Wikipedia Style Genealogy Web Creation?

[Cooknn]

I would like to take my family tree and convert it to a website format like Wikipedia. I don't think I want to build it directly in Wikipedia, just want to use the same type of format. Can anyone direct me as to what tools or hosts I might use to accomplish this? Thanks in advance

 

[ChrisWB]

Wikipedia runs on MediaWiki software. It's php/mysql based.

There are similar alternatives, such as DokuWiki, and PM Wiki.

If you like the wiki structure but don't want the cms backend, you can have a fully html/javascript wiki with (my personal favorite) TiddlyWiki.

If you'd like help setting any of these up, I'd be glad to help you in any way.

 

[Cooknn]

Wikipedia runs on MediaWiki software. It's php/mysql based.[/URL].

If you'd like help setting any of these up, I'd be glad to help you in any way.

Sweet! I've got a web host (midPhase) that does php and MySQL. I suppose I could create a subdirectory off /www in my existing account and just point my new domain to it (daniel.cook.name - Daniel Cook was my GGG Grandfather). This should be fun - thanks for the heads up, I may be shooting you a PM at some point

 

[Cooknn]

Well, there's not a lot of content yet - waiting on my dad's cousin who has ton's of info on our family tree with pictures and bios, etc. Should fill out nicely. I think the Wikipedia format works great for a geneology website. Now it can run itself and anybody in our line can jump in and add info

For a look pop over to daniel.cook.name

 

[IJ Reilly]

Well, there's not a lot of content yet - waiting on my dad's cousin who has ton's of info on our family tree with pictures and bios, etc. Should fill out nicely. I think the Wikipedia format works great for a geneology website. Now it can run itself and anybody in our line can jump in and add info

For a look pop over to daniel.cook.name

This is great! How did you get it set up so quickly? I started a wiki project a while back with WikkaWiki, but now it seems to be totally non-functional.

 

[Cooknn]

This is great! How did you get it set up so quickly? I started a wiki project a while back with WikkaWiki, but now it seems to be totally non-functional.

Thanks IJ Regarding the setup, if you're talking about the MediaWiki/MySQL stuff, it was pretty straight forward. I just downloaded the files and created a MySQL database on my web host. Then I ran the install script from my web browser. Check out this page for the step by step.

As far as the genealogy data, it was already available for the most part from a couple of other sources within my extended family. I eagerly anticipate the participation of my dad's cousin as previously mentioned. She has notes on almost everyone, including census records, cemetary records, etc. I'm not one to take a vacation to visit a cemetary - but she is

 

[IJ Reilly]

Thanks IJ Regarding the setup, if you're talking about the MediaWiki/MySQL stuff, it was pretty straight forward. I just downloaded the files and created a MySQL database on my web host. Then I ran the install script from my web browser. Check out this page for the step by step.

Did you need to consult you ISP, or were you able to do all of this yourself?

As far as the genealogy data, it was already available for the most part from a couple of other sources within my extended family. I eagerly anticipate the participation of my dad's cousin as previously mentioned. She has notes on almost everyone, including census records, cemetary records, etc. I'm not one to take a vacation to visit a cemetary - but she is

I can appreciate this. I'm the self-designated family historian in my family. I've done a tremendous amount of research over the years. It would be nice to have a better way to share it, and maybe get some of those other family members more involved.

Also, I prefer the presentation in MediaWikki to the one I was able to figure out in WikkaWikki -- which isn't working for me now anyway!

 

[Cooknn]

Did you need to consult you ISP, or were you able to do all of this yourself?

I did it myself, it was a breeze. I use midPhase as my webhost and they have a killer control panel. I didn't have to write any of the SQL, just typed in the name of the database, created a user and pressed the button. After uploading the files for MediaWiki you just go to the root folder from your web browser and it presents you with the install routine. Regarding the third level .name domain name - I bought that at doster.com then changed the DNS to MidPhase and from my control panel (above) I created an add-on domain so that everything looks the way it should in a web browser and I don't have to pay anything more than I already do for my existing account.

If you decide to go this route I can assist - ChrisWB helped me. I'll pay it forward

Note: It bum's me out that we can't get any further back than we have. The first person in our family tree (Daniel Cook) was a half breed. His mom was a Cherokee and his dad was well, a Cook (by name) and probably a trapper or trader. If you saw Spielberg's "Into The West", that was totally us back then.

 

[ChrisWB]

You've really added to it since I last looked at it.

You probably know a lot more about MediaWiki than I ever did. I haven't used it in over a year. I really, really like the idea of using a wiki for a family tree. I may do the same thing this summer.

 

[IJ Reilly]

I did it myself, it was a breeze. I use midPhase as my webhost and they have a killer control panel. I didn't have to write any of the SQL, just typed in the name of the database, created a user and pressed the button. After uploading the files for MediaWiki you just go to the root folder from your web browser and it presents you with the install routine. Regarding the third level .name domain name - I bought that at doster.com then changed the DNS to MidPhase and from my control panel (above) I created an add-on domain so that everything looks the way it should in a web browser and I don't have to pay anything more than I already do for my existing account.

If you decide to go this route I can assist - ChrisWB helped me. I'll pay it forward

Cool. I'll have to check with the ISP that host my domains. They're a pretty small operation, so I don't think they make setting up SQL databases quite so easy for the user. They pretty much insisted on making my WikkaWiki setup turnkey. But like I said, it isn't even working now, so...

Note: It bum's me out that we can't get any further back than we have. The first person in our family tree (Daniel Cook) was a half breed. His mom was a Cherokee and his dad was well, a Cook (by name) and probably a trapper or trader. If you saw Spielberg's "Into The West", that was totally us back then.

You think you have it rough. It took me literally years of research to discover my real family name, even though my grandfather was born with it! He never mentioned it to my dad during his entire lifetime, if you can believe that. A lot of my family was like that -- once they left the Old Country they didn't look back. Over the last few years, I've discovered far more about my family history than anyone thought they'd ever know.