The start page provides two input fields for easy and rapid enquiries. Here you can search by name (“Müller”), special search terms (“Frisör”) or input a phone number to look up an entry using the backwards search.
The “Extended search” allows you to narrow down your enquiry using certain criteria (for example “Categories” or “Surrounding area”).
The alphabetic hit lists in the default settings can be resorted by post code, town or street; you furthermore have the option of filtering results by certain criteria (private/business entries; categories).
Please note that subscribers themselves decide whether and how the entry is made in DasTelefonbuch directory. Some subscribers are entered without first name or street, so that it is often better not to fill in every input field.
- What can I enter into the “Who/What” field?
- What can I enter into the “Where” field?
- How does the Backwards search work?
- What options does the “Expanded search” offer?
- How does the Map search work?
- How can I systematically search the hit list?
- What does Quick search on the Welcome page offer?
4.1 What can I enter into the “Who/What” field?
You can input names, search terms and phone numbers in the Who/What search field. No differentiation is made here between upper and lower case letters. German characters are treated as follows: “ä=ae”, “ö=oe”, “ü=ue” and “ß=ss” (thus Müller becomes Mueller, Maßen becomes Massen). Accents, such as in “Café” can be left out of the input. In order to exclude misuse of data, enquiries require an input in this field.
If you leave the “Where” search field blank, Das Telefonbuch finds entries throughout Germany. You then have the option of narrowing down the hits in the hit list.
- What should be noted when inputting a name or search term?
- Are there any more tips and hints to help my search?
- Which telephone numbers can I search for?
4.1.1 What should be noted when inputting a name or search term?
The following are examples of possible inputs under “Name/term”:
surname: “Müller”
first name + surname: “Peter Müller” or “Müller Peter”
Company name: “Autohaus Müller”
Search term: “Auto”, “Glaserei”, “Frisör”...
Brand names and combinations: “Telekom”, “DasTelefonbuch”, ...
If “Müller” is input, both private subscribers named “Müller” and commercial entries like “Autohaus Müller” will appear in the hit list.
4.1.2 Are there any more tips and hints to help my search?
Too many hits? Or cannot find a particular entry, even though you are sure that it is listed in DasTelefonbuch?
There are some tips and tricks listed below that may help you!
- How can I search with precision?
- How can I launch a broad-ranging search?
- How can I exclude results?
- How are abbreviations treated?
4.1.2.1 How can I search with precision?
If several terms are input each with a space between, only those hits matching all the input criteria are displayed. Tip: In order to broaden the hit range, it is better to input fewer criteria.
If you know the exact name, input it in quotation marks. If “Ristorante Salvatore” is input, only results which exactly match this designation are shown. Entries only containing “Salvatore” or “Ristorante”, e.g. “Trattoria Salvatore”, will then not appear in the hit list.
4.1.2.2 How can I launch a broad-ranging search?
In order to start a broad-ranging search, you can enclose the terms in round brackets. This then displays all results containing at least one or even several of the terms: By inputting (Ristorante Salvatore), you would also find Ristorante Rimini and Trattoria Salvatore.
4.1.2.3 How can I exclude results?
A certain number of results can be excluded by setting an exclamation mark. By inputting “Kundendienst !Möbel”, you would exclude customer service for furniture, but still find customer service for electrical applications.
4.1.2.4 How are abbreviations treated?
Abbreviations are useful if, say, you do not know the exact spelling of a name or company designation.
In such cases, you can abbreviate an input after at least 4 characters with an asterisk (*), and thus obtain a wider range of hits. For example, if “Chin* Restaurant” is input, entries under both “China Restaurant” and “chinesisches Restaurant” would be found.
If you are not sure whether the person you want to talk to is called Schimanski or Schimansky, simply input Schimanski*.
If an asterisk (*) is set within a term, e.g. “Meie*berg Lüders”, the characters behind the asterisk are ignored up to the next space character. The enquiry is then submitted as “Meie* Lüders”.
4.1.3 Which telephone numbers can I search for?
If you input a phone number in Das Telefonbuch, you can also use an inverse (or backwards) search to look up the corresponding entry. In case of enquiries with phone numbers, it is essential that the complete number – consisting of dialling code (including special prefixes such as 0800 etc.) and subscriber number – is input. The town is not input.
You have the following input options in this context:
0123 45 67 89
0123 456789
0123456789
0123-45 67 89
0123 – 45 67 89
0123/45 67 89
+49123456789
0049123456789
(0123) 456789
The same input options also apply to enquiries declaring a mobile phone number, e.g. 0160 1234567
Abbreviations and wildcard symbols, such as (*), e.g. 012334*, cannot be used for inverse searches using phone numbers.
If a subscriber cannot be found for a phone number input by you, it is possible that this subscriber has withdrawn permission for backwards (inverse) searches or publishing of his contact data in Das Telefonbuch.
4.2 What can I enter into the “Where” field?
The “Where” field can be completed with a town name, post code, district, region (e.g. Ruhr), island (e.g. Sylt), economic area (e.g. Main-Taunus area), state or car registration prefix. If the “Where” field is left blank, a Germany-wide query is started.
If the place input is ambiguous, a window opens which allows you to make the input more precise. The hit list later offers the option of changing the place input or starting a search of the surrounding area.
Place names can be abbreviated after the 4th character with an asterisk (*), for example “Fran*” for “Frankfurt” or, in the case of double names, “Cast* Raux*” for “Castrop-Rauxel”. If an asterisk (*) is set within a place name, e.g. “Bran*burg”, the characters behind the asterisk are ignored up to the next space character (if present).
4.3 How does the Backwards search work?
The menu item “Backwards search” allows you to search for entries by phone numbers and addresses.
- Which telephone numbers can I search for?
- Can I also search backwards using an address?
4.3.1 Which telephone numbers can I search for?
If you input a phone number in Das Telefonbuch, you can also use an inverse (or backwards) search to look up the corresponding entry. In case of enquiries with phone numbers, it is essential that the complete number – consisting of dialling code (including special prefixes such as 0800 etc.) and subscriber number – is input. The town is not input.
You have the following input options in this context:
0123 45 67 89
0123 456789
0123456789
0123-45 67 89
0123 – 45 67 89
0123/45 67 89
+49123456789
0049123456789
(0123) 456789
The same input options also apply to enquiries declaring a mobile phone number, e.g. 0160 1234567
Abbreviations and wildcard symbols, such as (*), e.g. 012334*, cannot be used for inverse searches using phone numbers.
If a subscriber cannot be found for a phone number input by you, it is possible that this subscriber has withdrawn permission for backwards (inverse) searches or publishing of his contact data in Das Telefonbuch.
4.3.2 Can I also search backwards using an address?
Under the menu item “Backwards search”, the “Post address” link below the input field also allows you to search for entries under a certain address.
If you input a street with a house number and place (either the post code or the place name), you will find all commercial subscribers listed at this address. Private subscribers are not found by an address search.
4.4 What options does the “Expanded search” offer?
If the details you have are inaccurate or incomplete, an “Expanded search” offers you a number of options for finding commercial and private entries. When searching for commercial entries, you can furthermore narrow down the search systematically via top-categories and sub-categories,
As a general rule: The more details you input, the more precise the hits. The fewer details you declare, the more wide-ranging the choice in the hit list.
- Which fields are mandatory?
- Which inputs are allowed under “First name”?
- Which inputs are allowed under “Name/term”?
- How do I systematically find business entries?
- Which inputs are allowed under “Where”?
- What are “Prominent points”?
- How do I find a person/company in my area?
- How can I improve the quality of my hits using quotation marks, round brackets or abbreviations?
4.4.1 Which fields are mandatory?
In an “Expanded search”, only the “Name/term” field needs to be completed. All other fields can be completed or left blank.
4.4.2 Which inputs are allowed under “First name”?
In the “First name” field, you can input complete first names or use an asterisk (*) to abbreviate them (“P*”). Enquiries with first names. however, will also display subscribers who are included in the data inventory with or without abbreviated initials.
Asking just a first name is not possible because the hit rate would be too high.
4.4.3 Which inputs are allowed under “Name/term”?
The “Name/term” field can be completed with surnames, company names, search terms (key words), brand names and combinations, e.g. “Glaserei Müller”. There is a separate “First name” field in the “Expanded search” for inputting first names.
- What do I enter if I am not sure how a person's name is spelt or what a company is called?
- How should I use the “Commercial/private” filter?
4.4.3.1 What do I enter if I am not sure how a person's name is spelt or what a company is called?
“Stephan” or “Stefan”? “Meier” or “Meyer”? “Maier” or “Mayer”? “Restaurant”, “Gaststätte”, “Pizzeria”, “Ristorante” or “Trattoria”?
In the “Extended search”, if you cross the “Show similar” box above the “First name” und “Name/term” fields, Das Telefonbuch will find both the terms and spellings declared by you as well as the common alternatives.
For example, inputting “Schimanski” would also find hits listed under Szymanski, Szimanski, Schimansky, Schymanski, Simanski or Symansky.
4.4.3.2 How should I use the “Commercial/private” filter?
Inputting “Müller” would display both private subscribers named “Müller” and commercial entries, e.g. “Autohaus Müller”, on the hit list. If you are only looking for private or only for commercial entries, simply cross the “Commercial” or “Private” field, as applicable.
4.4.4 How do I systematically find business entries?
Searching in “Commercial top-categories” enables commercial entries to be found systematically in individual categories:
For example, if you are searching in the “Building, home and garden” top-category and you cross the “Floors, painting, wallpapering” sub-category, you would find all listed providers in the area defined by you under “Where?”.
4.4.5 Which inputs are allowed under “Where”?
The post code is the most precise way of defined a certain place. However, if you do not know the post code in question, simply use the “Place, town quarter, region, state” field. Apart from town names, you can also input districts, islands, states and car registration prefixes here.
When inputting a street in the “Street or points of note” field, you can also cross the “Show similar” option if you are not quite sure how the street name is spelt. Please note that a separate field is provided to input the house number.
4.4.6 What are “Prominent points”?
You can also select a “Point of note” as the location. These include rail stations, museums and other public facilities.
Before selecting a point of note, you must naturally state a place.
If you decide to search by a point of note, the “Show similar” option and the “House number” field are then not available.
4.4.7 How do I find a person/company in my area?
The surroundings finder enables you to locate subscribers near to a selected place (address or point of note). The results are displayed together with the distances to the selected place.
This search of the surroundings requires that you first declare your location or the centre point of the surroundings. Choose from the following options:
a) Input a place: The location is the centre of the place
b) Input a post code: The location is the geographic centre of the post code area
c) Input a street: The location is the lowest house number in the street.
d) Input a street and house number: The location is determined exactly.
The “In the surroundings of” pull-down menu enables you to additionally determine the radius to be searched. If you do not declare a radius here, Das Telefonbuch will automatically search in a radius of 5 kilometres. Please note that the declared radius is not selected in the form of a circle, but rather a flat quadrant. This means some subscribers can also be found outside the radius.
If no hits are found in the surrounding you have declared, the radius is automatically expanded.
If the declared place cannot be identified unambiguously, a pull-down menu opens listing all the places that come into question in alphabetical order. You can now select the desired place from there.
The results of the surroundings finder are sorted by distance in the hit list; the distance to the stated place is shown here.
4.4.8 How can I improve the quality of my hits using quotation marks, round brackets or abbreviations?
If several terms are input each with a space between, only those hits matching all the input criteria are displayed.
Tip: In order to broaden the hit range, it is better to input fewer criteria.
- How can I search more precisely with quotation marks?
- How can I start wide-ranging searches with round brackets?
- How are abbreviations treated?
4.4.8.1 How can I search more precisely with quotation marks?
If you know the exact name of a merchant, the enquiry can be submitted in quotation marks. If “Ristorante Salvatore” is input, only results which exactly match this designation are shown.
Entries only containing “Salvatore” or “Ristorante”, e.g. “Trattoria Salvatore”, will then not appear in the hit list.
4.4.8.2 How can I start wide-ranging searches with round brackets?
In order to start a broad-ranging search, you can enclose the terms in round brackets. Auf diese Weise werden Ihnen alle Ergebnisse angezeigt, die mindestens einen oder auch mehrere Begriffe umfassen: So finden Sie bei der Eingabe (Ristorante Salvatore) auch das Ristorante Rimini und die Trattoria Salvatore.
4.4.8.3 How are abbreviations treated?
Abbreviations are useful if, say, you do not know the exact spelling of a name or company designation.
In such cases, you can abbreviate an input after at least 4 characters with an asterisk (*), and thus obtain a wider range of hits. For example, if “Chin* Restaurant” is input, entries under both “China Restaurant” and “chinesisches Restaurant” would be found.
If you are not sure whether the person you want to talk to is called Schimanski or Schimansky, simply input Schimanski*.
If an asterisk (*) is set within a term, e.g. “Meie*berg Lüders”, the characters behind the asterisk are ignored up to the next space character. The enquiry is then submitted as “Meie* Lüders”.
4.5 How does the Map search work?
You are looking, say, for a restaurant, supermarket or vehicle repair shop somewhere nearby. Use the input field "Who/What" ("Glaserei", "Autohaus Müller") and enter the region where you wish to search under "Where" (postcode or place name or car registration number).
The functions for shifting (arrows or pressed mouse key) and zooming of the map section (click on "+", resp. "-" or with the mouse scroll wheel) and for determining the centre of the search point ("pin") allow quick and simple geographic search.
Incidentally: With the right mouse key you can open an additional navigation window, from where you can easily access all important functions
- How can I search with the “Who/what” field?
- How do I search via the input field “where”?
- How do I use the “pin”?
- How do I use the right mouse key?
- How can I use “Points of note” to obtain better orientation?
- What do the markings on the map mean? (Flag, points)
- How do I find the quickest way to my destination using the Route planner?
4.5.1 How can I search with the “Who/what” field?
You can also find your desired entry in the field "Who/What" with free text entry within the map search, as you can on the start page. Enter a search word such as "Glaserei" or a definite name such as "Autohaus Müller", "Eva Mustermann".
You can find the hit(s) first of all in the hit list in the left column and as a mark in the map section you have selected: advertising entries are marked by flags, all other private and commercial entries by points.
The entries are listed in the hit list on the left edge according to the distance from the centre of your search point. You can, however, have the hits displayed in alphabetical order.
As soon as you change the map section (shift, zoom), the hit list will be adapted automatically.
4.5.2 How do I search via the input field “where”?
In the input field "Where" you can alternatively enter the post code, town name, suburb, street name or the car registration number.
4.5.3 How do I use the “pin”?
The "pin" marks the starting point of your search which you have determined with your input in the "Where" field. You can shift this centre of the search point at random within the map with the pressed mouse key.
If a centre of the search point is not determined in your current map section, you can pull the pin from the menu bar to the desired town.
4.5.4 How do I use the right mouse key?
With the right mouse key you open an additional navigation window: Here you have the functions such as "Enlarge," "Minimise" and Route Planning available on the map. With a click on the "pin" in the opened window you determine a new centre of the search point at the location of the map where you are currently positioned with your cursor.
4.5.5 How can I use “Points of note” to obtain better orientation?
The "Points of note" menu item allows you to select certain places, such as rail stations, museums or other public facilities, for easier orientation and to display these on the map.
4.5.6 What do the markings on the map mean (flags, points)
The hits for your search are marked by flags (advertising entries) or points (all other private and commercial entries) on the map.
You will initially receive all basic information via mouse over. Via the button "free call" you can esatblish a free-of-charge telephone connection via dastelefonbuch.de. The "Route" and "Bus/rail" links furthermore take you to the route planner or give useful advice on how to reach the target by public transport.
If you would like further details, the detail view will open after clicking on "All infos". You can find all the information (e.g. URL, email address) etc. which is recorded in DasTelefonbuch for this entry.
4.5.7 How do I find the quickest way to my destination using the Route planner?
You can also reach the route planner and find the best bus and rail links quickly and simply from the map search.
The route planner calculates the route from the start to the target destination to your instructions – e.g. quickest, shortest, cheapest link. On request, the route can also be calculated via intermediate stops defined by you.
“Bus/rail” shows you the nearest stations or stops (tram, bus stop, main rail station) to your start and destination addresses. Here you can also let the program find the best link at a point in time defined by you.
4.6 How can I systematically search the hit list?
The hit list also offers numerous options to optimise the results to suit your requirements.
For example, you can
- determine the number of hits displayed yourself
- narrow down the results with filter functions
- accelerate the search within hits by sorting functions
- increase the number of hits with the “Show similar” option
- and start a search of the surroundings directly from the hit list.
You can abort your search in the hit list at any time and use the “Who/what” or “Where” fields to start a new search.
If you are particularly pleased or dissatisfied with searches in dastelefonbuch.de, you are able to tell us your personal opinion at the end of the hit list. Please tell us your e-Mail address so that we can get in touch with you for questions or answers.
- How many hits are shown in the hit list?
- How can I move between different pages of hits?
- How can I narrow down the search with filters?
- How can I use the sorting function?
- How can I increase the number of hits?
- How can I use the search of surroundings in the hit list?
- What information is available in the detail view?
- What information is offered in the detail view?
4.6.1 How many hits are shown in the hit list?
You can choose whether the hit list displays 10, 20, 50 or all hits. The default setting is a maximum 20 results on the hit list.
4.6.2 How can I move between different pages of hits?
If your search produces more hits than can be displayed on one page, multiple hit lists are issued.
The following functions are available for moving between individual hit lists. You can
1. call up the previous/next page with arrow icons
2. select the first/last page of hit lists directly by jump mark
3. directly call up the page number by free text input.
4.6.3 How can I narrow down the search with filters?
As a general rule, you can always select between “private” or “commercial” entries in the hit list cockpit. In a search for commercial providers, the cockpit shows you all categories in which hits are found for your search criteria. If you click on a particular category, the hit list only shows the results found in this category. Return to your original hit list via the “Back to overall search result” link.
If you click on “All categories”, a new window opens showing you at a glance all the categories in which results were found. You can then select one or more categories that come into question in this window. Click on “Further” and the hit list is reloaded on the basis of your selection.
4.6.4 How can I use the sorting function?
As the default setting, the results of enquiries are initially shown in alphabetical order. However, the sorting function allows you to change this setting and thus considerably simplify your search within the results found.
Individual sorting of hit lists offers you the following options:
a) Sort by street:
You are looking for a Mr Meier and know his street, but do not know his address or first name. Click on the column header
“Street” to sort all hits alphabetically by street. You can now find the entry systematically.
b) Sort by place:
You are looking for a Mr Meier and know his place of residence, but not his first name. Click on the column header “Place” to
sort all hits numerically by post code. You can now find the entry systematically.
4.6.5 How can I increase the number of hits?
Your search for “Schimanski” does not produce the result you are looking for in the hit list. Click on “Show similar” to increase the number of hits as entries under Szymanski, Szimanski, Schimansky, Schymanski, Simanski or Symansky will now also be found.
4.6.6 How can I use the search of surroundings in the hit list?
Assuming you are looking for “Car repair shops” in your vicinity but find too few or too many hits. Click on “in the surroundings of place/address” to start a targeted search for garages in your vicinity. Change the radius of the surroundings to increase or decrease the number of hits.
The hits are sorted in ascending order by distance.
4.6.7 What information is available in the detail view?
If you move the mouse cursor over the hit list, the so-called detail view opens for each entry touched upon. This firstly offers a preview of the content displayed in the further-going detail view (e.g. logo, video clip etc). It secondly provides a number of “Contact-use” functions which you can access from this window via a link, e.g.:
- the map view with route planning (“Map/route”)
- bus and rail links to the destination (“Rail/bus”)
- add to the note pad (“Note pad”)
- save contact data (“Save”)
- print out contact data (“Print”)
- forward contact data (“Forward”). This enables you to send contact data to someone else via e-Mail, fax or SMS
4.6.8 What information is offered in the detail view?
Access the detail view for a merchant or a private subscriber by selecting the subscriber in question from the hit list. Apart from the basis information shown on the hit list, the detail view provides additional information, such as mobile phone number, opening hours, brands, services etc..
Providing the subscribers details are available, you can click on a link in the detail view to access its Web site or shop service.
All “Contact-use” functions – which were already available to you in the detail preview – are likewise accessible directly from the detail view.
4.7 What does Quick search on the Welcome page offer?
The rapid search enables you to access a number of information points and services directly from the start page. The following can be accessed directly by clicking on the corresponding link:
a) Important emergency numbers
b) Chemists with an emergency service
c) Domestic and international dialling codes
d) All post codes in Germany
e) International telephone directories
f) The route planner
- What type of emergency numbers can I find?
- How can I find the nearest chemist's shop with an emergency service?
- Can international dialling codes be found?
- How can I find post codes?
- What do International directories offer?
- How do I use the route planner?
4.7.1 What type of emergency numbers can I find?
The main interregional emergency numbers can be accessed directly from the start page: Apart from the general emergency numbers valid throughout Germany for the police. fire brigade, rescue service, number for blocking bank cards and electronic authorisation, the Samaritans, emergency line for children and young people, further numbers include:
State emergency poison centres, breakdown services, plus emergency services for credit cards, legal aid, insurance and mobile telephony.
4.7.2 How can I find the nearest chemist's shop with an emergency service?
The link on the start page is the most direct way to the nearest emergency service: After inputting the place or the full post code, the window displays all the chemist's shops offering an emergency service together with opening times in the area. Chemist's shops offering an emergency service over the next six days can also be accessed via the links below the input field.
The map view with the route planner can be accessed directly from the hit list: All the results are marked on the map, so that it is easy to find the most convenient chemist's shop.
Click on the “Print page” button to call up a special print preview, in which the contact data in the hit list are optimised for printing.
4.7.3 Can international dialling codes be found?
Click on the “Dialling codes” link on the start page to access domestic and international dialling codes. The “Dialling codes search” window accessed via this link gives you three options below the input field to continue your search:
1. Search for a dialling code in Germany
2. Search for a dialling code from Germany to international destinations
3. Search for a dialling code between international destinations
The search for a dialling code in Germany and to international destinations also offers you the option of inputting a dialling code to find out the place applicable to this number.
- How can I find German dialling codes?
- How can I find international dialling codes?
- How can I find international dialling codes from country A to country B?
4.7.3.1 How can I find German dialling codes?
Simply input the place name or the post code. The hit list display all the dialling codes which match your enquiry. If your search delivers too many hits, retain offers you a selection so that you can easily narrow down your enquiry.
4.7.3.2 How can I find international dialling codes?
Click on “from Germany to international destinations” below the input field and enter a country (e.g. Italy), a place name (e.g. Naples) or a dialling code (e.g. 0039081).
The hit list displays all the results for your enquiry and possibly also particularities applicable to the dialling code in question.
4.7.3.3 How can I find international dialling codes from country A to country B?
Click on “between international destinations” below the input field and enter the desired connection in the “From” and “To” fields. For example, if you want to know how to call your friends in Austria during your holiday in Italy, simply input “from Italy to Austria”.
The hit list displays all the results for your enquiry including the reverse connection (e.g. from Austria to Italy). Particularities applicable to the dialling code in question may also be shown.
4.7.4 How can I find post codes?
The “Post codes” link on the start page provides direct access to the search for post codes in Germany. As a rule, you can find the appropriate post code by inputting the place and street. The house number may be input as an option and serves to delimit enquiries for post codes in large cities.
4.7.5 What do International directories offer?
Are you looking for a phone number abroad? The international enquiries offered by Das Telefonbuch enable you to find the online phone directories of other countries very easily.
“International directories” are accessed directly from the start page. After selecting the continent and country, you receive a commented selection of links for virtually every country.
4.7.6 How do I use the route planner?
The route planner is likewise accessed directly from the start page. Here you can find the best route from A to B quickly and simply – not only by car, but also by public transport. For example, the nearest bus stop or rail station can be found for any address.