Building a family tree together, step by step
Start with a manageable scope, check profiles and relationships with the people who know each branch, then invite relatives without making the tree public.
Choose your starting point
I already have a tree: start with my GEDCOM file
- Export your tree from your genealogy software.
- In Cœur de Famille, an owner or authorised administrator opens the GEDCOM import from the tree.
- Review the preview: new profiles, updates, matches and conflicts. Confirm your choices before importing.
- Ask a relative to check the imported relationships. Add any documents and sources you wish to share separately.
GEDCOM 5.5, 5.5.1 and 7.0 in UTF-8, up to 10 MB and 5,000 people. Notes, sources and media are not transferred. People absent from the file and fields left blank are preserved.
A gradual approach
Ten steps towards a reviewed tree, rather than a collection of names
Claire Bellanger’s example is fictional: she starts with her parents and grandparents, then opens each branch when a relative can confirm the information. The goal is not to enter everything in one evening.
From the first profile to review
I’m starting from scratch: follow these steps in order
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01
Define your starting scope
Decide whether to start with a couple of grandparents, one branch or the generations participants can actually document. Also note what needs to wait for verification.
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02
Start with people you know
Add confirmed identities before relationships. An owner or administrator can also download the Excel template, check its preview and apply only valid rows; this process does not replace family review.
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03
Distinguish a profile from an account
A profile represents a person in the family’s history. An account gives access to the private space. A child, ancestor or relative who does not wish to sign in can therefore remain in the tree without an account.
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04
Add relationships carefully
Link parents, children and couples from their profiles, according to your permissions. Keep partial dates when a day or month is unknown and distinguish current relationships from those that have ended.
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05
Avoid duplicates
Search for the person before creating a new profile. If Cœur de Famille flags similar identities, compare first name, surname and date of birth before confirming despite the warning.
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06
Check sensitive information
Do not infer a date, death, portrait or information about a minor. Each person sees the information authorised for them and edits only what they are permitted to manage.
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07
Have several generations review the tree
Ask someone from each branch to check a small set: name spelling, sibling order, couples and parentage. Keep disagreements outside the tree until they are resolved.
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08
Invite relatives gradually
First invite those who need to help review or join conversations. Other profiles remain present without creating accounts, sending access or mixing different family spaces.
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09
Use search and relationship paths
Choose a root, search for a person, display the path between two relatives and adjust the visible levels. Zooming, panning and recentring help you explore without losing the starting household.
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10
Correct and review profiles
Everyone corrects the information they can edit; those responsible use administration for other profiles and relationships. After an Excel import, also review the quality report before inviting more members.
What this method does not promise
Cœur de Famille organises information supplied by the family
- No searches in public archives.
- No automatic matching between trees.
- GEDCOM import with preview and match resolution, alongside the Excel `.xlsx` file. GEDCOM export is available to reuse your tree in genealogy software.
- GEDCOM notes, sources and media are not transferred. Unsupported dates are flagged; missing fields do not delete existing values.