AncestryCodex Roles & Permissions
Understand and configure user roles to control access to your family tree.
Role Hierarchy
AncestryCodex uses a hierarchical role system where higher roles inherit permissions from lower roles:
Administrator (highest)
↓
Manager
↓
Editor
↓
Contributor
↓
Viewer
↓
Pending (lowest)
Role Details
Administrator
Full control over the entire system.
| All Manager permissions | Yes |
| System settings | Yes |
| User role management | Yes |
| Database maintenance | Yes |
| GEDCOM import/export | Yes |
Manager
Manages content and users without system access.
| All Editor permissions | Yes |
| User management | Yes |
| Approve pending users | Yes |
| View activity logs | Yes |
| System settings | No |
Editor
Full editing access to genealogy content.
| All Contributor permissions | Yes |
| Edit any record | Yes |
| Delete records | Yes |
| Merge duplicates | Yes |
| Manage media library | Yes |
Contributor
Can add content and edit their own submissions.
| All Viewer permissions | Yes |
| Add individuals | Yes |
| Add families | Yes |
| Upload media | Yes |
| Edit own submissions | Yes |
| Edit others' submissions | No |
Viewer
Read-only access to view content.
| View family tree | Yes |
| View individuals | Yes |
| View media gallery | Yes |
| Search records | Yes |
| Download reports | Yes |
| Add/edit content | No |
Pending
Awaiting approval - minimal access.
| View own profile | Yes |
| View family tree | No |
| View any content | No |
Changing User Roles
- Go to Admin Panel > Users > Manage Users
- Find the user you want to modify
- Click Edit
- Select the new role from the dropdown
- Save changes
Important
Only Administrators can change other users' roles. You cannot change your own role to a lower level.
Role Selection Guidelines
| User Type | Recommended Role |
|---|---|
| Site owner | Administrator |
| Family coordinator/organizer | Manager |
| Experienced genealogist | Editor |
| Family member adding info | Contributor |
| Distant relative viewing only | Viewer |
| New registration (public sites) | Pending |
Privacy and Roles
Roles interact with privacy settings:
- Administrators & Managers - See all information regardless of privacy settings
- Editors - See all information for editing purposes
- Contributors & Viewers - Subject to privacy restrictions
- Guests (not logged in) - Most restricted, full privacy enforcement
Tip
For maximum privacy protection, ensure that users who shouldn't see living person details are assigned Viewer or Contributor roles, and enable privacy settings for these roles.