Question about sharing a Family Tree
My brother and I have separate accounts to both work on our family tree (the same tree). I notice that when I sign in onto his account my ID Number in the tree is different from the one when I sign in onto my own account. Is that because I am still living, and these were separately created on the two accounts? Can I merge those? I also notice that when I tried to add some living relatives on my account using the ID number from his account the search returns "ID number not found". Is that the same issue and is there any way to avoid this?
Answers
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@Randall Plant
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Short Answers:
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Is that because I am still living, and these were separately created on the two accounts? = 'Yes'.
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Can I merge those? = 'No'.
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Is that the same issue and is there any way to avoid this? = 'Yes'; and, then, 'No'.
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By way of explanation ...
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No other User/Patron can see ANY "Living" individuals/persons that were created by another User/Patron; as, they ONLY reside in the "Private Spaces" of the User/Patron who created them.
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We CANNOT even see the ACTUAL Record in "Family Tree" of "FamilySearch" of our IMMEDIATE Family (eg. Spouse; Children; Parents; Siblings; ETC; Etc; etc) if they are "Living"; and, they have their own "FamilySearch" Account.
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Of course, you can create your "Living" Family members; and, record them in "Family Tree" of "FamilySearch"; but, they will ONLY be seen by you:
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- You cannot "Share" them with any other User/Patron.
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- You cannot "Merge"/'Combine" them with any other "Living" individual/person residing in the "Private Spaces" of another User//Patron.
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There is CURRENTLY no mechanism in "Family Tree" of "FamilySearch" for Users/Patrons, to "Share"; or, "give permission" to "Share", the "Living" individuals/persons in their own "Private Spaces" with/between other/another User/Patron.
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There are a myriad of "Privacy" Laws within the many various Countries and Unions throughout the World - it is a nightmare to negotiate.
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"Family Tree" of "FamilySearch" is used in many Countries and Unions throughout the World; and, as such, must adhere to the myriad of "Privacy" Laws throughout the World.
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Hence, "Privacy" is one of the reasons that we cannot "Share" the "Living" individuals/persons in our own "Private Spaces" - it is NOT the ONLY reason; but, certainly has a bearing on the matter.
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Another factor is that such would have to be 'Coded'/'Programmed' into the Programme that is "Family Tree" of "FamilySearch".
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'Yes', these "Living" individuals/person in "Family Tree" of "FamilySearch" WILL, in fact, in many (most) cases will be "Duplicated" - unfortunately a necessary situation that currently cannot be avoided.
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I know that there are "Duplicates" of the "Living" ME - at least, one for my Wife and each of our Children, not to mention my other ("Living") extended Family members.
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Now ...
That said ...
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We do not have our OWN "Tree" in "Family Tree" of "FamilySearch".
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We ONLY have "Branches", that are interconnected, in this SINGLE "One" World "Tree", for all of us, that is "Family Tree" of "FamilySearch".
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"Family Tree" of "FamilySearch" is NOT like "Ancestry_com" or the like.
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We DO NOT have "Private"/"Personal" 'Trees' in "Family Tree" of "FamilySearch" like other "Web" Sites; and/or, 'standalone' personal programmes.
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We do not even, own; or, manage; and, are NOT even responsible for, the "Deceased" individuals/person in "Family Tree" of "FamilySearch".
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"Family Tree" of "FamilySearch" is built on a "Open Edit" Platform - hence, why any registered User/Patron can "Edit" (ie. Add, Delete; and/or, Change) ANY "Deceased" individual/person in "Family Tree" of "FamilySearch".
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You can certainly "Merge"/"Combine" any "Deceased" individual/person in "Family Tree" of "FamilySearch" with another "Deceased" individual/person in "Family Tree" of "FamilySearch", regardless of who the User/Patron was that initially created those "Deceased" individuals/persons; as, they DO NOT reside with the User/Patron who initially created them - they are "Public".
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If fact, you can ONLY see "Deceased" individual/person in "Family Tree" of "FamilySearch"; except, with this 'rider', that you can ALSO only see "Living" individual/person in "Family Tree" of "FamilySearch" that YOU created; as, they reside in your "Private Spaces".
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Here are some "Knowledge Articles" in "FamilySearch" in regard to "Private Spaces" and "Living" individuals/persons:
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What is a private space in Family Tree?
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Who can see my living relatives in Family Tree?
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Here is a good place to start, with how things work in "Family Tree" of "FamilySearch" (and, other programmes as well):
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Introducing The Family History Guide
https://www.familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/733
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Introducing The Family History Guide
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The Family History Guide
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I hope this helps.
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Brett
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Wow, that was really helpful, and thanks for the links.
One quick follow-up: If, for example, my nephew starts a family tree on his account, once he goes back to our nearest shared deceased ancestor, in this case my parents and his grandparents, he can add that person to his tree and all the earlier ancestors that I have previously added will show up on his tree. Is that correct?
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he will LINK that person to his family tree
and yes - it will pull in all the rest.
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he shouldnt "add it " because you already have.
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@Randall Plant
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G'Day, morning from my 'neck of the woods' ...
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In essence, 'Yes'; if, you are talking about the "Living" individuals/persons that you both share as common ("Living") relatives.
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Your nephew has to add ALL the "Living" individuals/persons that he needs to until he gets back to, both, your 'common' "Deceased" Ancestors/Relatives/Family.
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All those "Living" individuals/persons that he adds to get back to, both, your 'common' "Deceased" Ancestors/Relatives/Family WILL be ("Living") "Duplicates" - that is acceptable; and, nothing can be done to circumvent that - a 'necessary evil', so to speak.
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I hope that makes sense.
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Brett
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I only add living people to family tree if I need them there to connect to deceased family. Otherwise, I keep all my living cousins, grandchildren etc in a Personal Ancestral File like "Ancestral Quest".
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