Thread: Family Tree Is Now Online

Hi all,

I am very pleased to announce that the Family Tree system is now live and online. We have tested the system and think that we are now ready to put it out to our members.

Although we believe that it is ready for public use, there may be a few bugs that we have missed. If you encounter a problem PLEASE post the problem to this thread with as much information as possible so that we can quickly fix the problem.

Other points on the tree system:

• GEDCOM - With simplicity in mind I have chosen to leave out a Gedcom option. I am fully aware that this is a controversial choice to make and that some members may not agree but my strong belief is that most of the fun with a family tree is actually entering the information.
• Private or Public? - There is an option for you to make your tree public or private at any time. You can switch between the two as often as you like. I do, however, recommend that you set your tree to public. NO ONE can view or edit your tree but your records may be included in search results. This way you massivly increase your chances of connections with other members. Please note that if you have a public tree and living people are returned in any search results their details are only partially shown. We do NOT show the full details of living people in any search results.
• Simple - I have designed the tree system to be as simple to use as I can. We have tested it with a number of people and they all agree that the system is very user friendly and simple to use.
• No Login - Another requested feature was for members to be able to use the system without having to create yet another account. This has now been achieved and the system uses your normal site login details. Basically, if you are not logged into the site, you cant use the tree.
• How Many? - You can have upto 4 (four) seperate tree using our new tree system.

I do hope you enjoy the system. It has been a long slog and many hours of coding to get the tree online. As I stated, if you do happen to find any problems that we have missed then please post them here.

Kindest regards

Hi
With regard to GEDCOMs, I have several thousand people in my tree, and could not possibly start from scratch. This is a thorough and well researched tree, and is as much as anything else a resource for others, and it would be sad if I were unable to upload it to your site.
Whatever the good intentions behind the reason for not including a GEDCOM facility, the reality is that nobody with a largte tree is going to start from scratch, so only beginners will use the site.
What a shame.

Regards
Phil How

Hi
I agree with Phil, years of work all to enter again. No way.

Regards
Cassie

Fair point.
I have always listened to my members so please leave this with me and I will look into adding the facility.

Have just had a quick look and entered a few names - very easy to use and looks lovely. Congratulations Jon!
Gillian

I did the same as Gillian and after a couple of errors found it quite simple to use but i cant seem to access the Free BDM'S of my own...Drat! Not to worry i shall get the hang of it I am sure..........evebtually Ha ha

Sorry, but I think it is absolutely ludicrous that you do not support the GEDCOM file format.
The whole point of it is to provide a system that allows for the EASY transference of genealogical data.
You might enjoy the pointless exercise of inputting the same data on every system you keep a tree (Ancestry, Genes Re-united etc) but I'm sure many will not. I for one will not be putting my tree on this website until you do.

I think we should congratulate Jon and everyone who has worked on the new site. It is looking good and will hopefully go on to prove to be a popular site.

I must however echo the comments made above regarding GEDCOM, I am now up to about 830 people in my tree and there is no way I could start to enter them all again.

Well i agree Jon has worked tremendously hard in getting this site revamped and also listened to his members in what they want . I also have a huge tree
and keep all details logged in a family tree ledger. I dont think its a hardship to look up ancesters from way back then. The tree is so simple to use and i found its fun entering the details on the tree. Putting on the photos is now easier than the previous tree. Its always our choice the way we manage our tree, and i for one am delighted with Jon's acheivements . Thankyou Jon .