Famiva.com Frequently Asked Questions
From Famiva Help
How do I invite people to the family site?
You can invite members of your extended family to your Famiva site by manually adding them to the family tree by clicking on the "+" box - you must enter their current email address for the invite email [1]. You can also add "indirect" relatives and build the linkage later, together.
You can also invite by importing contacts from your web mail services, e.g. GMail, Yahoo, MSN, etc [2].
What is a hi-def photo? How do I use one?
The photo you take from your 2 mega-pixel or higher camera has a higher definition than what's stored on web sites such as Facebook. Higher definition photos can be printed in sizes larger than 4x4 inches without getting blurry. Famiva stores your photos in maximum definition so that you can always download them in original format and print them without losing any details. Click on the "Hi-Def" link under any photo from the "view photo" to get hi-def version.
Is there a way to message all members on the family tree with a general announcement?
The easiest way to do that is to "Write a Story". Have the subject be a call for action, e.g. "Click to help with family tree". All your registered family members will receive the story subject in the Famiva digest via email. When they click on it, they'll be able to read your message.
Will there be a fee for features that are currently offered for free?
Absolutely not. As stated in our Terms of Use, services that are offered to you for free at sign-up will remain free. Our business is free and ad-based. There are no plans to make Famiva a paid-only service.
What happens to all my photos if your server crashes?
Preservation of your photos and other content is our top priority. All of your photos are securely stored on Amazon.com's world-class data-centers. Photos are stored in original format on multiple servers with geographic redundancy and catastrophe protection. Your content is in one of the safest places on the Internet.
Can I use my own domain name (e.g. kennedy.com) with my Famiva site?
Yes, we support custom domains to be used with Famiva for a fee. Learn more on the Famiva custom domains page.
Which browsers do you support?
We support:
These browsers are not supported but have been reported to work:
- Internet Explorer 6.0 (you may experience login problems)
- Safari 2.0 or higher
- Opera 9.0 or higher
- Konqueror 3.5 or higher
For best results, use Firefox 3.0 or higher. Other requirements include Java 1.4 or higher for Family Network. Adobe Flash 7.0 or higher required for Multi-photo Upload.
How do I add videos to my site?
You can embed videos from Google, YouTube, Vimeo, etc. Create a new Story and follow the instructions under "Fun and Easy Tips". We do not currently support uploading videos to your Famiva site. That feature is slated for next major release.
How do I edit photo album name or delete empty photo albums?
Click on the album name to select it. Once it's loaded, click on the pencil icon by the name to edit it. If the album has no photos, you will see a Trash icon next to it - click it to delete the album. You can not delete an album without moving all the photos into another album. Click on the Organize icon to move photos between albums.
Can I create a share photos privately with just one group?
Yes, see below.
Can I create a separate site for in-laws?
Yes, Famiva supports this through multiple sites. A site is a collection of members and private content shared across the members of that site. The family tree can expand into multiple sites - this is known as the family network. Once logged in, go to My Sites and create a site. You can switch between sites, invite members to each site exclusively, upload photos to each site, etc. When you browse the tree or view the network, you will see the entire network and how they're connect - not just people in the current site.
We generally recommend creating a single site and sharing content across the extended family to promote unification and strengthening distant relationships.
How do I link one or more families?
From "family tree", add a member that is part of the other site by entering his/her exact email address (as registered on Famiva). The member will receive an invitation to link sites. Once accepted, family network and family tree will be integrated. Photos, stories, and calendar will remain private within each site and will only be accessible to members that are invited. You can click on members from the integrated family tree to cross-invite members. Note: Famiva is optimized for large sites with thousands of members. For your ease of sharing and administration, we recommend creating a single site for all members and families that wish to share content, and setting 5% members as administrators.
How do I link GEDCOM imported members with Famiva tree members?
GEDCOM import will bring in all the members and the relationships from the file. If you have a common name between your GEDCOM tree and existing Famiva tree, the two trees will be merged automatically. To associate a GEDCOM imported member to an existing Famiva tree member (e.g. yourself), you need to use the "Link members" link on the family tree (People) page. Find the member to link and drag drop over to the right place - the rest of the connections will be merged.
How do I delete/remove my Famiva site?
After logging into Famiva, got to "My Sites" from the menu, then "Leave Site." Once you've left all Famiva sites, your account is marked for deletion. The site itself is marked for deletion when all registered members have left (or removed by admin) the site. Alternatively, you can send a delete request to the support email address and we'll coordinate the delete with you.
Is there a way to add the same e-mail address to two different people?
No. Famiva uses email to identify members, so it has to be unique. You can create a free forwarding email address. See forwarding for Hotmail and GMail.
How do I show my Flickr photos on my profile?
To show Flickr photos on your profile, you need to enter your Flickr account (email). On your profile page, select "Flickr account" and enter something like "flickr_roll@emailservice.com."
