How it works:
The family tree section allows you to build a dynamic family tree using a Web 2.0 platform. The Web 2.0 platform has many advantages:
- Easy to share family tree with other living family members.
- Allows family members to collaboratively build onto the same tree.
- Instant communication and updates between living family members in the tree.
- Instant updates when the tree has been edited or changed.
Building your tree:
To access the family tree section, click “my family tree” on left side of page. This will bring you to the Pedigree View by default, with your own node as the “root” of the tree. The family tree can be displayed interchangeably in 1 of 3 ways:
- Pedigree View
- Family View
- List View
The family tree is presented in “pedigree view” by default. By default, the user’s own node is chosen as the default root of the tree. Change the viewing method by clicking the other viewing choices at the top of the page.
Understanding the Pedigree View:
By default, the Family Tree section will display the Pedigree View. The Pedigree View displays a single node as the root of the tree and displays a set number of generations of ancestors from the root node.
Root Node - The root node is the node on the far left side of the page. The pedigree view will always display a set number of generations of ancestors from the root node.
Default root node - When viewing your family tree from your own account, your own node will always be presented as the default root of your family tree, regardless of who created the tree.
Number of generations displayed - By default, 4 generations are displayed at a time in the pedigree view. Using the generation selector at the top of the page, the user and choose to display from 2 to 6 generations at a time.
- From the tree - Click on the “pedigree” link of any node in the tree to set that node as the root.
- From the list - A list of all individuals in your family tree is listed in the left side of the page. Click on the “pedigree” link of anyone in the list to set that individual as the root of the tree.
Building the tree - Build the family tree by adding new nodes to the family tree. If a node is missing in the tree, it will indicate [Not Found], followed by the option to Add Father/Add Mother. Click on the add link to add an individual to that spot in the family tree. You can add parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents to the tree from the pedigree view by clicking “add mother” or “add father” link.
Editing existing nodes in the tree - To edit an existing node, click on the “family view” link for the node to be edited. All necessary edits can be accomplished from the family view (see below).
Understanding the Family View:
The family view displays one single family unit at a time. A family unit consists of one father, one mother, and all of their children. The Family View is the best place to build and edit the family tree.
Husband / Wife - By default, the root node will be displayed as either the Husband or the Wife of the family unit.
Add a spouse - If a spouse is missing, the family view will display the fields required to add the missing spouse to the family unit.
Adding additional spouses - If an individual has more than one spouse, additional spouses can be added by clicking “show all” link next to “spouses”, then click “add spouse” to add additional spouses.
Adding children - If there are no children in the family unit, the family view will automatically display the fields required to add a child. Once a child has been added, additional children can be added by clicking “add child” link in the Family View.
Linking existing nodes - If an individual exists in more than one place in the family tree, a single node can be linked to more than one place in the family tree using the “link existing node” link. Whenever a spouse or child is added to a family unit, you have the option to create a new node or to link an existing node in that position. To link an existing node, click “link existing node”, then enter the username or ID# of the node to be linked to that position of the family tree.
Adding parents - To add parents to the husband or wife of a family unit, click the “view parents” link of the husband or the wife. This will show the family view where the husband or wife are the children and their parents are the spouses. The parents can be added or edited in this view.
Correcting mistakes in the family tree - A mistake can be corrected by editing incorrect information in an existing node or by deleting the node from the tree.
How to edit a node - The information of a node can be edited by clicking the “edit” link for that node in the family view.
How to delete a node - If a node has been placed in the wrong place in the tree or is incorrect and needs to be removed, click “unlink node” in the family view. This will allow you to instantly remove the incorrect node. Please note that this will also remove the entire branch that is connected to the node. Once a node has been unlinked from your tree, it (and all nodes connected to it) can be found in the “unlinked nodes” list. To access the unlinked nodes list, click the appropriate icon at the top of the page. This list will contain all nodes which you have created which are no longer linked to your tree. You can choose to delete the nodes or to re-link them to the correct place in your tree.
How to add an existing node - To add an existing node or to merge another tree into your tree, click the “link existing node” feature to add an existing node to the correct place in your tree. Once the node has been added, all nodes which are linked to the node that you have added will also be brought into your family tree.
Understanding the List View:
The List View displays all of the nodes in your family tree in a list format. The list can be sorted (by name, by ID, by gender, by status), by clicking on the appropriate column at the top of the page.
