GeneaNet presents... ALL COUSINS !
It's hard to remember surnames of all our cousins, hard to remember when we last sent them an email, when they sent us a gedcom file, and also we would like to be able to note "I saw that branch in such tree, I have to contact its owner as soon as I have a minute".
GeneaNet presents ALL COUSINS, a new service allowing to memorise your contacts and exchanges.
Now, each genealogist has an address book he/she can easily fill with the coordinates of his/her cousins authenticated, probable or even relatives.
These contacts can be on GeneaNet, in this case just add the appropriate login and the contact peg will fill automatically. If they are not on GeneaNet, you can fill all their coordinates, and invite them to join you on our website.
For each person you add, you have a personal note-pad, which only you can view, and in which you can write whatever you want. For example keep a diary of your contacts ("such date, so-and-so sent me a gedcom file", "such other date, I sent him/her an email but I got no response", "think to verify if parents of his/her ancestor John Martin are not also related to my ancestor Louis Martin", etc)
Lastly, each contact added can be identified on a world map, if you have his/her authorisation.
Let us emphasize that each time you add a person to your address book, this person is automatically informed. This person can then decide to authorise you to view his/her personal coordinates, and in return add your name to his/her own address book. GeneaNet encourages sharing and help, All Cousins is a further step to bring together genealogists and give a real meaning to the word "community".
Instructions :
All Cousins is accessible through two points : section "Community" and section "My GeneaNet".
Just click or pass your mouse over one of these sections, and choose one of the three available menus.
1/ Address Book
This is where you will add and consult all your contacts. The procedure is simple. You have been in contact with the owner of a family tree viewed recently, you want to memorise his/her coordinates, just click on "add a contact".
a) Create a contact :
A mini search-form is presented. You can type directly the login of the person, if you remember it, if not, you can use the email with which he/she contacted you, or more simply, his/her surname.
A list appears, you only have to pick up the "quality" of your contact : a member of your family, a cousin genealogist, or a mere contact. Better still : if this person has no account on GeneaNet, you can take manually his/her coordinates in the complete form proposed on the page and invite him/her to subscribe to GeneaNet.
Note that when you click on "add" or "create this contact", this person will automatically receive an email informing him/her of your addition.
NB : one can also add a contact directly from the contact page of the person involved.
b) What does "pending validation" mean :
This indication, which you will find in the list of your contacts or on the identity peg of your contact, simply means that the person you added to your list did not confirm your request : either because he/she does not want to give his/her postal address, or... because he/she forgot !
c) Consult the list of your contacts :
When you already have several contacts, you will see in the list several pieces of information : the category of this contact, his/her surname and first name, location of residence or the mention "pending validation", a pictogram representing his/her family tree on line, if there is one, date of last update for this contact, and a small magnifying-glass allowing access to his/her identity peg. You will be able to modify all information, and more importantly, access your personal note-pad.
d) The Note-Pad :
This very useful note-pad will able you to create a real "remember tip" of your relations with this person. You can add as many notes as you wish. This note-pad is yours, no one else can read it, it will remain strictly confidential in all circumstances. It is not used to send a message to your contact !
2/ My communities :
Did you add contacts to your address book ? Therefore, most probably, you too have been added to other address books, by other genealogists ! With this menu, you will see which communities you belong to. Beforehand, you will have received an email advising that you have been added to X or Y address book, and you accepted, or not, that he/she sees your postal address, and/or he/she sends you emails at the same time as to all other members of his/her list (this function is not active for the time being).
At any time, you can modify these authorisations here.
3/ Cartography :
Here is an amusing feature ! It allows you to see in a glimpse where your cousins live, at least those who authorized you to see their postal address. Small red "bubles" locate them on a world map (Google Map). By clicking on these bubles, you see the photograph of your contact, his/her address, and also access to his/her family tree on line, records if they have been remitted, as well as your note-pad.
Underneath the map, you view the list of your contacts.
All Cousins is a new service, which will evolve ! It is meant to facilitate your searches by better keeping your contacts, easily follow your exchanges. Use it and take advantage of it ! The goal is to allow genealogists to better exchange and share their data.
Obviously, this service is totally free.