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Frequently Asked Questions
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This list provides a resource of answers to
commonly (and some uncommonly) asked questions regarding the GenCircles web site.
ACCOUNTS:
How do I update my email address?
How do I update my name?
How do I change my username?
How do I change my password?
Can I use the same email address for 2 accounts?
Can you merge 2 accounts for me?
For Log-In related questions please refer to the Login FAQ section.
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GENERAL:
What is GenCircles?
How do I register with the GenCircles web site?
How can I contribute to the GenCircles web site?
How do I contact other users of the GenCircles web site?
Do you have a message system?
I sent an email to another GenCircles user, and it was returned. Do you have an updated email address listing for them?
What genealogy software title do you recommend?
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FILES:
What is a GEDCOM file?
How do I create a GEDCOM file?
How do I publish my GEDCOM file?
Can I upload more than 1 GEDCOM file to my GenCircles account?
Can I upload more than one GEDCOM file at a time?
Can I upload a ZIP file with a GEDCOM file inside of it?
Where can I and others view my published file?
How do you I make changes to or update my published file?
How do you I remove a published file?
How do I edit the preferences for my published file?
How do I edit the title of my published file?
How do I hide or display sources and/or notes for my published file?
How do I enable or edit the privacy features for my published file?
My published file displays a message the it is "in the queue to be processed". What does that mean?
Errors are appearing in my published file. How do I correct this?
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DATA:
How do I download other user's data and/or files?
How do I correct data in another user's published file?
How do I submit my family history information to GenCircles?
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LOGIN:
I forgot my password. Can you email it to me?
I forgot my username. Can you email it to me?
I've requested that my password be sent to my email address, and it hasn't shown up yet. Where is it?
I'm having difficulty logging-on to the web site. What is the problem?
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PRIVACY:
What privacy options do you have available for published files?
How do I enable or edit the privacy features for my published file?
How is GenCircles able to identify a living individual in my file?
I have privacy features enabled for my file, but the name of living people are still being displayed. How do I correct this?
Another user has published private information regarding my family. How do I remove this information from the GenCircles web site?
GLOBAL TREE:
What is the GenCircles GlobalTree?
How do I search the GlobalTree?
How do I submit my file to the GlobalTree?
When will my file be added to the GlobalTree search engine?
I submitted my file over 24 hrs ago and it has not yet been processed for inclusion in the GlobalTree search results. What is the delay?
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SMARTMATCHING:
What is SmartMatching?
How do I submit my file for SmartMatching?
How do I sort my SmartMatches?
Errors appear in my SmartMatching list. Can I remove them?
No SmartMatches appear in my file. How do I get them?
I submitted my file over 24 hrs ago and it has not yet been processed for SmartMatching. What is the delay?
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CLUBS:
What are GenCircles Clubs?
I submitted a request to add a new club. Why hasn't it been added?
I receive an error message when I attempt to post a message to a club. Why can't I post a message?
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ACCOUNTS:
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GENERAL:
• What is GenCircles?
GenCircles, the community-based genealogy site that is entirely free to use. You can search for information, and post your family tree files on our web site free of charge.
The Global Tree is our searchable database of genealogical data, and is built from user submitted data files. To contribute to the Global Tree, you will need a GEDCOM file with your genealogical information. A "GEDCOM" file is generated by a family tree software program. Most major family tree software packages, allow you to export your file to the GEDCOM format.
In addition, GenCircles offers SmartMatching technology to assist you in the research of your ancestors. When you upload a file to GenCircles, we compare your genealogy data against all of the other users who have uploaded their data. Our system will then calculate and display matched ancestors from other genealogist's files. SmartMatching enables you to immediately find additional genealogical information that is missing from your file. This technology is only available at GenCircles and is amazingly fast and accurate.
• How do I register with the GenCircles web site?
You can sign up for GenCircles at:
http://www.gencircles.com/register/
• How can I contribute to the GenCircles web site?
To contribute to GenCircles, you will need to create a GEDCOM file with a genealogy software program. Unfortunately, we do not offer an on-line data entry or editing system.
For more information on creating a GEDCOM file please see:
http://www.gencircles.com/globaltree/instructions.
After you have created a GEDCOM file, you can upload to our web site here:
http://www.gencircles.com/globaltree/upload/
• How do I contact other users of the GenCircles web site?
In order to contact other users who have published a file on the GenCircles web site, you will need to email them directly. While viewing their file, click on the submitter's name (located at the very top of the page that contains their published data) & view their email address.
• Do you have a message system?
GenCircles does not have an operational message system at this time.
Please contact other users by viewing their email address and sending them an email message directly.
• I sent an email to another GenCircles user, and it was returned. Do you have an updated email address listing for them?
Not all of users remember to keep their email address information current with us. Unfortunately, there really isn't much we can do to rectify this issue.
• What genealogy software title do you recommend?
We can recommend Family Tree Legends; a Windows application designed to help you organize, research, and record information about your family ancestry. This application collects all of the information into a central database allowing you to develop charts, reports, and lists based on multiple criteria. Family Tree Legends is also integrated with the Internet. It has many Internet features that can provide you additional information on individuals in your family history, help you publish your genealogy file, and even automatically back-up your file to a secure online location. In addition, it easily exports your file to the standard GEDCOM format to share with other genealogists.
Family Tree Legends is designed to make it easy for you to collect, display, and organize information about your family history. Whether it's medical facts, addresses, aliases, or even pictures, audio files, and multimedia, Family Tree Legends provides you with a single tool to capture every bit of information about the history of your family.
You can learn more about this innovative product here:
http://www.familytreelegends.com
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FILES:
• What is a GEDCOM file?
A "GEDCOM" is a file generated by a family tree program that allows genealogists, historians, and other researchers to share genealogical information. GEDCOM is an acronym for "GE"nealogical "D"ata "COM"munication. GEDCOM was developed by the Family History Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) to provide a flexible, uniform format for exchanging computerized genealogical data. Most family tree software packages, allow you to import and export using the GEDCOM format.
• How Do I create GEDCOM file?
For more information on creating a GEDCOM file please see:
http://www.gencircles.com/globaltree/instructions
• How do I publish my GEDCOM file?
First, you will need to locate the GEDCOM file that you would like to publish on your hard drive. When you feel confident you know where you file is, you should return to the upload page found here:
http://www.gencircles.com/globaltree/upload
Then select the "Browse..." button and find your file by navigating the folders on your computer. Once you find your file, you can need to select it and click OK. Then click the Upload button to begin the uploading process. Please be patient during the upload process. Depending on the size of your GEDCOM file, this process can take anywhere from a minute to several hours. Your upload can also fail during the upload. You will know your upload has failed if you are brought to an error page.
Family Tree Legends makes uploading, and updating your file at GenCircles fast and easy! It will help you to quickly publish your file to the GenCircles web site, and will automatically keep it up-to-date. To learn more about this innovate genealogy software package please visit:
http://www.familytreelegends.com
• Can I upload more than 1 GEDCOM file to my GenCircles account?
Sure, you can upload as many GEDCOM files as you'd like using the same username and password. Our system automatically assigns a number to each one of your files.
• Can I upload more than 1 GEDCOM file at a time?
Yes. You can send as many GEDCOM files as you want, all at the same time.
• Can I upload a ZIP file with a GEDCOM file inside of it?
Yes, but there must be only 1 GEDCOM inside of your ZIP file for the web site to process it correctly.
• Where can I and others view my published file?
To manage your published file go here:
http://www.gencircles.com/my/
Visitors can view your published file by going here:
http://www.gencircles.com/users/*INSERT_YOUR_USERNAME_HERE*
• How do you I make changes to or update my published file?
To make changes to your GEDCOM file, you need a genealogy program, and then re-upload it to the GenCircles web site. Unfortunately, we do not offer an on-line data entry system.
You can update your file here:
Family Tree Legends is one such program and the only one that will allow you to keep your file up-to-date on GenCircles in real-time. If you aren't using Family Tree Legends, you will need to re-export your entire GEDCOM every time you make a change. You can learn more about Family Tree Legends here:
http://www.familytreelegends.com
• How do you I remove a published file?
To remove an outdated file, please go to your "My GenCircles" home page:
http://www.gencircles.com/my
You may need to login with your username and password. Once there, select "Remove" next to the file you'd like to delete.
• How do I edit the preferences for my published file?
To change your file's preferences (including Title, Description, and other settings), please go to your 'My GenCircles' web page:
http://www.gencircles.com/my
You may need to login with your username and password. Once there, select "Preferences" next to the file you'd like to modify.
• How do I edit the title of my published file?
To change your file's title please go to your 'My GenCircles' web page:
http://www.gencircles.com/my
You may need to login with your username and password. Once there, select "Preferences" next to the file you'd like to modify.
Next, type the appropriate file title into the "Title" field, and then click the "Save Changes" button to apply the changes to your file.
• How do I hide or display sources and/or notes for my published file?
To suppress the display of your notes, and sources in your GEDCOM file you will need to edit your file's preferences. To do this, please go to My GenCircles:
http://www.gencircles.com/my
You may need to login with your username and password. Once there, select "Preferences" next to the file you'd like to modify. To specifically limit the listing of sources and notes, scroll down to "Hide all Notes on all individuals" & "Hide all Sources on all individuals", and choose the appropriate setting.
If you want to only hide one specific note or source you will need to make those changes in your genealogy software. Unfortunately, we do not have an online data editing system. Again, we apologize for this inconvenience.
• How do I enable or edit the privacy features for my published file?
To change your file's preferences (including Privatization, Title, Description, and other settings), please go to My GenCircles:
http://www.gencircles.com/my
You may need to login with your username and password. Once there, select "Preferences" next to the file you'd like to modify. To specifically limit the listing of living persons scroll down to "Privatization Level", and choose the appropriate setting.
My published file displays a message the it is "in the queue to be processed". What does that mean?
The message "File is in the queue to be processed", simply means that the server is currently processing another file, and will process your file as soon as possible.
• Errors are appearing in my published file. How do I correct this?
For the sake of experiment, please try uploading a copy of your file as a NEW file (Do NOT click "Update"). When uploading, make sure to ignore any prompts or warnings from the system that refer to updating your existing file. The newly uploaded copy of the file, should display the correct data.
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DATA:
• How do I download other user's data and/or files?
If another user has chosen in their file preferences to share their data with other researchers, you have the option to download small fragments of their GEDCOM file. You can never download a complete GEDCOM file (for reasons relating to privacy).
When you are viewing a given individual within another user's file, if the "Extract GEDCOM" option appears on the left-hand side of the screen, you can download their data. Click the "Extract GEDCOM" link and you will be provided with directions for extracting and downloading their data.
You always have the option of contacting the owner of a file that is published on the GenCircles web site. In order to do so, you will need to email them directly. While viewing their file, click on the submitter's name (located at the very top of the page that contains their published data) & view their email address.
• How do I correct data in another user's published file?
You can email the submitter (file owner) directly in order to suggest corrections or additions to their published data. You can do so by clicking on the submitter's name (located at the top of page that contains their data) & viewing their email address.
• How do I submit my information to GenCircles?
To contribute to the Global Tree, you will need to create a GEDCOM file with a genealogy software program. Unfortunately, we do not offer an on-line data entry or editing system.
For more information on creating a GEDCOM file please see:
http://www.gencircles.com/globaltree/instructions.
After you have created a GEDCOM file, you can upload to our web site here:
http://www.gencircles.com/globaltree/upload/
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LOGIN:
• I forgot my password. Can you email it to me?
Yes. Please use the page link below to have your GenCircles account password emailed to you:
http://www.gencircles.com/login/reminder/
• I forgot my username. Can you email it to me?
Yes. Please use the page link below to have your GenCircles account username emailed to you:
http://www.gencircles.com/login/reminder/
• I've requested that my password be sent to my email address, and it hasn't shown up yet. Where is it?
Please make sure that your email software, or spam software is not blocking our email address (especially MSN, Hotmail, Yahoo!, AOL, and EarthLink customers). To prevent this from happening in the future, please add the following email addresses to your email software's Address Book: "support.com" and "support.com". We can assure that we do not send any type of junk mail or advertisements, or distribute your email address to other entities.
After adding our addresses to your address book, you should no longer experience this issue.
• I'm having difficulty logging-on to the web site. What is the problem?
It is important to note, all GenCircles usernames and passwords are case-sensitive. This means that you must enter the username and password exactly as they were originally entered during your registration including any capitalization of specific letters. Make sure that "Caps Lock" is NOT activated on your keyboard, unless your password is comprised of all capitalized letters.
If your log-in was successful, you should be presented with a page that is headed "You have successfully logged in as ...". If after you have logged in, you are repeatedly being taken back to the "Registration Required", or the the blank login page, try clicking the "Refresh" or "Reload" button on your web browser.
It is also important to note that "cookies" must be enabled (allowed) in your web site browser for the domain "http://www.gencircles.com" in order for your login to be successful.
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PRIVACY:
• What privacy options do you have available for published files?
"Privatization Levels" for your GEDCOM are chosen when a file is uploaded to our web site. This includes the ability to limit the information available on living individuals. There is no need to manually edit all information on living individuals out before uploading.
1- "Standard Privatization" level lists only the name and sex of living individuals. All other information on living individuals is hidden from the view of anyone but the owner of the file.
2- "First Name Privatization" is the same as Standard, except that the first name of every living individual will be changed to the word "Living". John Smith would change to Living Smith.
3- "Full Privatization" removes all traces of living individuals. This includes name and sex, as well as ANY data whatsoever on living individuals.
4- "No Privatization" displays all information on both living and dead individuals.
Please note: An individual must contain a birth date in the original GEDCOM file to be considered "living" and have privatization options applied.
• How do I enable or edit the privacy features for my published file?
To change your file's preferences (including Privatization, Title, Description, and other settings), please go to your My GenCircles page:
http://www.gencircles.com/my/
You may need to login with your username and password. Once there, select "Preferences" next to the file you'd like to modify. To specifically limit the listing of living persons scroll down to "Privatization Level", and choose the appropriate setting.
• How is GenCircles able to identify a living individual in my file?
GenCircles uses every known method for identifying whether an individual is considered living. All individuals born after the year 1900 with no death date are considered living. All children of any living individual are automatically considered living. There are also a number of other flags our system will pick up on, including the words "private" or "living" in the birth or death date.
• I have privacy features enabled for my file, but the name(s) of living people are still being displayed. How do I correct this?
In order for the privacy features of the GenCircles web site to work correctly, a living individual in your file must contain a birth date after 1900, and no death date, to be recognized by the system. If the individual does not contain a birth date, it is difficult for the GenCircles web site to identify them as living and will most likely not be able to apply the correct privacy settings.
• Another user has published private information regarding my family. How do I remove this information from the GenCircles web site?
If you haven't done so already, you will need to email the submitter (file owner) directly in order to suggest the removal, or corrections to their published data. You can do so by clicking on the submitter's name (located at the very top of the page you that contains their data) & viewing their email address.
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GLOBAL TREE:
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SMARTMATCHING:
• What is SmartMatching?
GenCircles offers SmartMatching technology to assist you in the research of your ancestors. When you upload a file to GenCircles, we compare your genealogy data against all of the other users who have uploaded their data. Our system will then calculate and display matched ancestors from other genealogist's files. SmartMatching enables you to immediately find additional genealogical information that is missing from your file. This technology is only available at GenCircles and is amazingly fast and accurate.
For more information, please see:
http://www.gencircles.com/smartmatching/
• How do I submit my file for SmartMatching?
All files that are published on the GenCircles web site are submitted for SmartMatching automatically. You can upload a file to the GenCircles web site here:
http://www.gencircles.com/globaltree/upload/
• How do I sort my SmartMatches?
SmartMatches cannot be sorted on the GenCircles web site. We sincerely apologize for this inconvenience.
The Windows-based software, Family Tree Legends, will allow you to sort your GenCircles SmartMatches by surname, individual, newest matches, or all matches. In addition, this innovative genealogy program allows you to import and merge SmartMatch information directly into your existing family file w/ no manual data input or copying & pasting. Family Tree Legends, automatically marks and labels your matches as: "Shared", "Not Shared", "Merged", "Not Merged", "Merged w/ New Information", "Incorrect Match", etc. To learn more about Family Tree Legends please visit:
http://www.familytreelegends.com
• Errors appear in my SmartMatching list. Can I remove them?
The SmartMatch system is an extremely sophisticated search application. However, there are still many features that we are in the process of developing, and debugging. This is not a perfect system, and does occasionally produce errors. Again, we apologize for any inconveniences this has caused, and want to assure you that we are working to correct these issues. At this time there is no way to correct specific match errors related to individuals in our database.
• No SmartMatches appear in my file. How do I get them?
The number of SmartMatches you receive can be dependent upon the number of deceased individuals in your file that contain birth & death dates, and links to other ancestors. Users who do not include this information, commonly have a limited number of matches, or in some instances no matches. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to calculate a authentic match without using dates and relationships to verify the individual is the same.
In other cases, there is simply not another GenCircles user who's file contains matching information. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee results for everyone's family. Most likely, you will begin to receive SmartMatches as you enter more information on your family. Including birth dates and/or death dates greatly improves your chances of receiving matches.
Also, it is important to note, that SmartMatching can occasionally produce errors, or miss individuals. Our web site development team is continually working to improve the accuracy of this matching system.
• I submitted my file over 24 hrs ago and it has not yet been processed for SmartMatching. What is causing the delay?
When a large number of users update their files, our server takes longer to process your SmartMatches. Your matches will be calculated in the order in which they were received. Thank you for your patience in regards to this matter.
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CLUBS:
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