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About Family Tree Designer

Family Tree — Family Tree Designer as well as its predecessor app Family Tree Designer.8 is a simple app which allows user to build Family Tree as a graphical and textual presentation of genealogical or family history research. Only four types of relationship between people may be used to compose any family tree, they are partners, parents, children and siblings, all other information can be part of individual’s biography.
Family Tree built by this app can be exported and imported as a file so user can invite other family members to add information, expanding the branches with each birth or wedding. These files have proprietary file format to ensure security information while transferring it to other family member.

Family Tree — Family Tree Designer has the view only mode allowing user to disable editing mode to avoid accidental unintentional Family Tree modification. There is a button on the left side of the app window to change this mode: - editing is enabled and - editing is disabled.

Family Tree — Family Tree Designer has the view only mode allowing user to disable editing mode to avoid accidental unintentional Family Tree modification. There is a button on the left side of the app window to change this mode: - editing is enabled and - editing is disabled.

How to begin

Family Tree — When app first time started or when user creates new Family Tree app presents person’s template with brief explanation of how to build or modify Family Tree in place of person biography.

Family Tree — All other new person' templates created consist of two placeholders for person name and person biography both filled with meaningless but unique text.

Family Tree — In order to modify Family Tree itself or the person information app editing mode must be enabled and the person must be selected.Double click or double tap on the person makes this person selected and person border becomes blinking in red.Persons selection goes away in certain time of user inactivity.

Family Tree — In case Family Tree modification is about establishing relationship between two people app editing mode must be enabled and two adjoining persons must be selected.Double click or double tap on each of the person makes this person selected and person border becomes blinking in red.Person selection goes away in certain time of user inactivity.

Family Tree — Right mouse click or press and hold on touch screen on selected person template invokes popup menu with two menu items: "Modify/Print Tree" and "Modify/Print Person".When two persons are selected only "Modify/Print Tree" menu item is available.

Family Tree — Right mouse click or press and hold on touch screen on any free of people templates Family Tree space toggles(invokes or dismisses) bottom application bar with file handling and zoom control buttons.

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Tree Editing

Family Tree — To modify Family Tree app editing mode must be enabled and one or two persons must be selected. Right mouse click or press and hold on touch screen on any selected person template invokes popup menu. You can edit or print out tree or person biography when one person is selected using corresponding menu item or button on the left side of app window. You can edit or print out tree when two persons are selected using corresponding menu item or button on the left side of app window.

Family Tree — To modify Family Tree app editing mode must be enabled and one or two persons must be selected. Right mouse click or press and hold on touch screen on any selected person template invokes popup menu. You can edit or print out tree or person biography when one person is selected using corresponding menu item or button on the left side of app window. You can edit or print out tree when two persons are selected using corresponding menu item or button on the left side of app window.

Family Tree — Current Family Tree Designer version has some restrictions on the Family Tree modifications user can do and some of them are pretty obvious, like adding parents to the person having parents already. Also, amount of partners person may have is limited to eight and amount of children is limited to sixteen. In any cases, every disabled button displays the reason why it is disabled. Family Tree size cannot exceed one thousand twenty four individuals.
Leftmost “Print Tree” button brings another screen dedicated to printing the whole Family Tree out. Branches button brings another screen dedicated to creating and modification branches in the Family Tree. Alter Tree button brings another screen dedicated to the Family Tree layout modification. Undo button revokes last Family Tree modification.

Family Tree — Current Family Tree Designer version has some restrictions on the Family Tree modifications user can do and some of them are pretty obvious, like adding parents to the person having parents already. Also, amount of partners person may have is limited to eight and amount of children is limited to sixteen. In any cases, every disabled button displays the reason why it is disabled. Family Tree size cannot exceed one thousand twenty four individuals.
Leftmost “Print Tree” button brings another screen dedicated to printing the whole Family Tree out. Branches button brings another screen dedicated to creating and modification branches in the Family Tree. Alter Tree button brings another screen dedicated to the Family Tree layout modification. Undo button revokes last Family Tree modification.

Person Editing

Family Tree — To modify person information app editing mode must be enabled and one only person must be selected.Click on or right mouse click or press and hold on touch screen on this selected person with all the controls needed including undo button allowing user to go up to three steps back in person information modification.

Family Tree — To modify person information app editing mode must be enabled and one only person must be selected.Click on or right mouse click or press and hold on touch screen on this selected person with all the controls needed including undo button allowing user to go up to three steps back in person information modification.

Family Tree — You can modify both fields of person information: name and biography including photos. Selected segment of person biography can be formatted to be bold or italic in toggle mode using corresponding button and
   Hyperlink also can be applied to the selected biography segment using button, app doesn't test the validity of the entered web address but “http:” or “https:” prefix is required. Hyperlink cannot be overwritten, it should be removed, first, to remove existing hyperlink select the corresponding biography segment and enter empty hyperlink.
    Adding, replacing and removing photo also available.Optimal image size for photo is 1024 x 768 pixels.You open photos editing dialog through button.

Family Tree — You can modify both fields of person information: name and biography including photos. Selected segment of person biography can be formatted to be bold or italic in toggle mode using corresponding button and
   Hyperlink also can be applied to the selected biography segment using button, app doesn't test the validity of the entered web address but “http:” or “https:” prefix is required. Hyperlink cannot be overwritten, it should be removed, first, to remove existing hyperlink select the corresponding biography segment and enter empty hyperlink.
    Adding, replacing and removing photo also available.Optimal image size for photo is 1024 x 768 pixels.You open photos editing dialog through button.

Family Tree — There are two buttons on the left side of app windows you use to decorate person name: click on opens list box with different frames you can select as a frame around person name while click on opens list box with different colors you can select for the person name. These two buttons become enabled when any portion of the person name is selected; color applies to the whole person name regardless of selection.
Top app bar will also be dismissed after about 15 seconds of user inactivity.

Family Tree — There are two buttons on the left side of app windows you use to decorate person name: click on opens list box with different frames you can select as a frame around person name while click on opens list box with different colors you can select for the person name. These two buttons become enabled when any portion of the person name is selected; color applies to the whole person name regardless of selection.
Top app bar will also be dismissed after about 15 seconds of user inactivity.

Save, Open, and Delete Tree

Family Tree — Modified but not saved yet tree has asterisk '*' at the end of its name, use "Save" button to save tree with current name and “Save As Tree” button to save current Family Tree as a new one or to replace already existing.
Please note: saving tree doesn’t create file you can share with other people – instead please use exporting to share!

Family Tree — Modified but not saved yet tree has asterisk '*' at the end of its name, use "Save" button to save tree with current name and “Save As Tree” button to save current Family Tree as a new one or to replace already existing.
Please note: saving tree doesn’t create file you can share with other people – instead please use exporting to share!

Family Tree — Use “Open Tree” button to open one of the already existing Family Tree.
   Family Tree Designer also opens and modifies family trees created by any of the this App mobile companions – Windows Phone “Slim Family Tree Maker.10”, app for Android and iOS, these trees have some specifics and always marked by the icon in front of tree name.
   Please note: to open tree created by others and shared with you tree should be imported first!

   To make a new Family Tree just press corresponding button, newly created Family Tree has unique random name; please note that current app version supports up to 32 Family Trees, only.

   “More” button shows the controls to delete tree - you can delete any existing Family Tree from the app repository except currently open one.

Family Tree — Use “Open Tree” button to open one of the already existing Family Tree.
   Family Tree Designer also opens and modifies family trees created by any of the this App mobile companions – Windows Phone “Slim Family Tree Maker.10”, app for Android and iOS, these trees have some specifics and always marked by the icon in front of tree name.
   Please note: to open tree created by others and shared with you tree should be imported first!

   To make a new Family Tree just press corresponding button, newly created Family Tree has unique random name; please note that current app version supports up to 32 Family Trees, only.

   “More” button shows the controls to delete tree - you can delete any existing Family Tree from the app repository except currently open one.

Import and Export Tree

Family Tree — All created Family Trees stay inside app repository, on the user hard drive. To backup, view or edit Family Tree on another computer it needs to be exported, click on “More” button opens dialog with all the controls needed to import and export trees. App is exporting Family Trees which you already saved through “Save” or “Save As” buttons.
   In order for Family Tree to be accessible by this App mobile companion – Windows Phone “Slim Family Tree Maker” App, Tree needs to be exported to the Microsoft cloud storage OneDrive (https://onedrive.live.com/about/en-us/).
   To ensure Family Tree information privacy app is using proprietary imported file format, such a file can be read by the Family Tree Designer, only!

   There are two files extensions used by Family Tree Designer and its mobile companion: “.ftf” and “.ftm”. Family tree files created by latest versions of the App mobile companion “Slim Family Tree Maker.10” have “.ftm” extension.
   Please note: app will not automatically open successfully imported Family Tree file, but will add it to the app repository instead, so you can work on one Family Tree while importing another one simultaneously.
   While importing Tree please be aware that current app version supports up to thirty two Family Trees.

   “More” button also shows all the controls to import previously exported Family Tree file, delete any existing Family Tree from the app repository except currently open, modify current Family Tree properties and import genealogical information existing as GEDCOM files.

Family Tree — All created Family Trees stay inside app repository, on the user hard drive. To backup, view or edit Family Tree on another computer it needs to be exported, click on “More” button opens dialog with all the controls needed to import and export trees. App is exporting Family Trees which you already saved through “Save” or “Save As” buttons.
   In order for Family Tree to be accessible by this App mobile companion – Windows Phone “Slim Family Tree Maker” App, Tree needs to be exported to the Microsoft cloud storage OneDrive (https://onedrive.live.com/about/en-us/).
   To ensure Family Tree information privacy app is using proprietary imported file format, such a file can be read by the Family Tree Designer, only!

   There are two files extensions used by Family Tree Designer and its mobile companion: “.ftf” and “.ftm”. Family tree files created by latest versions of the App mobile companion “Slim Family Tree Maker.10” have “.ftm” extension.
   Please note: app will not automatically open successfully imported Family Tree file, but will add it to the app repository instead, so you can work on one Family Tree while importing another one simultaneously.
   While importing Tree please be aware that current app version supports up to thirty two Family Trees.

   “More” button also shows all the controls to import previously exported Family Tree file, delete any existing Family Tree from the app repository except currently open, modify current Family Tree properties and import genealogical information existing as GEDCOM files.

Print out individual's information

   In order to print individual’ information out Family Tree Designer app is using Windows built-in printing functionality.
   The way printing is invoked depends on the currently enabled or disabled editing mode user selects through the app Settings.
   First of all, person's editining dialog must be opened using right mouse click on selected person or

button on the left.
To continue, click on Print button

and select what do you want to print out - “Selected person” or "All in this tree”.

Print out tree

Family Tree — Family Tree Designer makes it possible to use widely available regular printers and paper sizes to print the whole tree out; final printout will consist of several pages user have to glue together. Family Tree Designer has the dedicated to the whole tree print out view which is accessible through the “Print Tree” button on the top app bar. As soon as this view is opened user will see how the complete Family Tree printout will look like applying default settings such as paper and person template sizes.

Convert to HTML

Family Tree — HTML file is a webpage that can be displayed in a web browser, so Saving family tree as html file allows you to share this tree with practically anyone on any device! Saved html file will look in browser exactly how it looks here.

Family Tree — Top application bar will be replaced with the one dedicated to saving as HTML.Other than ''Save As HTML" button" it has "Scale HTML" slider user can use to resize HTML.

Family Tree — Our app has limitation on tree size to make it as html file because most of the web browsers have limitations on html file size as well.

Family Tree — While entering file name for saving html file user should leave."html" file name extention and try to avoid using spaces in the file name – some browsers cannot handle it properly.

Save tree as image

Family Tree — Saving you tree as an image is another way to share tree with others. Our application allows user to save family tree prepared to be printed out as a single image file – all the pages in one file.

Branch out tree

Family Tree — Family tree is constantly growing and becomes cumbersome to view and modify. App allows user to branch out part of the existing tree into new family tree. Branching always starts from child having at least one sibling or partner.

Family Tree — Branching begins with selecting the person to start branching, activating this person by double click or double tap until border becomes blinking in red, clicking on button or clicking right mouse or press and hold to invoke popup menu and select “Modify/Print Tree” menu item. If two persons are selected, branching begins from these persons child, if any.

Family Tree — Branching begins with selecting the person to start branching, activating this person by double click or double tap until border becomes blinking in red, clicking on button or clicking right mouse or press and hold to invoke popup menu and select “Modify/Print Tree” menu item. If two persons are selected, branching begins from these persons child, if any.

Family Tree — When top app bar is visible “Branching” button switches app to the Branching mode.

Family Tree — To initiate Branching mode Branch itself should be created - click on “Branch Out” starts branching out which can take a while depending on the tree size.
Please note: while branching out App doesn’t modify existing tree.

Family Tree — When branching out is finished all the selected for new branch individual templates will have border blinking in red. App assign branch name based on the oldest person in the branch, this name can be modified by user.
At this moment “Save Branch As …” and “Color” buttons becomes enabled.

Family Tree — Saving new branch is identical to saving any tree in the App.
Opening branch is identical to opening any tree in the App.

Family Tree — App allows user to mark every person in the branch by colorized shadow. Branch having color assigned becomes family tree attribute – family tree remembers all the branches created in this tree. To remove this branch from the tree just set shadow color to None.

Family Tree — App also allows user to change shadow direction for every colorized branch through button “Style”.

Family Tree — Existing branch shadow color and direction can be easily changed, just select any person from the branch and start Branching mode. While in the Branching mode user can change branch shadow color and direction. To remove this branch from the tree just set shadow color to None.

Alter tree

Family Tree — Using altering tree functionality you can alter family tree graphical presentation for best viewing experience while maintaining app specific graphical coherent integrity.
To begin, you have to select one or two persons whose you want to move using double click or double tap. Then invoke popup menu using right mouse click or press and hold on touch screen and choose "Modify/Print Tree" menu item which, in turn, opens top app bar. Locate and select “Alter Tree” button on the right side of the top bar:

Family Tree — Using altering tree functionality you can alter family tree graphical presentation for best viewing experience while maintaining app specific graphical coherent integrity.
To begin, you have to select one or two persons whose you want to move using double click or double tap. Then invoke popup menu using right mouse click or press and hold on touch screen and choose "Modify/Print Tree" menu item which, in turn, opens top app bar. Locate and select “Alter Tree” button on the right side of the top bar:

Family Tree — Top bar will change its appearance showing set of buttons dedicated to altering tree: “Alter Selection” activates custom selection, “Reset” resets tree modification before modifications applied, “Apply” applies tree modification, “Undo” and “Altering issue display.

Family Tree — Person’s template ready to be moved changes its background color to green and green dotted outline around is created. Press mouse or tap anywhere inside green dotted outline changes cursor shape, all the objects inside green dotted outline will follow your mouse as long as you keep it pressed.

Family Tree — In order to maintain tree graphical integrity there are several mandatory requirements must be kept: connections between family members either strictly horizontal or strictly vertical, every person template should be located inside imaginary grid cell, line connected two adjacent person templates must have minimum length of imaginary grid cell length, no overlap allowed ….

Family Tree — When there are no requirements violations “Apply” button becomes enabled, click on this button initiate tree modification.
Before tree modification applied it can be reset using “Reset” button.

Family Tree — To select and manipulate group of more than two adjacent persons located vertically, like several siblings, you need to select upper-most and bottom-most ones then click “Alter Tree” button.

Family Tree — To begin custom human templates selection any person or persons should be selected as it’s described before and “Alter Tree” button on the right side of the top bar should be clicked.
App suggests you person's selection, to customize this selection "Alter Selected Area" button on the right side of the top bar should be clicked:

Family Tree — Green dotted line border around selected area will be replaced with solid blue border, it's the way custom selection is marked.

Family Tree — This custom selection area can be resized and removed to cover group of human templates needed to be modified.

Family Tree — While changing custom selection it can be reset, when finish – click on “Apply”.

Family Tree — Selection area ready to be moved changes its background color back to green and green dotted outline around appears again.

Family Tree — User can manipulate with selected area exactly how it described before.

Family Tree — When there are no requirements violations “Apply” button becomes enabled, click on this button initiate tree modification, like it described before.

Right mouse click or press and hold on touch screen on any free of people templates Family Tree space dismisses top app bar and terminates tree altering.

Export to HTML

Export your family tree as HTML for viewing on a website.

Export your family tree as HTML for viewing on a website.

Export your family tree as HTML for viewing on a website.

Export your family tree as HTML for viewing on a website.

Export your family tree as HTML for viewing on a website.

Export your family tree as HTML for viewing on a website.

Export your family tree as HTML for viewing on a website.

Export your family tree as HTML for viewing on a website.

Export your family tree as HTML for viewing on a website.

Export your family tree as HTML for viewing on a website.

Export your family tree as HTML for viewing on a website.

Export your family tree as HTML for viewing on a website.

Export your family tree as HTML for viewing on a website.

Export your family tree as HTML for viewing on a website.

Export your family tree as HTML for viewing on a website.

Export your family tree as HTML for viewing on a website.

Export your family tree as HTML for viewing on a website.

Export your family tree as HTML for viewing on a website.

Export your family tree as HTML for viewing on a website.

Export your family tree as HTML for viewing on a website.

Export your family tree as HTML for viewing on a website.

Export your family tree as HTML for viewing on a website.

Export your family tree as HTML for viewing on a website.

Export your family tree as HTML for viewing on a website.

Export your family tree as HTML for viewing on a website.

Export your family tree as HTML for viewing on a website.

Export your family tree as HTML for viewing on a website.

Export your family tree as HTML for viewing on a website.

Export your family tree as HTML for viewing on a website.

Export your family tree as HTML for viewing on a website.

Export your family tree as HTML for viewing on a website.

Export your family tree as HTML for viewing on a website.

Export your family tree as HTML for viewing on a website.

Export your family tree as HTML for viewing on a website.

Export your family tree as HTML for viewing on a website.

Export your family tree as HTML for viewing on a website.

Export your family tree as HTML for viewing on a website.

Export your family tree as HTML for viewing on a website.

Export your family tree as HTML for viewing on a website.

Export your family tree as HTML for viewing on a website.

Export your family tree as HTML for viewing on a website.

Export your family tree as HTML for viewing on a website.