User manual

Step-by-step guide from registration to exploring your family tree in Family Tree.

1. Overview & journey

You start by creating an account, then you create a family tree. Inside a tree you add people, connect them in families, and explore Tree View and the timeline.

Diagram: typical flow from sign-up to exploring the tree.

Diagram: main areas after you open a tree (exact labels match the app menu).

2. Register an account

1. From the welcome page, click Register (or open /register).
2. Fill in Name, Email, Password, and confirm the password.
3. Submit the form. If email verification is enabled, check your inbox and verify your email before logging in.

3. Log in

1. Click Log in on the welcome page (or go to /login).
2. Enter your email and password.
3. After login you are taken to the Dashboard.

4. Dashboard

The dashboard shows a summary: how many trees, people, and families you can access, and a short list of recent trees. Use View all trees or the sidebar link My Trees to manage trees.

5. Create your first tree

1. Go to My Trees → New Tree.
2. Enter a Tree name (required).
3. Optional: Description.
4. Set Privacy:
   • Private — only you and invited collaborators.
   • Public — listed for guests (browse without login) if your app exposes public trees.
5. Save. You are redirected into that tree.

6. Open a tree & main menus

Click a tree from My Trees or the dashboard. The tree page lists people in the tree. The top bar includes shortcuts such as:

• Tree View — interactive graph.
• Timeline — births, deaths, marriages in order.
• Families — couple & children units.
• Edit Tree / Add Person — when you have permission.
• Export GEDCOM / Import GEDCOM — if you have access.

7. People (members)

1. Inside a tree, use Add Person (or the equivalent button).
2. Fill basic fields: name, gender, dates, places, contact (optional), biography.
3. Use Living / Private where appropriate — private details can be hidden from guests.
4. Upload a photo (avatar) and documents if your role allows.
5. Save. The person appears in the tree list; click a name to open the profile.

8. Families

1. Open Families from the tree.
2. Add Family: choose husband/father and wife/mother (from people already in the tree), add children, set marriage date/place if known.
3. Each family card shows who added it under Added by (creator).
4. Edit or delete a family from the family detail page if you have permission.

9. Tree View (graph)

Opens a visual network of people and relationships. Use the controls to change view mode, focus on a person, zoom, and (where available) print. Large trees may load a subset for performance — follow on-screen hints.

10. Timeline

Lists life events (birth, death, marriage, divorce) in date order for people you are allowed to see. Add or correct dates on each person or family record to enrich the timeline.

11. GEDCOM import & export

• Export — download a GEDCOM file as a backup or to use in another genealogy tool.
• Import — upload a GEDCOM file to bring data into this tree (usually editor/admin only).

12. Share & collaborate

Tree owners (and admins, if available) can invite others by email and assign roles such as viewer, editor, or admin. Invitations appear on the tree page; collaborators use My Trees to access shared trees.

13. Profile & account

Open your profile from the sidebar (name or profile link) to change name, email, or password, or to delete your account. Use the language switcher in the header to change UI language when available.

14. Guest (public trees)

Without logging in, use Guest on the welcome page to browse trees marked public. Guests can view people and families according to privacy rules but cannot edit. Register or log in to build your own tree.