Sharing Your Genealogy

Before You Share Your Pedigree:

    1. Clean up your file:  Assure that Names, Dates, and Places are written correctly.

    2. Make a GEDCOM file.

Pedigree Resource File (PRF). 

Permanently preserve your family history and share it with others.  A copy of your files will be

preserved in the Granite Mountain Records Vault, near Salt Lake City.  Pedigree information will

be shared on  compact disk and on the internet Note:  Do not submit names of living relatives

without their permission.

    1. Go to www.familysearch.org 

    2. Click on the Share Tab.

    3. Sign On.

    4. You may read the information under the areas on the left.  Just click and read.

    5. Click on I am Ready to Submit.

    6. Read the instructions and click I Accept.

    7. Click Browse to locate your GEDCOM file on your computer.  If you have it on a floppy
  disk then make sure it is in the drive.

    8. Type a brief description of your GEDCOM file.

    9. If you have a Web Site you wish to link to this file then type the address in the box provided. 
  The side will be viewed and Ok'd.

  10. Click on Submit at the bottom of the page and wait for a response from Familysearch.  At the
  end of a successful upload, you will see a screen with you submission number verifying that

        they have received your GEDCOM file.  Print the screen or write the number down for future

        reference.  Your file will appear in a future PRF disk.

RootsWeb WorldConnect: a GEDCOM hosting service.

Advantage:  You may revise and re-upload your file at any time.

    1. Go to www.rootsweb.com.

    2. Click on the Family Trees tab at the top of the page.

    3. Under Submit your Family Tree to WorldConnect, click Start here.  (You can also edit
        an existing file here.) 

    4. Type a User Code (such as your name), which will become part of the URL of the family
        tree, and a Password of your choice, which will remain private.

    5. Choose standard or advanced setup

    6. Check the information on the User Setup/Edit screen.  Add any information that is needed
        and check the options you wish to have connected to your family.  (You may change your
        options at any time without have to resubmit your family tree.)

    7. Owner Information will appear automatically from the information you entered on the
        preliminary submission page.

    8. Display Options:  You will need to add a Title.  It will appear on every page within your
        family tree.  The header and footer areas appear in smaller print.  If you want the program to
        change your surnames to all uppercase (capital) letters, select Yes.

    9. GEDCOM download options:  Yes will allow others to download a maximum of six
        generations from any individual in your family tree.  No means no one will be able to download
        any part of your file.

  10. Upload Options:  Type in the path to your GEDCOM.  You will not be able to upload
        multiple disks for the same family tree.

  11. RootsWeb will either Clean or  Remove any living persons in your file.  Clean means it will
        clean it using the options you specify.  You can have first names replaced with the word
        “Living” or remove notes and sources on living persons.  Remove means  they will remove
        any living people from your file and process the rest using the options you specify. 

  12. After selecting Options, click Upload/Update.

  13. You will receive confirmation when the file has been downloaded by RootsWeb.  The
        confirmation will recap what was uploaded and provide a link to your family tree.  Submitted
        information will on RootsWeb WorldConnect within 24 hours.  However, submitted or
        updated information may be viewed immediately by to make sure the options are what you
        intended.

  14. To your file, submit a new GEDCOM which will replace the old.

Note:  It is not necessary to submit your information to RootsWeb and Ancestry.  They combine their databases.

Message Boards   

GenForum  Find people who are looking for the same people you are looking for.

    1. Go to www.genforum.com

    2. Choose a forum type– Surname, State, Countries, Wars, etc.

    3. Queries are listed by date, newest first.  Look for use Find (Ctl F) to seek for what might be
        of interest.

    4. Click on queries and follow-ups of interest.

    5. To reply, Click here to post a follow-up message.  Login.  (Registration is required.)

    6. Type your question or reply.

    7. To post a query, click Post New Message and login.  Give your query a descriptive name. 
        Type your query.  Click to post your query.

RootsWeb or Ancestry Find people who are looking for the same people you are looking for.

    1. Go to www.rootsweb.com or www.ancestry.com

    2. Click on Message Boards.

    3. Choose a surname, place, or topic

    4. Similar to GenForum

Family Reunions

For reunion ideas see www.family-reunion.com

Create a Web Page

Planting Your Family Tree Online:  How To Create Your Own Family History Web Site, Cyndi Howells, available through www.amazon.com