Customize the Family Tree
I want to create a family tree starting with my grandfather instead of myself. Is this possible? I can start with myself but I cannot figure out how to delete persons and place them on another level.
Thank you
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Teresa
Welcome to the "Community.FamilySearch" Forum.
I am just another 'lowly' User/Patron ...
Just in passing ...
Firstly ...
For starters, NOT really, the way the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch', was designed to work ...
Secondly ...
You CANNOT "Delete" yourself.
And, you can ONLY "Delete", individuals/persons, that you "Created"; and, ONLY provided, that NO Other User/Patron (including: that of 'FamilySearch') has contributed, in any way.
Finally ...
Rather than making YOURSELF; as, the "Starting Person" ...
You CAN go into the "Settings", of your 'FamilySearch' Account; and, "Change" the "Starting Person" to whom every you want (eg. in your case, your "Grandfather").
Here is a "Knowledge Article", in 'FamilySearch':
How do I change the starting person in Family Tree?
I hope, that this may help/assist, somewhat.
Brett
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I do this all the time. Here is how. In the Recents Menu select Unconnected Person and create a profile for your grandfather.
You will want to follow him. If he is deceased, click his star icon under his name to start following him. (On the web interface; on the mobile app, select Follow in his profile menu.) If he is living, his profile will be created inside your private tree space, called Private People, which you will find under My Contributions.
You can make him the default person on your Tree and Person pages. Do that in your account settings.
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FYI
Just in passing ...
There is NO need, for 'Teresa', to "Create" her 'Grandfather"; as, an "Unconnected Person".
In fact, that is just WRONG ...
As, her "Grandfather", is a "Connected Person"; and. also. in fact, connected/linked to 'Teresa' ...
That is NOT the way, that the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch', is designed (and/or, supposed) to work.
IF, 'Teresa' wants to make her "Grandfather"; as, a NEW "Principal" Person; THEN, all that she simply needs to do, is to "Change" the "Starting Person".
That way, she DOES NOT loose, any on the connections/links; between, herself; and, her "Grandfather".
And, the "Living" individuals/persons (including herself) will NOT be LOST.
Plus, the "Living" individuals/persons (including herself) will NOT be 'seen', by ANY Other User/Patron; EXCEPT, 'Teresa'; as, they RESIDE, in the "Private Spaces", of her' 'FamilySearch' Account - so, there is NO NEED to "Delete" them.
Just my thoughts.
Brett
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Whether or not you also attach your grandfather to his descendants, living or deceased, is a separate matter and entirely up to you. Every contributor to Family Tree is free to choose the work they do.
If you do attach his child, your parent, and your parent is living, you will manage that profile in your private tree space. You might like it, or find it a distraction. Some contributors do a lot of work on profiles of their living family members. Other contributors do little or none, finding it inappropriate.
Very often there are duplicate profiles in many contributors' private tree spaces. Recently a long time collaborator of mine died, and I witnessed many duplicate profiles of him pop out of other contributors' private tree spaces into the public tree as they marked him deceased. They all had to be merged, and I have helped to resolve some inconsistencies after the merges.
There also are some privacy issues for contributors whose ancestors are living. If we allow other contributors to see how we are related, in many cases we also reveal more information about our living family members than our families would wish.
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FYI
Just in passing ...
In the "Family Tree: Part, of 'FamilySearch' ...
'Yes', certainly, Users/Patrons, have their own free agency ...
[ ie. To do as they please, that is a 'given' ... ]
But ...
That Said ...
The principal purpose of the "Family Tree" Part, of 'FamilySearch', is for Users/patrons, is BUILD (and, work on), one's "Ancestral" Lines, starting from oneself; and, including one's, Parents; and, Grandparents; and, continue on from there.
Some User/Patrons, DO NOT include, ALL the "Details" of their "Living", Parents; and, "Grandparents" (and, other IMMEDIATE Family/Relatives); but, they do include them, at least, with their "Name"; as, a "Place Holder"; even, if with NO other "Details".
I just CANNOT understand, Why, a User/Patron, would find such (ie. their "Living", Parents; and, "Grandparents") a "Distraction"; especially, if they can "Change" the "Starting Person"; UNLESS, of course, such Users/Patrons, are NOT even working, on their OWN "Ancestral" Lines.
I DO NOT understand, WHY, you suggest, that that there are "... are some privacy issues for contributors whose ancestors are living ...".
IF, a Users/Patrons, Ancestors/Family, are STILL "Living"; THEN, if recorded, by the User/Patron; THEN, as they are (STILL) "Living", then they will NOT be 'seen' (nor, accessed) by ANY OTHER Users/Patrons (and, NOT, even, IMMEDIATE Family members); and, they will RESIDE, in the "Private Spaces", of the User/Patron, who created them.
We DO NOT, allow, OTHER Users/Patrons, to 'see' HOW they are "Related" to us; UNLESS, we "Enable", the feature/function/facility of "Relationship Viewing"; which, is NOT automatic; and, MUST be physically "Turned ON".
We DO NOT reveal (nor, do we need to reveal), information about our "Living" Family members; as, they are "Private", in the "Family Tree: Part, of 'FamilySearch'.
Now ...
That Said ...
ALL, that 'Teresa', really needs to do, is to CHANGE, the "Starting Person", that is all; as, simple as that.
[ Certainly, NO need to either, "Delete" ANY of her Family; nor, make her "Grandfather", an "Unconnected Person ... ]
Just my thoughts.
Brett
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This Help Center document outlines some of the privacy issues.
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An interesting discussion, but I still feel none the wiser as to Teresa's real intentions here - especially as she has not returned to comment on the responses.
I can see the reasoning in both Brett's and "dontiknowyou's" comments, but we don't really know if there is an existing ID for her grandfather, so some of the advice is based on speculation.
My personal position is that I have never knowingly added anyone to Family Tree who is still alive. In fact, even when it comes to deceased persons, I only add these from my grandparents' generation back.
This might seem strange, but I really have no interest in establishing my relationship to others on the tree, especially when it comes to things like my "fourth cousin three times removed", which I find all rather meaningless.
Whilst I appreciate there should be complete privacy (only I can see them) for living persons' IDs I might wish to create, I do not wish to risk any possible hacking exercise that might reveal their personal details to others. Also, many of my relatives would not like me to add even their deceased parents to the Family Tree program, given none of us are Church members and some would not be happy for their parents' names to be added to a program created under the auspices of the LDS Church.
So, whatever Teresa's reasons for wanting to add her relatives to Family Tree (starting with her grandfather, as she puts it) I feel she must return to confirm if she is happy with at least some of the seemingly good advice that has been provided, by both of you.
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One reason to start a tree from someone other than yourself, especially from a deceased ancestor, and not connect the tree to you, is so that when you export a GEDCOM of the tree to another site for public use you do not inadvertently include and expose living persons.
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Hello all. Thank you for all your responses. I apologize for not responding. I am a newbie on here and I am reading through your suggestions and trying to figure out how to do them.
When I click on "Change root person in Family Tree" there is nothing there but a title and a like and dislike voting buttons. I do like this idea but I can't figure out how to do it.
I am a step-child and I am researching my step-mothers family. This is the reason I want to start with my grandfather.
Any help on how to do this would be appreciated.
Many thanks
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I figured out how to do change the root person. I think this will work for me.
Thank you!
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