FamilySearch Window

FamilySearch User Trees

FamilySearch have recently added an exciting new feature which allows anyone to upload family trees that are completely separate from the global family tree.  These trees are called user trees.  They can be kept hidden from ordinary users of FamilySearch, or you can allow access to everyone on a read-only basis, or you can allow access only to individuals that you specify.  You can give these individuals read-only access, if preferred, but you can also optionally allow these individuals to contribute to the shared tree, and edit and maintain it.  Family Historian allows you to add, edit and maintain records in user trees in exactly the same way that you can add, edit and maintain records in the FamilySearch global family tree.  To enable this functionality, tick "Enable FamilySearch User Trees", on the FamilySearch tab of Preferences.  When this is enabled, you will then be able to choose which family tree to associate with each Family Historian project, by selecting the required user tree (or the global tree) using the family tree link at the top-right of the FamilySearch workspace window.  You can match individuals in your project with the equivalent records in the associated FamilySearch family tree. 

The following functionality is supported with respect to user trees.

• You can create a new Family Historian project and import an entire FamilySearch user tree into it (or if you prefer, you can also import branches from it).
• You can import an entire FamilySearch user tree, or branches from it, into an existing Family Historian project.
• You can match Individual records in your Family Historian project with the equivalent records in a FamilySearch user tree (as you can with the global family tree), and compare them.
• You can transfer data from matching records in the FamilySearch user family tree to your Family Historian project or vice versa, and match linked records.
• You can view hints associated with matched records.

• There is currently no option to automatically sync a Family Historian project with a FamilySearch User tree.  All transfers of data are 'manual' - i.e. one item of data at a time.
• There is currently no option within Family Historian itself to give other individuals shared access to your FamilySearch User Tree, or to request access to an existing User Tree; but both of these things can be done quite easily in a web browser.  Family Historian will open the appropriate FamilySearch web page for you if needed (see tip below).

Each Family Historian project can only be associated with one FamilySearch tree (user or global) at any one time.  If a project is linked to a given tree at a particular time, all matches that you see within the project will be matches to that tree.  If you switch to another tree (which you can do at any time), you may have a completely different set of matches or none.  If you switch back to the first tree, the matches associated with that tree will still be there.  Match information is not lost when you switch between trees.  Within Family Historian, matches to FamilySearch can be viewed in the  FamilySearch workspace window, but also as FamilySearch Ids in the Records Window or Query Window, or in reports or books (if configured to do so), or signalled using FamilySearch icons in the Focus Window or in diagram windows.  In all cases, the information displayed relates to the FamilySearch tree (user or global) that your project is associated with at that particular time.  And, as already-mentioned, the association in question is specified using the tree link, in the top-right of the FamilySearch workspace window.

You don't have to match all of your Family Historian projects to the same FamilySearch tree, and in fact it is unlikely that you would want to do that.  If you have access to a number of FamilySearch user trees, a good option is to create and maintain a Family Historian project for each one.

How to Create a FamilySearch User Tree

To create a FamilySearch User Tree, open the project you wish to upload and switch to the FamilySearch Window.  Click on the FamilySearch menu (called "FamilySearch") that is active in the main menu bar, when the FamilySearch Window is active.  Take the option "Upload Current Project to New User Tree in FamilySearch", and follow the instructions.  When you have done this, the tree link menu, which includes all the trees to which you have access, will include the new tree you have created, and the new tree will be selected.  All Individuals in your current project will be automatically matched to the Individuals in the new user tree.

How to give other people shared access to your FamilySearch User tree

Giving other users shared access to your FamilySearch user tree is done on a FamilySearch web page, in a web browser.  To find this page, open the FamilySearch Window.  Confirm that the correct user tree is selected in the tree list (top-right) and click the "FamilySearch" menu in the main application menu bar.  Click on "Open FamilySearch Web Page", and then choose "Current User Tree".  This will open a web browser displaying the relevant web page.

How to get access to other peoples' FamilySearch User trees

If you would like access to other users' user trees, you should contact them and ask them to give you access (they can do this by following the instructions in the previous section).  When you have access, you will see the tree listed in the dropdown tree list (top-right of the FamilySearch workspace window).