Why do I need to put my tree online?
I am not going to answer this question but hope that by the time you get to the end of this post you will know whether or not you want to do this and your reason for doing so.
Where can I share my family trees with others?
There are a number of sites where you can upload information about your family I may not have included all of them here but these are the one I have used and I want to discuss my experiences with using these sites.
Website
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Website Address
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Tribal Pages
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Family Search
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Ancestry
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Find My Past
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My Heritage
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Geni
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Genes Reunited
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WikiTree
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With almost all of these sites I have uploaded a GEDCOM file, I am going to assume you know what this is, if not I suggest you do a search as this is a standard term.
The only one where I have not used this method is Family Search, but I believe there is a facility to do this. Randy Seaver has at least 2 posts on this at his blog http://www.geneamusings.com/ .
The software I use on my computer uses a GEDCOM file as standard. I have a facility which allows me to create only a part of my tree and to privatize living individuals and those who have recently passed.
If you are unable to do this, and you want to remove individuals from your file before you upload anything you may find this link useful http://www.werelate.org/wiki/Help:GEDCOM#How_should_I_prepare_my_data_for_GEDCOM_upload.3F
Help with uploading from the database on your computer can often be found on forums e.g http://www.familytreeforum.com/
Alternatively genealogy user groups or blogs can have help pages or discussion of how to do this from a specific program. Try http://ftmuser.blogspot.co.uk/ for Family Tree Maker or http://buddinggenealogist.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/ancestral-quest-simple-but-powerful.html for Ancestral Quest.
The software I use on my computer uses a GEDCOM file as standard. I have a facility which allows me to create only a part of my tree and to privatize living individuals and those who have recently passed.
If you are unable to do this, and you want to remove individuals from your file before you upload anything you may find this link useful http://www.werelate.org/wiki/Help:GEDCOM#How_should_I_prepare_my_data_for_GEDCOM_upload.3F
Help with uploading from the database on your computer can often be found on forums e.g http://www.familytreeforum.com/
Alternatively genealogy user groups or blogs can have help pages or discussion of how to do this from a specific program. Try http://ftmuser.blogspot.co.uk/ for Family Tree Maker or http://buddinggenealogist.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/ancestral-quest-simple-but-powerful.html for Ancestral Quest.
How do I choose which site I am going to use?
To be sure that you have chosen the best site for your tree you need to ask yourself a few questions.
- Why am I putting my tree online?
- Who are my audience?
- How much do I want to pay to keep my information on the website?
- Does the website have records I want to access?
- Can any records on the website be added to my tree?
Most of us put up our tree in order to connect with others researching the same family.
We may also use it as a backup to the tree on our computer.
We may also use it as a backup to the tree on our computer.
Who do you want to see the tree or even add or edit the tree close family or just you?
If you chose a website that charges a fee can you access your records if your subscription expires?
Some websites have records that can be added to the tree to support your conclusions.
Does the website have records that cover the areas where you are researching?
Does the website have records that cover the areas where you are researching?
If privacy is an issue then be sure to read the contract terms.
I would always recommend reading the terms and conditions before you upload anything.
So you have decided you want to create an online tree and you know what you want from the website.
What you are willing to pay?
Do you want a free site or a free trial?
What do the sites I have used offer and how do they differ?
Are all websites the same?
So you have decided you want to create an online tree and you know what you want from the website.
What you are willing to pay?
Do you want a free site or a free trial?
What do the sites I have used offer and how do they differ?
This link will take you to a brief comparison of the sites as I see it https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1pqUJVXh2x1pAPgTmZIt0kAoCvmHUabhxFGPn265dm4Q/edit?usp=sharing .
(apologies if things have changed or I have misinterpreted anything)
Recently I have used Ancestry as a back up tree, my main tree, which I have as a work in progress, so have kept it as private.
This means that anyone who thinks we may have a connection needs to contact me via the messaging service.
Most of the websites work along similar lines if they allow for collaboration and you will need a subscription if you want to initiate the conversation.
Genes Reunited was bought by brightsolid who own Find My Past this means the site has changed. It may not be the best option if your research does not extend to the UK but there are also sites for Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
WikiTree is set up to build a single collaborative tree and actively encourages you to merge individuals to connect families. If you have a profile for an individual it cannot be merged unless you allow, by giving trusted status to the other profile manager. This video explains the merging process https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Waad3pFg74 .
For US researchers who want to collaborate this is a good choice and you can choose your level of privacy for each individual in your tree. You can share trusted status with others researching individuals you share, but they can only edit those individuals you want them to, not your entire tree.
Whatever you choose to do remember this.
Your living family will not know you are looking for them unless you tell them.
Go make those cousin connections you may get a nice surprise.
For further reviews please have a look at this website which also has links to other sites I may have missed.
http://genealogy-websites.no1reviews.com/
Please leave your comments as we may all have different experiences of the same website and it may help others decide what is the best option for them.
If you are a new researcher many of the websites offer good advice as to where to start and free software to help get you started.
(apologies if things have changed or I have misinterpreted anything)
Recently I have used Ancestry as a back up tree, my main tree, which I have as a work in progress, so have kept it as private.
This means that anyone who thinks we may have a connection needs to contact me via the messaging service.
Most of the websites work along similar lines if they allow for collaboration and you will need a subscription if you want to initiate the conversation.
Genes Reunited was bought by brightsolid who own Find My Past this means the site has changed. It may not be the best option if your research does not extend to the UK but there are also sites for Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
WikiTree is set up to build a single collaborative tree and actively encourages you to merge individuals to connect families. If you have a profile for an individual it cannot be merged unless you allow, by giving trusted status to the other profile manager. This video explains the merging process https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Waad3pFg74 .
For US researchers who want to collaborate this is a good choice and you can choose your level of privacy for each individual in your tree. You can share trusted status with others researching individuals you share, but they can only edit those individuals you want them to, not your entire tree.
Whatever you choose to do remember this.
Your living family will not know you are looking for them unless you tell them.
Go make those cousin connections you may get a nice surprise.
For further reviews please have a look at this website which also has links to other sites I may have missed.
http://genealogy-websites.no1reviews.com/
Please leave your comments as we may all have different experiences of the same website and it may help others decide what is the best option for them.
If you are a new researcher many of the websites offer good advice as to where to start and free software to help get you started.
