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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.

Unlike traditional genealogy software, Kerinor is built around Family Stations rather than a single branching tree. Every Family Station represents one family unit.

Each Family Station connects to other Family Stations to form your wider family network.

2. Starting Your Family Tree

To begin, either import an existing GEDCOM file or editable Kerinor KFT file, or create a new family tree by adding your first Family Station. Read-only KFTV files are opened in the Kerinor Family Tree Viewer and cannot be imported into the Family Tree Builder.

Before saving your tree, give it a clear family tree name. This name is used in searches if you choose to make the tree public.

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.

What is a KFT file?

KFT means Kerinor Family Tree. It is Kerinor's editable native family tree format and preserves Kerinor features such as Family Stations, memorial links and KFT-specific information.

A KFT file can be imported into the Family Tree Builder and should only be shared with trusted Custodians who are authorised to maintain and edit the live family tree.

What is a KFTV file?

KFTV means Kerinor Family Tree Viewer. It is Kerinor's read-only family tree format and uses the .kftv file extension.

A KFTV file preserves the Kerinor family tree for viewing, but it cannot be opened in the Family Tree Builder, edited or used to replace the live family tree.

Use KFTV when you want to share your family tree with someone who only needs to view it and should not have Custodian editing access.

3. Public or Private Tree

Magnifying glass public private toggle Magnifying Glass Toggle

Controls whether the family tree is public or private.

Use the magnifying glass icon toggle to choose whether your tree is Public or Private.

A Public tree appears in Search in the Kerinor Eye, allowing other users to find it by its family tree name.

A Private tree is not included in Search in the Kerinor Eye and remains visible only to you.

Public search is view-only. People who find your tree through search cannot edit it.

4. Creating Your First Family Station

A Family Station consists of two parent platforms at the top and bottom, with one or more children displayed between them.

All information for a Family Station is entered on a single form, making it quick and easy to build your family tree.

Parent Platform A
One or More Children
Parent Platform B

Required information

Only an individual's name is required, allowing you to build your family tree immediately.

Main form

On the main form, you select the individual's sex (Unknown, Male or Female), status (Unknown, Living or Deceased), enter the date of birth and date of death, and, if available, add a link to the individual's Kerinor memorial.

Additional Information

If you wish to record more information, expand the Additional Information section. Here you can enter the individual's place of birth, place of death, occupation, education, nationality, religion, and any additional information you wish to record.

Saving

Press Save when the station is complete. Remember to save your family tree regularly, particularly after adding or editing Family Stations.

5. Single Parents and XXXXX Placeholders

If only one parent is known, create the Family Station with the known parent. Kerinor automatically creates an XXXXX placeholder for the unknown parent.

The XXXXX placeholder allows the family structure to remain complete while you continue building your tree.

When more information becomes available, edit the Family Station and replace the XXXXX placeholder with the correct individual.

6. Expanding Your Family Tree

Once you save your first Family Station, it becomes part of your family tree. Building your tree is simply a matter of adding additional connected Family Stations.

Select Edit Station to open the Family Station form and update existing information whenever required.

Round icon Round Icon

Opens a new Family Station form with the selected parent automatically populated as a child.

Square icon Square Icon

Opens a new Family Station form with the selected person automatically populated on a parent platform.

Parent platform icons

Next to each parent platform are two icons: the round icon and the square icon.

  • Round icon – Opens a new Family Station form with the selected parent automatically populated as a child. From here, you can add that individual's parents and siblings.
  • Square icon – Opens a new Family Station form with the selected parent automatically populated on a parent platform. From here, you can add a partner and children.

Child icon

Next to each child is a single square icon.

Selecting this icon opens a new Family Station form with the selected child automatically populated on a parent platform. From here, you can add that individual's partner and children.

Repeat the process

Repeat this process to continue expanding your family tree. Each new Family Station becomes immediately visible within your family tree, making it easy to build generation after generation.

Remember to save your family tree regularly to preserve your changes.

7. Memorial Links

If a Kerinor memorial has already been created for an individual, you can add the memorial link from the main Family Station form.

Once linked, the memorial becomes available throughout Kerinor's native KFT features.

Only add a memorial link if the memorial has already been created.

8. Sharing Your Family Tree

Kerinor provides two native file types for sharing a family tree: editable KFT and read-only KFTV.

Sharing an editable KFT file with Custodians

Export your family tree as a native KFT file only when another trusted person will help maintain and update the family tree.

A Custodian is someone you trust to edit the live family tree. Once another Custodian imports the KFT file, they have access to the same live family tree. All Custodians are equal, and edits made by any Custodian update the live family tree across all Custodians using that KFT file.

For this reason, Custodian access should only be given to trusted people who are responsible for maintaining the accuracy of the family tree.

Sharing a read-only KFTV file

Export your family tree as a KFTV file when the recipient only needs to view it.

A KFTV file opens in the Kerinor Family Tree Viewer. It cannot be imported into the Family Tree Builder, edited or used to update the live family tree.

KFTV is the appropriate format for relatives, friends, researchers or other viewers who do not require Custodian access.

Important points to be aware of

  • Share KFT only with trusted Custodians.
  • All Custodians have equal editing ability.
  • Edits are live across all Custodians using the same KFT family tree.
  • Mistakes made by one Custodian can affect the shared family tree.
  • Use KFTV when the recipient only needs read-only access.
  • A KFTV file cannot modify or replace the live family tree.

9. KFT and KFTV File Safety

KFT safety

Only supply an editable 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.

Important: Once you export a native KFT file to add a new Custodian, do not make any further edits until the new Custodian has imported that KFT file.

Importing a KFT file from any Custodian replaces the existing live family tree with the contents of the imported file. If edits are made after the KFT file has been exported, those later edits will not be present in the exported KFT file.

When that older KFT file is imported by another Custodian, it will overwrite the current family tree and any changes made since the file was exported will be lost.

Kerinor cannot determine which historical information is correct. Accuracy remains the responsibility of the Custodians.

Regular backups of your editable KFT file are strongly recommended. A backup protects you against accidental mistakes, disputes or malicious changes.

KFTV safety

A KFTV file is read-only. It cannot be opened in the Family Tree Builder, edited or used to replace the live family tree.

Use KFTV instead of KFT whenever the recipient only needs to view the family tree.

Although KFTV prevents editing, it still contains family tree information. Only share it with people who should be allowed to view that information.

10. KFT, KFTV, GEDCOM and Backups

Kerinor provides three export formats. Choose the format according to whether the recipient needs to edit, view or use the tree in other genealogy software.

Exporting an editable KFT file

KFT is Kerinor's editable native family tree format. It preserves all Kerinor features, including Family Stations, memorial links and other KFT-specific information.

You can export your family tree as a KFT file at any time.

Exporting a KFT file is recommended for:

  • Regular editable backups
  • Moving your family tree to another computer
  • Supplying the family tree to another trusted Custodian
Do not share an editable KFT file with someone who should only view the family tree.

Exporting a read-only KFTV file

KFTV is Kerinor's read-only family tree format. It preserves the family tree for viewing in the Kerinor Family Tree Viewer.

A KFTV file cannot be imported into the Family Tree Builder, edited or used to update the live family tree.

Exporting a KFTV file is recommended for:

  • Sharing the family tree with relatives and friends
  • Providing read-only access to researchers or other viewers
  • Distributing a viewable copy without granting Custodian access

Exporting a GEDCOM file

If you wish to use your family tree with other genealogy software, you can export it as a standard GEDCOM file. This allows your family tree to be imported into most genealogy applications.

However, because GEDCOM does not support Kerinor's native Family Station architecture, memorial links or other KFT-specific features, these features are not included in the exported GEDCOM.

Which format should I use?

  • KFT – Editable backup or trusted Custodian access.
  • KFTV – Read-only viewing and safer distribution.
  • GEDCOM – Transfer to other genealogy software.

11. Building Tips

  • Start with yourself or a known family.
  • Build one Family Station at a time.
  • Save after adding or editing each Family Station.
  • Use XXXXX placeholders when one parent is not yet known.
  • Replace XXXXX placeholders as new information becomes available.
  • Only add memorial links after a Kerinor memorial has been created.
  • Verify information before saving.
  • Export regular editable KFT backups.
  • Only supply an editable KFT file to trusted Custodians.
  • Share a KFTV file when the recipient only needs to view the family tree.