Quick Start Guide
Get your family tree up and running in just 5 minutes.
Step 1: Access Your Dashboard
After logging in, you'll see your dashboard. This is your home base for managing your family tree.
Step 2: Configure Basic Settings
Before adding people, configure your family tree settings:
- Click Admin Settings in the sidebar (if you're an admin)
- Set your Family Tree Name (e.g., "The Smith Family")
- Upload a Site Logo (optional)
- Configure your Privacy Settings
- Click Save Settings
You can always change these settings later. Start simple and refine as you go.
Step 3: Add Your First Person
Start building your tree by adding the first person:
- Click Individuals in the sidebar
- Click the + Add Individual button
- Fill in the basic information:
- First Name and Last Name
- Birth Date and Place
- Gender
- Click Save
We recommend starting with yourself or the main person of interest in your research, then working backwards to ancestors.
Step 4: Create a Family
Connect people by creating families:
- Click Families in the sidebar
- Click + Add Family
- Select the Husband and Wife from existing individuals
- Add Children to the family
- Set the Marriage Date and Place (if known)
- Click Save
Step 5: View Your Family Tree
See your work come together:
- Click Family Tree in the sidebar
- Select a starting person from the dropdown
- Use the controls to:
- Zoom in and out
- Pan around the tree
- Click on individuals to see details
Step 6: Import Existing Data (Optional)
If you have existing genealogy data in GEDCOM format:
- Go to Admin Settings → GEDCOM
- Click Import GEDCOM
- Select your
.gedfile - Review the import preview
- Click Import
Before importing, we recommend backing up any existing data. Large GEDCOM files may take a few minutes to process.
What's Next?
Now that you have the basics set up, explore more features:
AncestryCodex