Family Tree
Try Family Tree on FamilySearch.org
Development continues on the Family Tree section of FamilySearch.org. Family Tree is an update and eventual replacement for new.FamilySearch.org. If you haven’t had a chance to see Family Tree in action, you can register to use it at https://www.familysearch.org/tree/overview.
As a user of Family Tree, you will be able to:
- Connect and collaborate with others.
- Add, edit, and delete relationships.
- Discuss and source vital family information.
- Add specific ancestors to a personal “Watch List.”
- Try out new features and functionality as they become available.
- View Family Tree in other languages (based on browser language).
Family Tree at FamilySearch.org will give all users of FamilySearch the ability to view and track their family history information in an easy and integrated way. But we are at the beginning of the process, and there are still improvements to be made. Consequently, the product management team would love for you to provide your thoughts, issues, and impressions of the new system and its features, including the recently added ability to add, edit, and delete relationships. To that end, they have set up a website to provide an easy way to communicate your feedback. Simply visit the team’s getsatisfaction site, and let your voice be heard.
New Features
Here is a quick run-down of some of the new features of Family Tree to help you understand better how it works so you can use it more effectively; and help others to do so, too.
Adding People to Family Tree
In the Family Members section of a person’s details page, you should immediately notice a series of new links that give you the ability to add spouses, parents, and children. On the Tree page, you will see Add Husband and Add Wife at the end of your genealogical lines. These links give you the ability to add new or find existing people to link to your families.
Adding, Changing, and Removing Marriage Data
Selecting a couple’s View link will open the couple relationship page. If your data is like mine, you'll have lots of redundant and incorrect marriage information. This is a good place to start cleaning up. Begin by attaching marriage sources to the couple relationship. Clean up the data using good reason statements.
Adding, Changing, and Removing Relationship Types
Selecting the View link next to a child will open the parent-child relationship page. On this page you can correct any relationship types (Biological, Step, Adopted, and so on).
Removing Relationships
If you have a relationship that is simply incorrect, you can delete it. This is done from the relationship page. Select Delete Relationship in the upper-right hand of either the couple or parent-child relationship page. You will be prompted to give a reason for the action. Once again, be clear and be complete. These deleted relationships are archived and can be restored if necessary. You will find them in the change histories of the people who were affected by that deleted relationship. Select Reference from the applicable entry of the change history to go to an archived copy of the relationship. Select Restore, found in the upper-right of the archived relationship, to bring the relationship back.
Location of Delete Relationship
Change Log Entry for a Deleted Relationship
Location of Restore Relationship
