Genealogy Blog : GeneaNet News

GeneaNet: A Personal Family Tree Home Page For Your Family and Relatives

Jean-Yves BAXTER — Mon, 20 May 2013 08:00:00 +0200

When your family and relatives accept an invitation, they are sent to a personalized home page of your GeneaNet family tree.

If they are in your GeneaNet family tree, the family link will be displayed on the home page.

If there's no family link between you and them, their ancestry will be displayed on the home page.

When your family and relatives accept an invitation, they are sent to a personalized home page of your GeneaNet family tree (in our example, Peter Paul Howes has invited his relative Harry Cyr Baxter):

If they are in your GeneaNet family tree, the family link will be displayed on the home page:

If there's no family link between you and them, their ancestry will be displayed on the home page:

GeneaNet: Have You Uploaded a Picture of the Tombstone of Your Ancestors?

Jean-Yves BAXTER — Mon, 13 May 2013 08:00:00 +0200

Do you know that GeneaNet offers you to upload and share your pictures of headstones?

On GeneaNet, you can:

- Upload several pictures of the same headstone, for example a general view and some closer views to read the inscription.
- Index the name and date of the persons who appear on it.
- Attach a picture of headstone to any individual in your GeneaNet family tree even if it's not your own picture.
- Search the GeneaNet database for pictures of headstones by name, first name, date and place.

Upload a Picture of Headstone

Select the ‘Archive & Pictures > Headstones & Memorials’ item in the drop down menu at the top right of the screen.

Click the 'Upload & Share your Headstones & Memorials' button at the top right of the screen.

Then, enter a description and a place for the headstone, add the full name and date of the persons who appear on the headstone ('Listed Persons'), and select your image file (you can also batch upload multiple pictures (max. 20) of the same headstone).

Search a Picture of Headstone

To search for pictures of headstones in the GeneaNet database, click 'Pictures' in the 'Search' tab at the top of the screen, then click the 'Headstones & Memorials' box as shown below.

You can search for pictures of headstones by name, first name, date and place.

You can download the original image file, zoom in and out, and attach the picture to any individual in your GeneaNet family tree even if it's not your own picture.

The GeneaNet 'Individual Matches'

Jean-Yves BAXTER — Mon, 06 May 2013 08:00:00 +0200

The GeneaNet 'Individual Matches' allows you to automatically search the GeneaNet database for individuals that may match with your ancestors.

This powerful feature is reserved for GeneaNet Club Privilege members.

Other GeneaNet members can search for 'Individual Matches' in the Archival Records and Indexes but not in the collaborative family trees.

Go to the page of an individual in your Online Family Tree (GeneWeb) then click the 'Individual Matches' tab:

This will open a new page with the list of the individuals that may match with your ancestor, as shown below:

If there are too many or not enough search results in the list, you can edit the search criteria:

- Search by name variants
- Search for exact first name or first names that contain the one of your ancestor
- Ignore the place
- Change the year range

Click the 'Archive & Indexes' box to search for 'Individual Matches' in the Archival Records and Indexes:

Match Your GeneaNet Family Tree

Jean-Yves BAXTER — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 08:00:00 +0200

Club Privilege members can automatically match their family tree with the entire GeneaNet database. This feature automatically search for new ancestors in your family tree.

Match your family tree with just one click or select the Advanced mode to get full access to all settings.

Non-Club Privilege members can automatically match surnames & places (not the first names) in their family tree with the entire GeneaNet database.

Click the 'Match' button in the 'Match Family Tree' section of the GeneaNet home page.

Or pass your mouse over the 'Search' tab then click 'Online Family Trees'.

Club Privilege members can automatically match all individuals in their family tree with the entire GeneaNet database. Click the 'Match' button in the 'Search by Individual' section.

Select 'Search for new ancestors' then click 'OK' or select the Advanced mode to get full access to all settings.

Search applies to the first individual in the result box (bold text). In our example, 2 matches have been found for Susanna Leech.

Click the button to view the matches (This will open a new page or tab, depending on your browser).

The search stops when matches are found. Click the 'More Results' button to continue the search.

Search is saved so your can resume it later even if you quit the page and if you have logged out from GeneaNet. Just click this button to resume the search.

GeneaNet: Download And Print A Very Attractive Ancestry Chart For Free!

Jean-Yves BAXTER — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 08:00:00 +0200

On GeneaNet, you can download (in PDF) and print a very attractive ancestry chart for free!

There are 7 themes available and you can change the content: font, date format, on a single page/on multiple pages, etc.

Offer a beautiful ancestry chart to your family and friends!

Go to the page of an individual in your GeneaNet family tree, then click 'Ancestry Chart' in the 'Charts & Lists' section at the bottom of the page.

Select the theme and the content of your ancestry chart:

- Select the date format: dd/mm/yyyy, mm/dd/yyyy or yyyy
- Change the font
- Print the full name of the individuals or print their last name then their first name
- Print on a single page or print on multiple pages then cut and tape your image together (for large ancestry charts)
- Print the usual first name only (this is the one you have entered between quotes in your family tree)
- Print your full name and the date of today at the bottom of the chart

Then click the 'Create' button at the bottom of the page.

Click the 'Download' button to save the PDF file to your personal computer.

You can now print your ancestry chart and you can share the PDF file with your family and friends.

Coming Soon: New Menu In Your GeneaNet Family Tree!

Jean-Yves BAXTER — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 08:00:00 +0200

Actually, there are four menus on your GeneaNet family tree pages.

They will soon be replaced by a single menu at the top of the page.

Making your family tree becomes even easier!

Here are the actual menus in your GeneaNet family tree:

1 - A menu at the top of the page
2 - A button and a drop-down list at the top right of the page
3 - Some links
4 - Some other links at the bottom of the page

Here is the new menu:

1 - View/Edit/Merge/Delete Individual
2 - View/Add/Edit family pictures, archival records, headstones, etc.
3 - Add/Edit/Delete spouses and children
4 - Add a personal note
5 - Charts and lists
6 - Family link
7 - Map, Individual Matches, etc.

GeneaNet - Are You Sure That You Don't Have Any Errors In Your Family Tree?

Jean-Yves BAXTER — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 08:00:00 +0200

Are you sure that you don't have any errors in your family tree?

No individual whose date of marriage is later than date of death? No woman whose date of death is before the date of birth of their child?

GeneaNet offers Club Privilege members to automatically and instantly check their family tree for errors.

And you may be surprised!

If you have uploaded a GEDCOM file to GeneaNet, click 'Update' in the 'Online Family Tree' tab at the top of the screen then click 'Check Family Tree' in the left sidebar.

If you have manually created your family tree on GeneaNet, click 'GeneWeb > Configure' in the 'Online Family Tree' tab at the top of the screen then click 'Check Family Tree' in the left sidebar.

This will automatically and instantly create the list of errors found in your family tree.

To ignore some errors, just click the red cross icon in the right column (critical errors cannot be ignored).

After any update of your family tree, you can check it again for errors by clicking the 'Resume' button at the bottom of the list.

You can restore ignored errors so they will be listed again: click the green arrow icon in the right column.

GeneaNet: Share Your Archival Documents

Jean-Yves BAXTER — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 08:00:00 +0200

Sharing is what genealogy is all about!

On GeneaNet, you can easily upload and share archival records, family pictures, old postcards, pictures of headstones and memorials, indexes and coats of arms.

Picture your family history, prove your data is correct, and grow your family tree!

Click 'Share' in the 'Community' tab of the main menu:

The 'Share" page now looks like this:

Announcing Upcoming Changes to the GeneaNet Search Results List

Jean-Yves BAXTER — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 08:00:00 +0100

We are pleased to announce some upcoming changes to the GeneaNet search results list:

- Pagination has been changed.
- Username is not clickable anymore.
- The tree icon is now clickable for everyone.
- Styling of the 'Create a new Individual Alert' link has been changed to make it easier to access.
- When you click a link in your Email Alert, a warning sign will now be shown on the tree icon if the GeneaNet member has changed data or deleted their family tree.

The GeneaNet search results list will now look like this:

Pagination is now shown at the top right and at the bottom right of the search results list, and links have been changed to buttons.

Username is not clickable anymore. When passing their mouse over, Club Privilege members can view information about the GeneaNet member, and date and place of birth/baptism and death/burial of the main individual in the row.

The tree icon is now clickable for everyone. Club Privilege members will be automatically redirected to the page of the individual in the family tree while non Club Privilege members will be redirected to the member's Contact Page.

Styling of the 'Create a new Individual Alert' link has been changed to make it easier to access.

Email Alert

When you click a link in your Email Alert, a warning sign will now be shown on the tree icon if the GeneaNet member has changed data or deleted their family tree.

Add a Slideshow of Family Pictures and Links to your Favorite Persons to your GeneaNet Family Tree

Jean-Yves BAXTER — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 08:00:00 +0100

Club Privilege members can add up to 8 pictures to be displayed in a slideshow in the home page of their GeneaNet family tree. These pictures can be linked to the page of an individual, to the ancestry chart or to the ancestors list.

Every GeneaNet member can add up to 8 Favorite Persons to the home page of their family tree to create a quick access to their individual page. Club Privilege members can also create a quick access to the charts and lists, and they can create two groups to organize their Favorite Persons.

Add a slideshow of family pictures

This option is reserved for Club Privilege members.

Select the 'Online Family Tree' tab in the main menu then click 'Presentation & Browsing':

Click 'Home Page' in the left sidebar:

Click 'Add a picture' to add a family picture to your slideshow (recommended size: 405x270 px):

Click 'Add a caption' to add a caption and to create a link to the page of an individual, a chart or a list in your family tree:

Your family tree home page will look like this:

Pictures are displayed one at a time as a slideshow and visitors can click the caption to be redirected to the page of an individual, a chart or a list in your family tree.

Add links to your Favorite Persons

Select the 'Online Family Tree' tab in the main menu, click 'Presentation & Browsing', then click 'Home Page' in the left sidebar as seen above.

Click the 'Favorite Persons' tab:

Click the 'Add a Favorite Person' to add a Favorite Person to the home page of your family tree and to create a quick access link to the page of an individual, a chart or a list:

Club Privilege members can create two groups to organize their Favorite Persons:

Your family tree home page will look like this:

Visitors can click these links to be redirected to the pages of your Favorite Persons in your family tree.

GeneaNet - Invite Family and Friends From Facebook and Gmail

Jean-Yves BAXTER — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 08:00:00 +0100

You can invite family and friends from Facebook and Gmail.

Invite persons, give them Access Rights to view and update your GeneaNet family tree.

Email address and private information will not be shared with any third parties. Your contacts will only receive a message from GeneaNet.

Select the 'Contacts > Address Book' item in the drop down menu at the top right of the screen.

Click the 'Add a Person' button at the top right of the screen.

Click the Facebook button to invite family and friends from your Facebook account or click the Excel button to invite them from your personal address book.

Invite family and friends from Facebook

You will be asked for the permission to access your Facebook custom friend lists.

Select the persons to invite and their Access Rights to your GeneaNet family tree, then click 'Send'. A message will be automatically sent to their Facebook inbox.

Invite family and friends from Gmail

You will be asked for the permission to let GeneaNet access your Gmail address book. Email address and private information will not be shared with any third parties.

The GeneaNet 'Email Alert by Individual'

Jean-Yves BAXTER — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 08:00:00 +0100

GeneaNet has a powerful feature called 'Email Alert by Individual'.

Club Privilege members can receive accurate emails with the latest entries by name (with name variants), by first name (with name variants), by place, by year, by occupation and by spouse.

These Email Alerts can be automatically generated from your GeneaNet family tree!

Click the ‘Searches & Alerts > By Individual’ item in the drop down menu at the top right of the screen:

Configure Automatic Email Alerts

You can create Automatic Email Alerts from a selection of individuals in your family tree to receive a weekly email with the latest entries:

If your family tree contains more than 2,000 individuals, the 'Sosa-Stradonitz (Ahnentafel) numbered individuals only' option is automatically selected.

In most cases, if you select the 'Only individuals with one or less parent' option, you will automatically create Email Alerts for individuals who are at the end of the line in your family tree.

If you select the 'Exclude results with no additional information' option, matches will not appear in your Email Alert If the GeneaNet member doesn't have any additional information on the ancestors (parents) of the individual.

View/Edit

You can edit the Automatic Email Alerts and you can add new alerts:

Edit your Email Alert then click 'OK', or click 'Delete':

To easily create a new Email Alert, make a search in the GeneaNet database then click 'Create a new Individual Alert' at the bottom of the search results list:

Email Alert

You will receive a weekly email with the latest entries for your Email Alerts:

Click 'x Results' to view the results list, then click the 'Tree' icon in the last column to access the data:

Build Your GeneaNet Family Tree Template

Jean-Yves BAXTER — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 08:00:00 +0100

GeneaNet offers to build your family tree template.

The template is divided into different sections as follows: Individual, Parents, Spouses and Children, Siblings, Family Link, Extended Family, Notes, Sources, and Family Tree Preview.

You can specify the information you want to be displayed in each section (Basic, Extended, Full, With Pictures) and you can choose a family tree preview theme (3-Generation Family Tree Chart, 3-Generation Family Tree Chart + Family pictures, 4-Generation Family Tree Chart (Vertical), 3-Generation Family Tree Chart (Horizontal)).

Click 'Presentattion & Browsing' in the 'Online Family Tree' tab of the main menu:

Then click 'Data' in the left sidebar:

Or you can click ‘Presentattion & Browsing’ in the left sidebar of your family tree:

This will open a new page where you can build your family tree template:

Move you mouse over any icon in the left sidebar to preview section, then click the icon to confirm your selection:

Refresh or reload the page of your family tree to view changes:

Your GeneaNet Account Description

Jean-Yves BAXTER — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 08:00:00 +0100

The GeneaNet Account Description contains optional information relating to your family history research and your genealogical interests.

We strongly suggest that you add this optional information as it will appear in your Contact Page.

You can describe your family history research, enter the address of your personal web site, create a tag cloud of the most popular surnames in your family tree, link to famous genealogies, and join Discussion Topics.

Select the ‘Account > Description’ item in the drop down menu at the top right of the screen:

Personal

You can describe your family history research, enter the address of your personal web site (only personal genealogy web sites, please!), and select the genealogy software you are using:

Most Popular Names

GeneaNet automatically creates a tag cloud of the most popular surnames in your family tree and you can edit it to add/remove some names:

GeneaStar Family Links

If you have some famous ancestors and relatives, you can easily add a link to their family tree in GeneaStar, the website of famous genealogies:

Discussion Topics

You can join any Discussion Topic to easily talk with other GeneaNet members:

Contact Page

Finally, your GeneaNet Contact Page will look like this:

Withhold Living Individuals in your GeneaNet Family Tree

Jean-Yves BAXTER — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 08:00:00 +0100

You can easily withhold some selected living individuals in your GeneaNet family tree.

These individuals will remain withheld every time you import a new GEDCOM file to update your family tree.

We hope this option will help with privacy issues...

Go to 'Online Family Tree > Configure > Privacy':

Your 'Living Individuals' privacy option must have been set to 'Semi-Public' or 'Private':

Select the 'Withheld Individuals' tab then click 'Add an individual':

Enter the first letters of the surname/first name of the individual to withhold then click the 'Add' button at the bottom of the list:

The new withheld individual is now listed.

You can remove an individual from the list at any time by clicking the 'Delete' button.

Select the 'Advanced Options' tab to change the number of years that define if individuals in your family tree are said to be alive or not.

Match Your GeneaNet Family Tree

Jean-Yves BAXTER — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 08:00:00 +0100

Club Privilege members can automatically match their family tree with the complete GeneaNet database. This feature will automatically search for new ancestors in your family tree.

Match your family tree with just one click or select the Advanced mode to get full access to all settings.

Non-Club Privilege members can automatically match surnames & places (not the first names) in their family tree with the complete GeneaNet database.

Click the 'Match' button in the 'Match Family Tree' section of the GeneaNet home page.

Or pass your mouse over the 'Search' tab then click 'Online Family Trees'.

Club Privilege members can automatically match all individuals in their family tree with the complete GeneaNet database. Click the 'Match' button in the 'Search by Individual' section.

Select 'Search for new ancestors' then click 'OK' or select the Advanced mode to get full access to all settings.

Search is saved so your can resume it later even if you quit the page and if you have logged out from GeneaNet. Just click this button to resume the search.

Merge Duplicate Individuals In Your GeneaNet Family Tree

Jean-Yves BAXTER — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 08:00:00 +0100

When merging a GEDCOM file to your GeneaNet family tree, you may generate duplicate individuals.

You can easily merge these individuals without losing any events, family links, pictures and archival records.

As usual, we suggest that you make a backup (export a GEDCOM file) before merging individuals.

Go to the page of one of the individuals to be merged, then click 'Individual > Edit' in the drop-down list at the top right of the screen.

Click 'Individual > Edit' in the drop-down list at the top right of the screen.

Then, click the 'Merge' link.

And select the other individual to be merged in the list or enter its full name, then click 'OK'.

GeneaNet - New: Invite Family and Friends From Gmail

Jean-Yves BAXTER — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 08:00:00 +0100

You can now invite family and friends from Gmail.

Invite persons, give them Access Rights to your GeneaNet family tree and they will automatically receive a message via email.

Email address and private information will not be shared with any third parties. Your contacts will only receive a message from GeneaNet.

And remember that you can still invite family and friends from Facebook.

Select the 'Contacts > Address Book' item in the drop down menu at the top right of the screen.

Click the 'Add a Person' button at the top right of the screen.

Click the Gmail button to invite family and friends from your personal address book.

GeneaNet - Are You Sure That You Don't Have Any Errors In Your Family Tree?

Jean-Yves BAXTER — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 08:00:00 +0100

You can restore ignored errors so they will be listed again: click the green arrow icon in the right column.

Top 100 Genealogy Websites of 2013: Kimberly Powell Talks About GeneaNet

Jean-Yves BAXTER — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 10:15:00 +0100

We thank Kimberly Powell very much for her appreciation of GeneaNet:

"[This annual review] is also notable for including genealogy sites based around the world, including GeneaNet.org--one of my personal favorites--which is the second highest ranked free website after FamilySearch. GeneaNet does offer a great deal for free, including its forums which is how it was listed, but in the interest of fairness it does require a fee-based premium membership (which I personally consider very worthwhile as a frequent user), for extra search features and access to some of the historical content."

Source & Full Story

GeneaNet Ancestry Charts: Fan Chart and Charts Gallery Added

Jean-Yves BAXTER — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 08:00:00 +0100

A beautiful 4-9 generation fan chart has been added to the GeneaNet Ancestry Charts.

And a new option has been added so you can now view your Ancestry Charts gallery, and download, print, share, edit and delete the Ancestry Charts you have created.

A beautiful 4-9 generation fan chart has been added to the GeneaNet Ancestry Charts.

Click 'Ancestry Charts > Gallery' in the left sidebar of your family tree pages (as shown by the green arrow in the screenshot below) to view your Ancestry Charts gallery, and to download, print, share, edit and delete the Ancestry Charts you have created.

GeneaNet Ranks #8 on Top 100 Genealogy Websites for 2013

Jean-Yves BAXTER — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 10:51:00 +0100

GenealogyInTime magazine used Alexa.com, the leading internet traffic provider, to determine the rankings for the Top 100 Genealogy Websites for 2013.

GeneaNet ranks #8 (GeneaNet was ranked #9 last year).

We thank all of our members for their support and we will continue to develop tools and services that improve your genealogy research.

GeneaNet Wish You a Happy New Year!

Jean-Yves BAXTER — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 08:00:00 +0100

We wish you a Happy New Year!

Many thanks to all of you for supporting GeneaNet!

Now, it's time to set some genealogy goals for the upcoming year and we hope that 2013 will bring you many new ancestors and lost relatives!

Latest New GeneaNet Features (2)

Jean-Yves BAXTER — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 08:00:00 +0100

Within the last weeks, GeneaNet has launched many new features:

1. Download And Print A Very Attractive Ancestry Chart For Free: On GeneaNet, you can now download (in PDF) and print a very attractive ancestry chart for free! There are 5 themes available and you can change the content: font, date format, on a single page/on multiple pages, etc. Offer a beautiful ancestry chart to your family and friends for the holiday season! Read more

2. Invite Family and Friends From Facebook and From Your Personal Address Book: You can now invite family and friends from Facebook and from your personal address book! Invite persons, give them Access Rights to your GeneaNet family tree and they will automatically receive a message in their Facebook inbox or via email. Email address and private information will not be shared with any third parties. Your contacts will only receive a message from GeneaNet. Read more

Latest New GeneaNet Features (1)

Jean-Yves BAXTER — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 08:00:00 +0100

Within the last weeks, GeneaNet has launched many new features:

1. New Attractive Ancestry Book: This Ancestry Book is available to every GeneaNet member and can display up to 10 generations. Every GeneaNet member can also export the Ancestry Book in PDF. Read more

2. Quickly Edit Places, Occupations and Sources In Your Family Tree: You can now easily and quickly edit places, occupations and sources in your family tree. Just click a place name, an occupation, or a source to edit it, and changes will automatically apply to your complete family tree. Read more