Glossary of Terms

This Glossary of Terms is provided to help you become familiar with all of the genealogical, Internet, and new terms presented on this site.

Terms

Ancestor Interest
Allows you to check a box that indicates you are interested in receiving any up-dated information on a particular ancestor.

Anchor
An anchor is the individual that any particular genealogy pedigree begins with.  Genealogy extends backward from the "anchor" to their parents, grandparents, great grandparents and so forth.  As a reference point, anchors are particularly useful to break down large genealogies into smaller, more manageable parts.  For example an individual may want to have one anchor for his fathers line and another for his mothers line.

Auto Email
Allows you to stay current by receiving an email each time an up-date is made to an individual in your pedigree by someone else in your family group.

Children View^TM
A view of the number of siblings of a specific ancestor, in order from oldest to youngest child.

Collaboration
Allows you to see when information on any individual in your pedigree is up-dated.

Color Coding
Like a "stop sign", red squares indicate the end of line to show you, at a glance, where to begin to extend your lines.   Blue squares indicate common ancestors

Common Ancestors
Common Ancestors are indicated by individuals (stars) that are colored blue.  Common Ancestors are individuals who show up multiple times in your genealogy because they are connected to you in more than one genealogical line.  In other words, their descendants married each other!  We all have them in our genealogies.  If you mouse over a Common Ancestor, a blue line will appear connecting you to the other place in your genealogy where the same person exists.  You will also find a button of a blue tinted line in the toolbar of Genealogy Browser^TM.  By clicking on this button, all of the lines between your common ancestors will appear in your Starfield^TM.

Computer User Settings
Allows you to adjust the view and size of the information in the Starfield by adjusting the "Zoom", "Info" and "Font" slider bars located over the top of the Starfield.  Most programs let you see just a small portion of your genealogy at once.  With your Genealogy Browser^TM, you can zoom in and out to view different areas and the amount of desired information.

Beginner
When the "User Preferences" are set to "Beginner" computer expertise level, only an Info Slider Bar appears above the Starfield.  The Info Slider Bar allows you to increase or decrease the amount of information that is viewed within each box. It is the default bar, viewable on all levels of computer expertise.  The bar will automatically act as a zoom bar, increasing the size of the boxes as more information becomes viewable.

Intermediate
When the "User Preferences" are set to intermediate computer expertise level, a "Font Slider Bar" is added to your tool bar.  As you adjust the slider from left to right, the size of the font for the information is increased.  This feature can be very handy for those that may have a hard time reading screen fonts.  The font size adjustment also directly affects the printed font size when you print your genealogy.

Advanced
When the User Preferences are set to the advanced computer expertise level, a "Zoom Slider Bar" is added to the tool bar.  This zoom keeps the font size and amount of information intact while shrinking or enlarging the entire view.  You can zoom by moving the slider bar from left to right.  Using the zoom is handy when you have found a font and info setting that you like for printing, but would like to adjust how much appears on each printed page.  By zooming all the way out, you can fit the entire pedigree on one sheet of paper.  Zooming in, spreads the print out across many sheets of paper, which can then be pieced together to make a larger view of your genealogy.

Conflicts
This feature makes the verification of genealogical information possible by notifying you with the image of a yellow lightning bolt called a Gen-Bolt^TM when another OneGreatFamily user has conflicting information with your data. You can then collaborate with the source and work out your difference.  If, in the end, you cannot resolve the conflict, you may agree to disagree and each view the data as you believe it to be correct.

Descendancy View
Allows you to view siblings, spouses, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren etc., of any individual in your genealogy.

Editing Option on INDI (Individual Information)
This option allows you to edit information for any individual in your pedigree.

Group
Groups are the easiest way to share genealogies with extended family members.  Each Group stores and accesses their own families genealogy online at OneGreatFamily using a unique Group Name and Password.  One individual may belong to multiple groups.  For example, you may want to create one group for your mother's side and one for your father's side and possibly others for additional surnames in your genealogy you are pay particular attention to.

Famous Ancestor Indicator
Allows you to easily find famous or notable ancestors in your pedigree.  All famous ancestors will be represented by a certain color.  The user will also be able to create his/her own color-coding system.

GEDCOM
GEDCOM (GEnealogical Data COMmunication)is the standard for computerized genealogical information.  It is comprised of a combination of tags for data and pointers to related data.

Genealogy
The study of how individuals and their families are descended from their ancestors.  It often includes learning about family histories and traditions.

Genealogy Browser^TM
Keeps you from getting lost as you "browse" through your genealogy.  At a glance, this feature allows you to clearly see and understand the "big picture" of your family.  It is a combination of all of the unique features in OneGreatFamily^TM that allows you to view and work with your genealogical data in an easy way.

Genealogy User Settings
Genealogy User Settings give you different levels of viewing and editing information on individuals, marriages, etc.

Beginner
At the Beginner level, Hints display only select tabs for editing individual information. When adding a person, beginning level does not give you an option to insert a known OGF number.

Intermediate
At the Intermediate level, a Spouses tab is added to the Edit Individual screen.  This gives you the option of adding further details on marriage information.  When adding an individual you will also be given the option to use an existing OGF number.

Advanced
At the Advanced level, more options for editing individuals are presented.  You will see a Spouses tab as well as places for data besides birth, death, christening and burial.  When adding an individual, you will also be given the option to use an existing OGF number.

Gen-Added^TM
The Gen-Added? icon is in the form of a yellow plus sign and indicates new information from another user has been added to the record. Note: the Gen-AddedTM symbol will only appear when information was added to an individual record.  It does not mean that OneGreatFamily added new generations to your family tree.

Gen-Merged^TM
The Gen-Merged^TM icon is in the form of a yellow exclamation point and indicates data was merged with another users data because OneGreatFamily's system was able to find at least a 99% match between the two records.  Note: If the records do not meet the high standards for a merge, you would see a Gen-Bulb^TM
instead.

Gen-Search^TM
When you are sleeping or golfing?we're not!  We are working to help find you new leads and information.  By leveraging our unique Handprint Technology^TM, OGF does regular searches to find information for you.

Gen-Tracer^TM
This feature allows you to see how you are related to anyone in your pedigree.   The Gen-Tracer^TM displays a blue line from you to the ancestor, highlighting each individual in the direct lineage in between.

Genealogy Zoom^TM
Allows you to zoom in and out of your pedigree with whatever view you desire, close up in detail or view the whole pedigree at one time.

Gold Rush
One weekend per year OneGreatFamily allows all free track users to receive "hints" from the OneGreatFamily database.  Hints are indicated by gold light bulbs called Gen-Bulbs^TM and contain information contributed by other users from around the world that may help Free Track users extend family lines.  Conflicts, indicated by gold lightning bolts called Gen-Bolts^TM are also part of "Gold Rush." (Subscribers can view hints real-time, as often as desired.)

Handprint Technology^TM
OneGreatFamily's patented method of creating family pedigrees using the relationships of father, mother, siblings, spouse, and children as the ultimate verifier of genealogical information.  Handprint Technology^TM emphasizes relationships along with names, dates and places.  Using OneGreatFamily's new technology, we can more correctly identify ancestors and allow genealogy to be done for the first time in cultures with rich oral histories.

INDI (Individual) Search^TM
This feature allows you to search for any individual in your pedigree whose information has been submitted to OneGreatFamily's database. A bold, black box will appear around the individual in your Genealogy Browser^TM and that same individuals detailed information will be displayed on the left side of your browser screen.

Interactive Genealogy^TM
Allows you to work together with your family and the rest of the world on the same data, at the same time, from anywhere in the world. Interactive Genealogy^TM changes the current focus from genealogy data storage to genealogy data sharing. By sharing data "interactively" you will eliminate the tremendous amount of duplicated effort and research.

Limiter (View Unlimited # of Generations at Once)
Allows you to see an unlimited number of generations at once (other products only allow 4 or 5 generations).  If desired, a default of 12 generations can be used instead.

Multimedia
Multi media features allow you to upload video clips, sound clips, and digital images using OneGreatFamily's website. To create video and sound clips, you will need to have or purchase video and sound card software. You can organize your multimedia clips or images by placing them in your Calendar, Scrapbook, Family News, Family News Letter, and/or send them as Greeting Cards.

Video Clips
Portions of digitized video images that can be displayed through various programs via the Internet.

Sound Clips
Portions of digitized sound clips that can be heard through various programs via the Internet.

Digital Images
Picture (images) that can be displayed on computes or via the Internet. These images can be displayed using various image formats, such as JPEG, GIF, BITMAP, etc.

Multiple Anchor Profiles^TM
This feature allows you to create multiple anchors while using OneGreatFamily's Genealogy Browser^TM (i.e. make yourself, your spouse, your children, your father, your brother, etc. as an anchor for your pedigree. Whatever name is placed as the anchor, will be the starting point for the pedigree.

No Type Data Entry
Removes data entry errors, and saves you time. When you receive a Gen-Bulb^TM indicating new information you can quickly view the source information along with the source. If the information is correct, you accept the information and it automatically updates your records. This feature works with Hints, but not Web Hints.

OGF Hints (indicated by Gen-Bulbs)^TM)
OneGreatFamily uses Z-Search^TM to perform internal searches within the OneGreatFamiy database for new information added by other users within the OneGreatFamily^TM database. When new information for your ancestors is found, a Gen-Bulb^TM icon will appear next the name of the individual in your pedigree. Simply click on the Gen-Bulb^TM, verify the new information, and your pedigree will automatically be updated.

OGFN
OGFN stands for OneGreatFamily Number. Every individual in OneGreatFamily's database has a unique number to identify them. You will find this number listed in several places, for example:

1. As an option to upload information by "Using Known OGFN."
2. Next to the name of every Anchor on your "Select Anchor" screen.
3. As you mouse over any indivdual in your StarfieldTM.
4. Each time you manually add an individual you have the option to "add an existing individual" by using an OGFN.

Using OGFN's are helpful when sharing information with others.  When you upload information using an OGFN you not only get the information on the individual the number represents, you also get all of the ancestry and descendancy that is available on the individual.  Note: Uploading information using OGFN's are only available to subscribers and user settings must be set on "Advanced" in the Genealogical Expertise Level.

Try It Out
Here is the OGFN of William Shakespeare: 501695521
Enter the number in the "Use Known OGFN" field on the "Select Anchor" screen after you login to Genealogy Browser^TM.

Pedigree Chart
These are forms used to record ancestors of a given individual.  These charts may also be called "lineage charts" or "ancestor charts" omitted part.

Pedigree Statistics Bar
Allows you to see the total number of individuals, common ancestors and generations contained in your pedigree at a glance.

Pedigree Wall Charts
Partnering with GenealogyPrint.com, OneGreatFamily has made it possible to print off your pedigree wall chart.  You can even enter in the dimensions of your wall and the product will print it to scale.

Religious Features
OneGreatFamily will create the opportunity for the different religions of the world to honor special dates and events specific to their religious faith as they do their genealogy.  We will customize OneGreatFamily's database to celebrate the rich heritage in whatever faith it might be.

Research Logs
Research Logs allow you to see the names, dates, and times of your work and of those also working on individuals in your same pedigree line.

Sources & Notes
This is a feature that displays the following: 1) the sources used to obtain genealogical data for a specific individual and 2) the notes of those who entered the information to give additional helpful information.  This will increase your ability to collaborate and verify your genealogical information with others doing work on your same line via the email, phone, or instant messenger.

Starfield View^TM
Contains the pedigree view of your genealogy.  It allows you to dynamically zoom in and out of your pedigree as well as view an unlimited number of generations at once.  This is your graphical interface with your genealogical data.

View 7 Generations
This free track feature limits the view of the online pedigree to 7 generations.   By subscribing, full access to unlimited view of generations in Genealogy Browser^TM is available.

Web Hints (indicated by Gen-Bulb^TM with binoculars)
OneGreatFamily uses Gen-Search^TM to help you perform searches in external databases for new information.  When new information for your ancestors is found, an icon of a Gen-Bulb^TM with binoculars will appear next the name of the individual in your pedigree.

WorldWork^TM
Is an extension to the term "teamwork." It describes a concerted effort in which all individuals throughout the world can contribute and benefit through cooperation.