Documentation

Everything you need to get started and make the most of FamilyCodex.

Quick Start Guide

1. System Requirements

  • PHP 8.0 or higher
  • Web server (Apache, Nginx, or XAMPP/WAMP for local use)
  • Modern web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)
  • At least 100MB disk space

2. Installation

  1. Download FamilyCodex from your customer portal
  2. Extract the ZIP file to your web server directory
  3. Navigate to the installation URL in your browser
  4. Follow the setup wizard to create your admin account
  5. Enter your license key (paid versions)

3. First Steps

  1. Create your first family member (yourself or an ancestor)
  2. Add relationships (parents, spouse, children)
  3. Upload photos and documents
  4. Explore the family tree visualization

Managing Family Members

Add and edit individuals in your family tree with comprehensive profiles including:

  • Birth, death, and marriage dates
  • Multiple name formats (maiden names, nicknames)
  • Biographical notes and stories
  • Custom facts and events
  • Source citations

Tip: Use the quick-add feature to rapidly build your tree by adding parents, children, or spouses directly from any person's profile.

GEDCOM Import & Export

FamilyCodex supports GEDCOM 5.5 and 7.0 formats for interoperability with other genealogy software.

Importing:

  1. Go to Settings > Import/Export
  2. Select your GEDCOM file
  3. Review the preview and mapping options
  4. Click Import to merge or replace data

Exporting:

Export your entire family tree or selected branches to share with relatives or back up your research.

Photos & Media

Preserve family memories by attaching photos and documents to individuals.

  • Supported formats: JPG, PNG, GIF, PDF
  • Automatic thumbnail generation
  • Tag multiple people in photos
  • Add captions and dates
  • Organize into albums

Storage limits: Free (50 photos), Family Pack (1,000), Pro (unlimited)

AI Features (BYOK)

Paid plans include AI-powered features using your own OpenAI API key:

AI Biography Generator:

Automatically generate narrative biographies from the facts in a person's profile.

Place Standardization:

Normalize location names and add geographic coordinates using OpenStreetMap data.

Setup:

  1. Get an API key from OpenAI
  2. Go to Settings > AI Configuration
  3. Enter your API key

User Management

Invite family members to collaborate on your tree (paid plans).

User Roles:

  • Admin: Full access, manage users and settings
  • Editor: Add and edit family members
  • Viewer: Read-only access to the tree

User limits: Free (1), Family Pack (5), Pro (20)

Backups & Data Safety

Your family data is precious. FamilyCodex includes robust backup features:

  • Manual backups: Create backups anytime from Settings
  • Auto backups: Daily (Family Pack) or hourly (Pro)
  • Restore: Easily restore from any backup point
  • Export: Download complete data as JSON or GEDCOM

Note: Since FamilyCodex runs on your own server, you control your data completely.

Need More Help?

Can't find what you're looking for? Our support team is here to help.

Contact Support Installation Guide