Geni Forum » General Discussion
Feature Preview - Share Your Tree
(46 posts)-
Geni Team
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Some time ago we received this comment from a user:
"A major drawback of Geni to me is that the family tree is visible only once you log in. This means that it is harder to use or flaunt Geni as embedded in another website or to sell it to other people who don't get to see how it looks until they agree to become members or I add them to my tree along with their email addresses.
It should be okay to show a read-only version of the tree on a public profile page that can be linked to, and to show it only if I select to have it made public."
We think that this is a great suggestion and are close to making this a reality. Currently you can share your Geni tree by printing a copy or exporting it as a GEDCOM file. Soon you will be able to share a limited view of your tree with others. We'd like to get your feedback on this feature before we release it.
There are two ways you will be able to share your tree:
- Embed the tree into a webpage such as a your blog or your profile on a social network such
as Facebook. - Send someone a link to your own private URL which displays:
- Your shared tree (see below).
- Your profile photo and name
- Send Message and Add to Friends buttons.
Here is what a shared tree will look like (you will have the same zoom and pan controls as on Geni):
Here are the options to customize your shared tree:
Tree type
- Pedigree view (direct ancestors only)
- Immediate family
- Immediate family and pedigree view
- Extended tree (first cousins)
Display type
- Standard
- Vertical
- Photos Only
- Names Only
Size
- Small (300x250)
- Medium (400x300)
- Large (600x400)
- Tall (600x800)
- Custom
Name display
- First name and last initial (Jane S.)
- First name (Jane)
Options
- Hide children under 18
- Hide profile photos
- Mark deceased
Here are the privacy rules that will apply:
- You choose where to display your shared tree.
- Your shared tree cannot be edited by anyone.
- Last names and profile information are not shown.
- Other branches of your tree are not accessible.
- Only publicly viewable profile photos are shown.
- You can choose to hide minors.
- You can deactivate your shared tree at any time.
We think that this is a great way for you to share your family tree while respecting your family's privacy. Please let us know what you think.
Posted 1 year ago # - Embed the tree into a webpage such as a your blog or your profile on a social network such
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Wow sounds awesome!
Hopefully something like this really will help increase membership all-around.So will someone only be able to share THEIR tree?
As in, I can only share my tree(immediate family/pedigree), while my 2nd cousin say could share theirs if they've claimed their profile?
Just trying to figure out what "sharing your tree" is.Posted 1 year ago # -
Geni Team
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Yes, you can only share your default tree - meaning the tree that you see when you are the focus node. You can not navigate to another person on your tree, click view tree, and then share that tree.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Member
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Thats excellent Noah, sounds like it has been very well thought out.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I like it.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Geni Team
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I'd like to clarify the "hide minors" option. As it stands now, this only applies to your siblings and descendants. All other minors (cousins, nephews, even aunts and uncles are possible) will ALWAYS be hidden. Since privacy is such a delicate issue, we'd like to know how you all are feeling about this.
Posted 1 year ago # -
-Other branches of your tree are not accessible.
Of course this is a necessary privacy requirement - but can you put the little +# attached to the nodes, so you can show that there are a lot of branches that are just not visible - a nice way to entice members to join.Posted 1 year ago # -
Geni Team
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Judith- that is a good idea. However, I wouldn't want to create any confusion for the person viewing the tree. How could we indicate that there is more to the tree than what is visible, while not suggesting that the user click for more?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Good question... But I have no answer ... I will put my thinking cap on :)
What about putting 'available to tree member only' in the text that pops up when your mouse hovers over it (I am sure there is a technical term for that)
I dont think that is a great solution, but I am sure there are other people who can come up with a better solutionPosted 1 year ago # -
Member
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Its actually called a mouseover event, Judith.
What about something like this Noah? I don't know how clear it is but you can see Mary S has relatives in another branch and it gives nothing away.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Excelent, this way we can show anybody the tree without given hima privilegie to mess with our tree, I think this is the solution! good GENaI
When is this feature comming?
Posted 1 year ago # -
I don't see the purpose. Without surnames, locations or dates it's information-free, nothing more than look at the pretty colours. I'd like the long deceased ancestors I upload to be fully accessible to others - distant relatives - who might search this site for a particular name. I have zero need to show my tree to friends who wouldn't appear on it. I can't imagine any of them being interested.
Posted 1 year ago # -
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"I don't see the purpose. Without surnames, locations or dates it's information-free, nothing more than look at the pretty colours. I'd like the long deceased ancestors I upload to be fully accessible to others - distant relatives - who might search this site for a particular name. I have zero need to show my tree to friends who wouldn't appear on it. I can't imagine any of them being interested."
I agree with tim_s. The issue of "privacy" in our society is getting ridiculous. I'm not prone to mincing words, so forgive the directness of this. If we want to pursue this road with Geni, we can put masks on all the pictures and scramble the names, completely destroying the purpose of a genealogy site. In my view, genealogy is about identity and belonging. Privacy is about hiding; and the reasons behind the desire to hide, although admittedly complex, primarily suggest a fear of exposure for something we are not particularly proud of. Enron was about privacy. If privacy is yours central concern, don't engage in genealogy. I can imagine that Geni's business model may not support that sort of stance, but there's my two cents on the issue, although your corporate lawyers will have the final say on this, no doubt. On another subject, I congratulate you on your excellent work. Let's not forget GEDCOM import. We're still waiting and re-keying.
Posted 1 year ago # -
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Looks excellent! Two more suggestions:
- How about an option to display names with initial of the first name and the last name (including options for maiden names), like "J. Jackson" or "H. P. Lovecraft"? I think it would make more sense if I wanted to embed the tree in my genealogy site, because most people who research are more interested in last names ;)
- How about indicating that there are minor children with a small symbol similar to the small "+ trees", but below the parents nodes?Posted 1 year ago # -
<p>I don't see the purpose. Without surnames, locations or dates it's information-free, nothing more than look at the pretty colours. I'd like the long deceased ancestors I upload to be fully accessible to others - distant relatives - who might search this site for a particular name. I have zero need to show my tree to friends who wouldn't appear on it. I can't imagine any of them being interested.
</p>Agree with Tim. At least year of birth and location are very necessary. But for a first release I don't mind.
Posted 1 year ago # -
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I agree with tim_s and Youri Bougartchev and pabben.
All information on deceased relatives should be accessible.
Geni can connect us with distant relatives.
Geni already has led me to learn that this Forum's Scott Hibb is a distant cousin.May it come to pass that Geni can grow until it unites us all in one world-wide family.
Posted 1 year ago # -
There should also be an option to hide a particular member from shared tree.. Say somebody dont want to show that he/she is commited.
Just a suggestion.Posted 1 year ago # -
This is a great function. I am sure my oldest boy is going to love this because he wants to share his tree on myspace.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Geni Team
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This is great feedback! Here are the changes we are considering based on the feedback we have received so far:
- Indicating that there are branches not visible - we'd like to show viewers that your tree on Geni extends beyond what they can see. This may not make it into the initial release, but we'll try.
- Show last names - Would anyone object to displaying the last names of deceased people in the pedigree of the shared tree's focus node? This means that if I share my tree, I would have the option to display the full first and last name of people in my pedigree who are deceased.
- Displaying minors - Would you prefer that we display minors on your shared tree? How should we handle minors - both descendants of the focus node and minors elsewhere on the shared tree?
Please continue with the discussion below. We would like to release this feature in the near future, and are awaiting your feedback.
Posted 1 year ago # -
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i. Sure why not? The more information the better.
2. Definitely show last names. Show ALL information for deceased people.
3. List the names of minors, but list no contact information.Posted 1 year ago #
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