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App for Windows

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 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:  Family Tree  - editing is enabled and  Family Tree  - editing is disabled.

Modify tree

Family Tree
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 Family Tree 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 Family Tree 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” Family Tree button brings another screen dedicated to printing the whole Family Tree out. Branches button Family Tree brings another screen dedicated to creating and modification branches in the Family Tree. Alter Tree button Family Tree brings another screen dedicated to the Family Tree layout modification. Undo button Family Tree revokes last Family Tree modification.

Modify individual's information

Family Tree
   To modify person information app editing mode must be enabled and one only person must be selected. Click on Family Tree 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 Family Tree and Family Tree
   Hyperlink also can be applied to the selected biography segment using Family Tree 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 Family Tree button.
Family Tree
   There are two buttons on the left side of app windows you use to decorate person name: click on Family Tree opens list box with different frames you can select as a frame around person name while click on Family Tree 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 Delete tree

   Modified but not saved yet tree has asterisk '*' at the end of its name, use "Save" button Family Tree to save tree with current name and “Save As Tree” button Family Tree 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!
   Use “Open Tree” button Family Tree 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 Family Tree 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 Family Tree shows the controls to delete tree - you can delete any existing Family Tree from the app repository except currently open one.

Import, 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 Family Tree 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.

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 Family Tree 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
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.
   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
   App also allows user to customize human templates selection to change their position, let say you want to relocate group of 3 human templates.
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.

Scale tree

   Your Family tree is growing over time. Starting from version released in August 2021 we are offering the way to reduce tree footprint without losing information in it – scaling tree.    On the left control bar you can find “Scale Up” and "Scale Down" buttons.
Family Tree
   What tree scaling is doing is hiding but not removing all the person information except person name and reducing person template size twice, it is done with all the individuals in the tree.    As a result, the whole tree occupies almost twice as less space on the screen. “Scale Tree” button working in toggle mode applies or removes scaling. It’s easy to reveal hidden person’s information – just select such a person and follow steps to “Modify individual’s information”.
   While scaled tree does not lose any functionality – it can be branched, altered, zoomed in and out, printed etc.

Merge individual

   Merging individuals utilizes “Viewing Multiple Family Trees” functionality therefore is available for desktop app users only, yet. So far you can merge one person at-a-time. App does not remove individual you are merging from the tree.
Family Tree
   Open the tree you want to merge individual from in view-only mode - just click on “View” icon and select the Tree. Please note: currently opened for modification Tree cannot be open in view-only mode.
Family Tree
   Find the individual you want to merge on the tree you just opened in view-only mode and make it active by double click or double tap on it till person border becomes blinking in red.
Family Tree
   Right mouse click or press and hold on touch screen on selected person template invokes popup menu with “Merge” menu item, you can also use "Merge" button, upper one on the left side of view tree window.
Family Tree
   “Merge” menu item opens top app bar with all the buttons needed like it’s done when you modify tree, the only difference is you are going to merge individual from another tree instead of adding new one.
Family Tree
   Next step is to select the place in the tree, relationship, of the person you are about to merge and select corresponding button on the top app bar.

Copy individual

   Copying individuals utilizes “Viewing Multiple Family Trees” functionality therefore is available for desktop app users only, yet. So far you can copy one person at-a-time. App does not remove individual you are copying from the tree.
Family Tree
   Open the tree you want to copy individual from in view-only mode - just click on “View” icon and select the Tree. Please note: currently opened for modification Tree cannot be open in view-only mode.
Family Tree
   Find the individual you want to copy on the tree you just opened in view-only mode and make it active by double click or double tap on it till person border becomes blinking in red.
Family Tree
   Right mouse click or press and hold on touch screen on selected person template invokes popup menu with “Copy” menu item, you can also use "Copy" button, second upper one on the left side of view tree window.
Family Tree
   “Copy” menu item opens top app bar with the only “Paste” button.
Family Tree
   Next step is to select the person you want to copy data to and press “Paste” button on the top app bar.

Print 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 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.
Family Tree
   This example printout takes 12 Letter size pages to print current Family Tree out.

Save tree as HTML

   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
   Handling html file creation is extremely easy - select any person by double-click or long touch, choose “Modify/Print Tree” or “View/Print Tree” popup menu item and top application bar will appear. Click on "Make HTML" button.
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

   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.
Family Tree
   Converting to any of the standard formats (.png, .jpg, .gif, .tiff) is supported.

View tree

   Family Tree is prone to be growing in size and zooming feature is coming into play to view the tree the most convenient way, use button to view. Family Tree
   Zoom In and Zoom Out buttons work as single click as well as press-and-hold buttons. Please note, zooming can be also controlled by keystrokes and mouse wheel.
   While zooming in or out and having one person selected app is trying to keep this person at the center of the screen.
   Also, while zooming in or out app is trying to maintain human’ information text font size to be easy to read.

Spell check

   Family Tree Maker Designer allows user to run Spell Checker locally, without online tools or utilities.
   To run spell check you have to open top app bar dedicated to editing person’s information how it’s described in “Modify individual's information” and to click on “Spellcheck” button.
   Spell Checker start running automatically as soon as corresponding top app bar is opened. Misspelled word marked red color and list of suggestions to replace is shown on the left (in following example word “August” is misspelled).After suggestion word selected “Replace” button is enabled. User can skip misspelled word – click on “Skip”.
   App has custom dictionary – “Add” and “Edit” buttons on the right inside red outline. Use “Add” button to include misspelled word in user’s custom dictionary, use “Edit” to open this dictionary to modify it. Family Tree

Import GEDCOM

Family Tree
   Our Family Tree Designer is using GEDCOM version 5.5 specifications to import genealogical information from the other applications. This procedure consists of automatic and manual stages.
   To begin importing genealogical information existing as GEDCOM file please use “More” button located on the right side of the bottom app bar and select the GEDCOM file through the “Find” button inside the “Import GEDCOM” section.
   According to the GEDCOM specification file should have “.ged” extension.
Family Tree
    Immediately after file is successfully opened actual automatic importing starts; it can take a while depending on the amount of individuals in the file. At this time App not only builds the suitable Tree but also populates personal information with the information found in the GEDCOM file and even fills in obviously missing gaps in the tree structure.
   Our App concatenates information from GEDCOM related fields like Citation, Source etc. in one paragraph separating those fields by semicolon as is, without any editing, e.g. any special html specific characters are not removed.
   Also, currently, images from GEDCOM files are not imported, yet.
   Our App has certain limitations on GEDCOM tree it can handle; currently imported family tree should have less than 4096 individuals in it. Our App presents the family tree in a form of grid where amount of rows or columns cannot exceed 1024.
Family Tree
   Automatic importing stage finishes with the tree created by our App from the information found in GEDCOM file.
   This tree can be modified exactly like it’s described in “Modify tree” section.

Reminders

   Family Tree Designer allows you to set the list of reminders. Every reminder ones created will inform you about event within coming 12 months starting and including the date you open the app.    You can easily create up to 8 reminders per every person in the tree – just activate the person you are interesting in, select “Edit Person” popup menu item or and click on the “Remind” button.
Family Tree
   Very simple to use reminders editor has tree buttons to add, remove and modify reminders. You start from adding reminder by selecting corresponding (+) button.
Family Tree
   Here you can set month, day and optionally the short notes about event you want to be reminded every year. There is no need to enter person name or other identity – the app will take care of that for you.
Family Tree
   After “Save” button clicked saved reminder will be listed in this person reminders list.
Family Tree
   Any selected reminder in the person reminders list can be removed or edited. To leave reminders editor just click on back button

Keystrokes

Ctrl+S or Alt+S    Saves currently open Family Tree, equivalent to pressing “Save Tree” button on the bottom application bar.
Alt+C    Toggles bottom application bar visibility.
Alt+P    Prints out selected individual, if any, or tree.
Alt+T    If editing is enabled toggles visibility of the top application bar dedicated to Family Tree modification, equivalent to selecting "Modify Tree" popup menu item.
Alt+I    If editing is enabled toggles visibility of the top application bar dedicated to Person information modification, equivalent to selecting "Modify/Print Person" popup menu item.
Alt+F    Toggles visibility of the top application bar dedicated to searching for person, equivalent to pressing “Find Person” button on the bottom application bar.
Alt+Add    Executes zoom in, equivalent to pressing “Zoom In” button on the bottom application bar.
Alt+Subtract    Executes zoom out, equivalent to pressing “Zoom Out” button on the bottom application bar.
Ctrl+Mouse Wheel    Executes zooming, equivalent to pressing “Zoom In” or “Zoom Out” buttons on the bottom application bar.
Escape    Hides all currently opened application bars.

Q&A

   Q: What is the difference between Family Tree Maker.10 and Family Tree Designer, are they compatible?
   A: Starting from version 4.4.5 released in July 2017, Family Tree Maker.10 was renamed to Family Tree Designer. We believe such a name much better reflects our app unique functionalities and puts our app aside of family trees software crowd.
There's absolutely no difference between these two apps except the name!

   Q: What is the difference between Family Tree Designer and its predecessor app Family Tree Designer.8, are they compatible?
   A: Family Tree Designer in opposite to its predecessor is built on the latest software technology targeting broad range of Windows 10 devices. Both apps are fully compatible.

   Q: Is it OK to have both apps, Family Tree Designer and its predecessor app Family Tree Designer.8, installed on the same computer?
   A: Yes. They will not share trees unless you export tree from one app in order to import this tree to another app. Also, please export trees if you decide to uninstall any of apps.

   Q: Is there an option to share Family Tree to any social site?
   A: Currently, Family Tree Designer has limited access to the Facebook.

   Q: Is there an option to share Family Tree as an image file?
   A: Yes, just follow the steps to print Family Tree and use “Save as image” button instead of actual printing.

   Q: How to share Family Tree with other people?
   A: This app as well as any other family tree related application is using proprietary file format, because of that person, you want to share with, should have Family Tree Designer installed too, after that you can share Family Tree files using app’ importing and exporting functionalities.

   Q: Is there a way to print out all the individuals in the tree at once?
   A: Yes, just select any individual to modify, click on “Print”, choose printer and “All in this tree” printing option.

   Q: Is there a way to import Family Tree created by some other software?
   A: Yes, please try "Import GEDCOM" functionality.

   Q: Is current version the final one?
   A: No, we will continue fixing issues and improving our app.

   Q: Is there a way to keep track of progress-to-date on the Tree I’m working on?
   A: Yes, each Tree has accompanied information: date Tree was created and date Tree was last modified. Other than that, there is a text notes user can write and save. There are two buttons on the right of the notes to prevent these notes from accidental modification. Please use “More” button to get there: 		Family Tree
Fig.69

   Q: Is there a way to terminate long-running procedure?
   A: Yes, Entering time consuming procedure Family Tree Designer displays windows progress ring indicator on the center of the screen, right mouse click or press and hold on touch screen on this indicator brings the dialog to terminate currently running procedure.

   Q: What are restrictions on Family Tree?
   A: Currently, amount of partners person may have is limited to eight (8) and amount of children is limited to sixteen (16), Family Tree size cannot exceed one thousand twenty four (1024) individuals. GEDCOM importing has a few additional restrictions.

   Q: Can this app to import and open family trees created by this App mobile companion – Windows Phone “Slim Family Tree Designer”?
   A: Definitely yes. These trees have some specifics and always marked by the Family Tree icon in front of tree names.

familytree@victel.cc

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