find what you are looking for. Here are some things you should know. If you have other questions, don't hesitate to ask Chris by e-mail.

Copyright | Searching | Adding your lists

Copyright

MIDI files from HymnSite.com:

All of the hymn files at HymnSite.com beginning with the file name "umh" were created by me personally, and I have placed no restrictions on any of them. They are free for you to use in any manner that you choose, commercial or otherwise. My sole purpose is making these files available. If you are aware of any copyright restrictions on any of them, let me know so that we can resolve any problems that may exist.

MIDI files from other sites:

Use of materials from most other sites is either limited to non-commercial use or use by permission only. Read the copyright notices at all of the sites you visit. They are not part of HymnSite.com, and I cannot give or withhold permission on them.

Searches

HymnSite.com's BIGsearch was designed to do one, simple thing--find hymn titles. The phrase that you enter for the search must match a phrase in the title exactly.  For example, if you search for "amazing grace," you will locate only those hymns that have the word "amazing" followed by one space followed by "grace". (I know of only one hymn that matches this search!)

The script is written in PERL and uses PERL pattern matching, so there are a few other good tricks that you can try. Here are my suggestions:

Adding your lists

BIGsearch is part of a private web site. I am Chris, and I want HymnSite.com to be the best resource that I can make it. As far as I am concerned, the more access I can facilitate for Christian hymn resources, the better. If you have free hymns that are available for download on the internet, I can add you to BIGsearch very easily. Just send me a list of the hymn titles on your site (not authors or composers, etc.) in ASCII text with one title per line, and the name and URL of the page where they can be found. I will visit your site and let you know as soon as I have added your lists to HymnSite.com's BIGsearch data, or if I have any questions or concerns. I won't promise to add your list, but I will promise to consider all requests. Results for your site will appear in the same way that results for other sites do. I can't promise any particular order for links to any individual site. Results from your site may follow immediately behind HymnSite.com's, or your results could be at the very end. Either way, a link to your site will appear if any of your hymn titles match the query.

God bless you--
HymnSite.com