Family Search Integration Part 2: Syncing with FamilySearch

When you import your tree from FamilySearch, everything will automatically be in sync. But things will get out of sync as you continue to do research and other FamilySearch members continue to change the shared FamilySearch tree. You’ll want to bring new sources, data, and memories into your AncestTREES tree and you’ll want to add your new discoveries to FamilySearch. Here’s how:sync

Check the FamilySearch sync status

The FamilySearch status is shown in the toolbar under the header of a person page. In this example, this person hasn't been synced with FamilySearch.

	Not matched  This person has not been matched with FamilySearch  Click to match them with someone in the FamilySearch trees
	Matched; no changes  This person’s AncesTREES information is identical to the person you matched them with in the FamilySearch trees
	Matched; review changes  There’s something different between the AncesTREES information and the person you matched them with in the FamilySearch trees.  Click to compare the two versions side by side.

Step 1: Match your AncesTREES person to a profile in the FamilySearch trees

If the person you’re looking at hasn’t been matched with FamilySearch, you’ll see a broken link icon. 

Click the icon, then click “Match to FamilySearch” to begin the matching process.

A box will appear suggesting possible matches. Review the suggestions to see if any of them are a match to your AncesTREES person. This is a summary of the potential matches in FamilySearch. (You’ll see only a few details in this list, but don’t worry. Once you select someone you’ll have an opportunity to review the information in greater detail before the match is synced.)

If you see someone that looks like a match, click the selection circle (called a “radio button”) next to their name to see more details. The FamilySearch details will appear side by side with your AncesTREES information. (This is where you make sure it’s the right person now that you can see additional details.)

If this additional information confirms that you want to sync your AncesTREES person to this FamilySearch profile, click “SELECT MATCH.”

If none of the FamilySearch profiles match your AncesTREES person, click “NONE MATCH (ADD)” and you’ll be able to create a new person in the FamilySearch trees with your AncesTREES information.

Once the person is matched with FamilySearch, you’ll either see a checkmark, which indicates everything is exactly the same, or you’ll see two arrows facing away from each other, which means there’s a difference and you should review the two profiles to see what’s different.

Step 2: Compare information

When changes are made to either your AncesTREES person or the FamilySearch profile you’ve matched them with, you’ll see an icon with two arrows facing away from each other. This means you should compare the two and see what’s different. Click the icon to compare the differences between your AncesTREES person and the FamilySearch profile. You’ll see your AncesTREES person’s information on the left side by side with FamilySearch information on the right.

If you have information regarding an event, for example a birth or a death, in both places, you can copy the information into your AncesTREES tree from FamilySearch by clicking the arrows pointing both directions then clicking “Add fact to AncesTREES.”

If the new information is shown in the person’s header area (birth or death information) you’ll be asked whether you want to update the profile. If you want to replace the existing header information select “Yes, Update profile.” If you want to leave the header information the same as you already have it, select “No, Add Alternate” and the new information will be nested under the other possible facts should you want to change it later.

Step 3: Stay in Sync

AncesTREES makes it easy to keep your tree in sync with FamilySearch. You can simply copy information back and forth between your AncesTREES person and the corresponding FamilySearch profile. This way you maintain control of your family tree, but also integrate with FamilySearch trees.

Contribute information to FamilySearch

If you have information in your AncesTREES tree that isn’t at FamilySearch, you can contribute it to FamilySearh by clicking the right arrow (pointing towards the FamilySearch information) and then giving a reason as to why you are adding the information. 

Update the same event between AncesTREES and FamilySearch

Sometimes you'll have slightly different information for the same event in your AncesTREES tree and you want to update either AncesTREES or FamilySearch. In this case, you'll see two arrows facing back and forth between AncesTREES on the left and FamilySearch on the right. Click to update your AncesTREES information or contribute to FamilySearch, as you choose.

Depending on which kind of FamilySearch information it is (a fact or a source: see  Types of FamilySearch Information to read more about FamilySearch data types) you’ll either copy it directly by clicking “Add evidence to AncesTREES” or “Add Using AncesTREES Web Clipper.”

If you click “Add evidence to AncesTREES,” the source will be copied to your AncesTREES tree. Since there’s no event detail to copy in the source (because no event information is stored in source citations) you’ll just be adding a general source citation.

However, when you add using the AncesTREES Web Clipper, you’ll be able to add event information into the timeline. When you click “Add Using AncesTREES Web Clipper,” the FamilySearch link will open in a new tab. Use the AncesTREES Web Clipper browser extension for Chrome to easily add all the related event information, including the source citation, to your tree. In this way you’re copying the FamilySearch source but also gathering the event details.

Add new information to AncesTREES from FamilySearch

If you see something at FamilySearch you would like to bring into your AncesTREES tree, and it's new (you don't have that information in AncesTREES already) click the left arrow (pointing towards your AncesTREES information).