leafplanner Family Tree Builder Overview

Accessing the Family Tree Builder

You can open the Family Tree Builder from two places within your account:

• From the Dashboard: Select Create Family Tree to begin. Once a tree has been created, this button will change to View Family Tree.

• From the First Things First section: Use the family tree icon in the top-right corner to create or return to your tree.

These access points make it easy to move between your leafplan and your family structure at any time.

Viewing Your Family Tree

Once your tree is created, the canvas offers intuitive controls for exploring family relationships:

• Relationship Indicators:
  Small icons that appear above or below a family member’s card show whether that person has parents or children within the tree. These give you a quick snapshot of where branches extend.

• Focus View:
  Clicking any family member highlights their immediate connections—parents, spouse(s), and children—while temporarily dimming the surrounding branches. This keeps navigation simple, even for large or complex families.

• Re-Centering the Tree:
  At any time, you can return the tree to its default centered position by selecting the re-center icon located at the top-right corner of the canvas.

• Zoom Controls:
  Use the zoom tools to move in for detail or out for a broader view, ensuring you can comfortably navigate extended family structures.

These features help you move smoothly through generations and keep the family narrative easy to follow.

Getting Started

When you first enter the tool, you’ll see one example family member on the canvas. This is the starting point for building your own tree.

1. Create Your Family Tree

Click Create Family Tree on the dashboard. You’ll be taken directly into the builder.

2. Edit the First Family Member

Select the placeholder profile to begin entering your family’s information.

• Required fields: First name and last name

• Optional fields: Add as much or as little detail as you’d like (e.g., birth date, death date)

Click Save when you’re done.

Building Out Your Family Network

After your first family member is saved, you can add others by selecting any existing person in the tree. Each profile card offers relationship-based actions:

• Add Parents

  • Mother

  • Father

• Add Spouse

• Add Children

  • Son

  • Daughter

Each time you add someone new, complete their details and save. Cards will display the person’s full name along with birth and death dates when provided.

You may build the tree as broadly or as minimally as needed—across multiple generations, blended families, or extended branches.

Editing Your Family Tree

At any time, you can update or modify family information:

• From the Dashboard: Click View Family Tree

• From First Things First: Use the family tree icon

• Select any family member to edit their details or adjust relationships

• Click Save to apply your updates

Your tree will update automatically as you refine or expand it.

Coming Soon

We’re actively enhancing the Family Tree Builder. In the near future, you’ll see:

• Family member images on each card

• Integration with Sphere of Responsibility, allowing you to:

  • Pull existing individuals from Sphere of Responsibility into your tree

  • Add individuals from the tree directly into Sphere of Responsibility as you build your leafplan

If you have questions or feedback about the Family Tree Builder, our team is here to help.