Mike Kalt Disclaimers   This presentation reflects my personal experiences in putting my online.

 It does not cover all possible approaches and products.

 It does not represent the views of the Triangle Jewish Genealogical Society (if such views exist)

 I welcome your feedback and alternative suggestions.

* Your mileage may vary. Avoid excessive use. Void in Wisconsin. Ask your doctor if putting your family tree online is right for you. Three Possible Approaches   Design and maintain your own web page

 Upload reports from software to your own page

 Use an existing genealogy web site

Things to Consider   What type of information do I want to make available?

• Do I just want to show a tree?

• Do I want to share stories and additional facts?

• Do I want to share pictures? More Things to Consider   What level of privacy do I want?

• Who do I want to share the information with?

• What information do I want to share?

• Do I want to share information about living people? Still More Things to Consider   Connect with other genealogists?

 Let other family members add info?

 How much effort to expend?

 Integration with PC Software? Creating Your Own Web Site 

www.kaltzone.com/kalt-family A Custom Web Page  Tree Structure on Your Own Page  Creating Your Own Site: Pros & Cons

Pros  • Control over content and appearance • Include stories, pictures, family background, maps • Control over what information appears Cons • You must create your own web pages using HTML • You must manually update information • Difficult to display complex trees • You may have to pay for server space • Little flexibility for trees and charts • Anyone can access your page • No easy way to link with other trees

Another Possibility: PC Software & Personal Web Site   Maintain information on your PC  Generate reports and trees from PC software and upload to your web site HTML Report from  Tree Chart from Family Tree Maker  PC Software/Personal Web Sites: Pros and Cons   Pros • You don't have to know (much) HTML • Control over appearance and content • Flexibility in trees and reports from software  Cons • You must create your own web pages • You must manually update information • You may have to pay for server space • Anyone can access your page • No easy way to link with other trees

Using a Family Tree Web Site  Types of Genealogy Web Sites   Family Tree sites • Display Family Trees and Info Discussed in this presentation • Share/merge trees

 Record search • Census • Newspapers Not discussed in this • Cemeteries presentation • Immigration records  Discussion groups Some Popular Family Tree Sites   For displaying trees and family information • Ancestry.com • MyHeritage.com

 For sharing trees with others • FamilySearch.org (LDS) • Geni.com (acquired by MyHeritage)

 Sites not covered here • TribalPages.com • WikiTree.com • RootsWeb.com (owned by Ancestry.com)

Using Tree Web Sites: Pros & Cons

 Pros  • Easier to manage • Better display of trees • Connect with other trees • Integration with record searches (extra cost for searches) • Integration with PC/MAC • Display genealogical facts • Display other media

 Cons • Privacy issues • Limited reporting capability • Limited tree structure

Ancestry.com  Ancestry.com Tree Page  Ancestry.com Profile Page  Ancestry.com Media Page  Ancestry.com Hints Page 

Note: Getting information requires an Ancestry.com data subscrption Ancestry.com Add Info Page 

Automatically add parents to tree. Ancestry.com Syncs with FTM 12  Ancestry iPad App 

iPhone and Android apps also available Ancestry: Security/Privacy   Who can view: • Default: anyone can see your tree • You can make your tree "private" or nonsearchable  Living people: • Living people are "privatized" by default--first name and other info do not appear • Authorized users can view names/info for living people Ancestry: Pros and Cons   Pros • Integration/sync with Family Tree Maker • iPad/iPhone apps • Easy to create tree from GEDCOM or FTM • Access to Ancestry data bases • Unlimited tree size with free version • Most popular web site

 Cons • Most expensive data base access • Family Tree Maker is not free

MyHeritage.com  MyHeritage Tree Page  MyHeritage Profile Page  MyHeritage: Security/Privacy   Who can view: • Default: anyone can see your tree, but private information will be restricted to members and webmasters • You can make your tree "private" or nonsearchable  Living people: • Living people are "privatized" by default--first name and other info do not appear • Site members and webmaster can view names/info for living people

MyHeritage: Pros and Cons   Pros • Search data bases include Ancestry • Free desktop software (Family Tree Builder) • Easy to create tree from GEDCOM or FTM • Links to Family Tree of the Jewish People (FTJP) • Less expensive data base access than Ancestry • Customizable web site

 Cons • Size limit on trees with free plan • I experienced some bugs • Not as many trees as Ancestry.com FamilySearch.org  FamilySearch Pros & Cons   Pros • Easy to add members of your tree to "world tree" • Free access to LDS databases

 Cons • Very few resources for adding facts • Adding members to your tree is difficult • Will your family members be baptized? Geni.com  Geni Tree Page  Geni.com Profile Page  Geni: Pros & Cons   Pros • Easiest method to combine your tree with others  Cons • You can upload GEDCOM file, but subsequent additions must be manual • You can't replace uploaded trees • Instant tree matches and extra storage space require upgrade • Does not sync with PC/MAC software Comparing Online Sites Ancestry MyHeritage FamilySearch Geni Tree Cost Free Free (limited Free Free (limited size) size) Sync Family Tree Family Tree None None (yet) w/desktop Maker 12 Builder Tree linking Manual Manual Automatic Automatic

Access to data $12.95/month $6.35/month Free $6.95/month (US data) Tree Free Free Free $6.95/month searching iPad app Yes Yes 3rd party Yes WWMD? (What Would Mike Do?)   Unless you want complete control over formatting or want to write a book, an online site is much easier to build and maintain.  Use Geni and FamilySearch only if you want to combine your tree with others  If you already have a tree in Family Tree Builder, use Ancestry.com  Otherwise, it's a tossup  If you can afford it, use both!

Let's Take a Look….. 