Family Tree

A web application built with ReactJS and Vite, which displays a family tree of your direct ancestors based on data stored in a Google Spreadsheet document.

How to use this web app

You'll need the following:

• A Google Sheets document, which will contain the data for your family tree
• A copy of this repository, cloned to your local hard drive and accessible in your terminal
• Your own .env configuration file, placed in the root of the repository directory, which will point the web app to your Google Sheets document

Part 1: Google Sheets document

This web app will require a Google Sheets spreadsheet document and knowledge of the Google Sheets API. If you are not already familiar with this API, it is recommended that you read here first.

Here are the basic high-level steps, although you will find more detailed documentation on the links:

Create the document

• The first row should have the following labels:
  • A1: name
  • B1: born
  • C1: notes
  • D1: color (value should be hex color, i.e. #FFFFFF)

Share the document

• Click the "Share" button in the top right corner
• In the popup that appears, change the "General Access" setting to make it viewable to "Anyone with the link"

Create a Google API Key for Google Sheets

• Go to the API Console.
• In the list underneath "Filters," click on the "Google Sheets" link. It should take you to a "Google Sheets API" page.
• On that page, in the left column, click on the "Credentials" link.
• It will take you to a new "Credentials" page. On the "Create Credentials" link dropdown, select "API Key."

Part 2: Download local web app repository

• In the terminal, type: git clone git@github.com:drumwolf/familytree.git

Part 3: Set up environmental variables in web app repository

• In the root directory, create a new file called .env

VITE_GSX_ID=[id]
VITE_GSX_KEY=[key]
VITE_GSX_SHEET=[name of sheet in the Google Sheets document, defaults to 'Sheet1']

Part 4: Run web app on local workstation

• Install all packages: yarn install
• In the project directory, you can run: yarn dev
• Open http://localhost:5173 to view it in the browser.
• The page will reload if you make edits. You will also see any lint errors in the console.