gedcom-explorer_skill

Overview

This skill generates a self-contained, interactive family tree dashboard from any GEDCOM (.ged) file. It produces a single-file HTML app with five tabs (Dashboard, Family Tree, People, Timeline, Daily Alerts), search, person modals, charts, and "On This Day" events. The output requires no server — just open the HTML in a browser. It is ideal for visualizing and exploring genealogy data quickly and privately.

How this skill works

The tool parses the GEDCOM file to extract individuals, families, events, places, and relationships. It computes summary statistics, timelines, surname and place breakdowns, and embeds all data as inline JSON into a single HTML file. The generated app offers interactive visualizations (zoom/pan tree, searchable people directory, timeline) and daily alert widgets like anniversaries and random ancestor spotlights. Optional auto-detection flags (e.g., US Presidents via OCCU) add context when present in the data.

When to use it

• You have a GEDCOM export and want a portable, shareable family tree viewer.
• You need a quick dashboard to explore names, places, generations, and timelines.
• You want a single-file HTML app to open locally or serve without a backend.
• You need daily "On This Day" reminders or a spotlight of ancestors.
• You are preparing a family presentation or want interactive access for relatives.

Best practices

• Run the build script with a descriptive --title and --subtitle to label the HTML file.
• Sanitize or remove sensitive records from the GEDCOM if you plan to share the file.
• Use smaller, focused GEDCOM exports for faster load times with very large trees.
• Customize the generated HTML’s CSS variables for consistent theming before sharing.
• Serve the file over a simple local HTTP server if some browsers block local resources.

Example use cases

• Create a portable family tree HTML to email to relatives or add to a family archive.
• Produce a visual report of births, deaths, marriages and geographic origins for a reunion.
• Explore an ancestor’s timeline and relationships when researching genealogy sites.
• Generate daily ancestry alerts for social channels or personal reminders.
• Use demo GEDCOMs to prototype features like presidential tagging or century breakdowns.