Kerinor Family Tree Builder Instructions
Build your family tree as a connected railway network, one Family Station at a time.
Contents
1. Welcome
Welcome to the Kerinor Family Station Builder.
Kerinor is a different way of recording family history. Instead of using traditional boxes and lines, Kerinor organises families into Family Stations that connect together to form a family railway network.
You can begin with any known family and expand your network one Family Station at a time.
2. GEDCOM, KFT and Uploading Files
You can begin by creating a new family tree or by uploading an existing file.
What is a GEDCOM file?
GEDCOM is a standard family tree file used by many genealogy programs. If you already have a family tree in another program, you can usually export it as a GEDCOM file and upload it into Kerinor.
When a GEDCOM file is imported, Kerinor converts the family information into connected Family Stations.
What is a KFT file?
KFT means Kerinor Family Tree. It is Kerinor's own family tree file format.
A KFT file stores your Family Stations, people, relationships, station connections, routing information and unique KFT Identifier.
Uploading a file
- Upload a GEDCOM file if you are importing from another genealogy program.
- Upload a KFT file if you are continuing an existing Kerinor Family Tree.
- Create a new tree if you are starting from the beginning.
3. Privacy and the Magnifying Glass Toggle
Every new family tree is private by default.
Use the magnifying glass button to control whether your family tree can be found in public search.
Magnifying Glass Toggle
Controls whether the family tree is private or searchable.
Magnifying glass enabled
Your family tree can be discovered by anyone using Search All Family Trees or by searching for its unique KFT Identifier.
Search is always view-only. People who find your tree through search cannot edit it.
Magnifying glass disabled
Your family tree remains private and cannot be found through Family Tree Search.
4. Building Your First Family Station
Select Build Family Station.
Each Family Station represents one family unit.
Parent Platform A and Parent Platform B
Enter the information you know for each parent.
- Name
- Maiden name
- Living, deceased or unknown
- Date of birth
- Date of death
- Place of birth
- Memorial link
Children / Family Connections
Add one or more children who belong to the two parent platforms.
A Family Station must contain at least one child before it can be saved.
Unknown parents
If one parent is unknown, leave the placeholder shown as XXXXX. You can replace it later when the correct information becomes available.
Saving
Press Save when the station is complete. Kerinor automatically connects the station to the rest of your family network.
5. Creating Connected Family Stations
After creating a station, use the station buttons to continue building your family network.
When you create a connected station, Kerinor automatically fills in the selected person's name in the correct place on the new station.
Create connected station where parent is child
Use this on a parent when that parent should appear as a child in the new connected station.
Create connected station where parent is parent
Use this on a parent when that parent should remain a parent platform in the new connected station.
Create connected station where child is parent
Use this on a child when that child should become a parent platform in the new connected station.
Create connected station where parent is child
This creates a new Family Station and automatically places the selected parent's name as a child in that new station.
Use this when you want to continue building the family through that parent's parents.
Create connected station where parent is parent
This creates a new Family Station and automatically places the selected parent's name as a parent platform in that new station.
Use this when the same parent needs another connected family station.
Create connected station where child is parent
This creates a new Family Station and automatically places the selected child's name as a parent platform in that new station.
Use this when you want to continue building through that child's family.
6. Editing Family Stations
Every Family Station can be edited.
Open the station, make your changes and press Save.
Information can be updated whenever new records become available.
8. KFT File Safety
Only supply your KFT file to people you know and trust.
Once you supply your KFT file to another custodian, you are choosing to collaborate on the same shared family tree.
Kerinor cannot determine which historical information is correct. Accuracy remains the responsibility of the custodians.
Regular backups of your KFT file are strongly recommended. A backup protects you against accidental mistakes, disputes or malicious changes.
9. Exporting and Backups
You can export your family tree as a KFT file at any time.
Exporting is recommended for:
- Regular backups
- Moving your family tree to another computer
- Supplying your KFT file to another trusted custodian
10. Building Tips
- Start with yourself or a known family.
- Build one Family Station at a time.
- Save regularly.
- Replace unknown parents as new information becomes available.
- Verify information before saving.
- Export regular KFT backups.
- Only supply your KFT file to people you trust.