Manual - GenoEasy

User Manual

Learn all the features of GenoEasy.

Introduction

GenoEasy is a professional software for creating genograms. A genogram is a graphical representation of family structures and relationships across multiple generations. It is used in systemic therapy, counseling and social work.

With GenoEasy, you can quickly and intuitively create genograms that comply with the international standards according to McGoldrick & Gerson.

The Interface

The GenoEasy interface consists of three main areas:

  • Toolbar: Here you will find buttons for frequently used functions such as Save, Open and Export
  • Canvas: The central workspace where you create your genogram
  • Properties Panel: Here you edit the details of the selected person or relationship
Tip: Use the mouse wheel to zoom and hold the left mouse button to pan the canvas (when no element is selected).

Creating Persons

Add a New Person

There are several ways to create a new person:

  • Double-click: Double-click on an empty area of the canvas
  • Context menu: Right-click and select "New Person"

Edit a Person

Click on a person to select them. In the Properties Panel on the right side, you can then edit the following information:

  • Name (first and last name)
  • Gender
  • Year of birth and, if applicable, year of death
  • Occupation
  • Conditions (illnesses, etc.)
  • Notes
  • Mark as index person

Relationships

Create a Partnership

  1. Right-click on a person
  2. Select "Connect partner..."
  3. Click on the second person

Partnership Types

  • Married: Solid horizontal line
  • Engaged: Double line
  • Partnership: Dashed line
  • Separated: Line with one slash
  • Divorced: Line with two slashes
  • Affair: Dotted line
  • Widowed: Solid line (partner marked as deceased)

Add a Child

  1. Right-click on a partnership line or a person with a partner
  2. Select "Create new child"
  3. The child appears below the partnership

Relationship Quality

You can set the relationship quality between family members in the Properties Panel:

  • Normal: Single line
  • Close: Double line
  • Very close: Triple line
  • Distant: Dashed line
  • Conflict: Zigzag line
  • Cut off: Broken/interrupted line (contact severed)

Symbols & Meanings

Basic Symbols

Symbol Meaning
Male
Female
Unknown gender
Deceased (X through the symbol)
Index person (double border)
External person (hexagon)
Institution (rounded rectangle)

Person Markers

The following markers can be assigned to a person and appear as visual indicators on the symbol:

Symbol Meaning
AAdopted (purple A marker, top left)
PFoster child (orange P marker, top right)
Pregnancy (green triangle)
○✖Miscarriage (symbol with X marker)
Stillbirth (large X through entire symbol)
▲✖Abortion (triangle with X)

Twins

Twins are displayed with a shared connection line. In the Properties Panel, you can specify whether they are identical or fraternal twins.

Special Symbols

In addition to person symbols, GenoEasy offers special symbols that can be freely placed on the canvas to mark important patterns and topics in the genogram:

Symbol Meaning
Secret (red downward triangle) — Marks family secrets, hidden topics or taboo experiences
Migration (blue wavy lines) — Marks migration experiences, relocations or flight histories
Sexual abuse (zigzag arrow) — Marks abuse patterns within the family

Placing a special symbol:

  1. Click on the desired special symbol in the canvas toolbar
  2. Click on the desired position on the canvas
  3. In the Properties Panel, you can add a description and adjust the size
Tip: Special symbols can be freely moved and resized. Use the description to document the context.

Medical Data

GenoEasy allows detailed recording of medical information per person. Click on a person and switch to the "Medical" tab in the Properties Panel.

Conditions with Categories

Conditions are recorded in color-coded categories. Up to four conditions are displayed directly on the person symbol as colored segments:

  • Psychiatric illness (Violet)
  • Cardiovascular (Red)
  • Cancer/Tumor (Gray)
  • Metabolic/Diabetes (Orange)
  • Neurological (Brown)
  • Addiction/Substance abuse (Yellow)
  • Other (Blue)

The colored segments on the person symbol show at a glance which condition categories are present. Optionally, you can record ICD-10 codes, severity and age at diagnosis.

Medications

Document medications with name, dosage, purpose and period of use.

Allergies

Record allergies by type (medication, food, environmental, other) with severity and notes.

Tip: Medical data is only displayed when "Show medical data" is enabled in the settings.

External Contacts

In addition to family members, you can also display external contacts:

External Persons

Therapists, doctors, social workers and other professional helpers are displayed as hexagons.

Institutions

Schools, authorities, churches and other organizations are displayed as rounded rectangles.

Create an External Relationship

  1. Right-click on a person
  2. Select "Connect with external person..." or "Connect with institution..."
  3. The external entity is created and connected with a dashed line

Saving & Export

Save a Genogram

Ctrl+S Genograms are saved in the .geno format and can be reopened at any time.

Export as PDF

Click "Export" and select "Export as PDF". The PDF file is suitable for documentation and printing.

Export as PNG

Exports the genogram as a high-resolution image (2x quality). Ideal for inserting into presentations or reports.

Export as SVG

Exports the genogram as a scalable vector graphic. Ideal for publications and printed materials in any size.

Print

Press Ctrl+P to print the genogram directly. The page size is automatically adjusted.

Save encrypted

Genograms can be saved with AES-256-GCM encryption. Choose "Save encrypted" and set a password. The password is automatically requested when opening.

Encryption

GenoEasy protects your sensitive client data with state-of-the-art AES-256-GCM encryption. Encrypted files can only be opened with the correct password.

How to encrypt a genogram:

  1. Open the menu and select "Save encrypted"
  2. Set a secure password
  3. The file is saved as an encrypted .geno file
Tip: Encrypted files are automatically detected when opening. You only need to enter your password.

GEDCOM Import/Export

GenoEasy supports import and export in GEDCOM format (version 5.5.1). GEDCOM is an international standard for exchanging genealogical data between different programs.

Import GEDCOM

Open a .ged file via "Open file". GenoEasy automatically imports persons, families and relationships and creates a genogram with auto-layout.

Export GEDCOM

Via "Export" → "Export as GEDCOM" you can save your genogram in .ged format for use in other genealogy programs.

Tip: Not all GenoEasy-specific data (e.g. medical categories, special symbols) can be represented in GEDCOM format. Use the .geno format for complete data backup.

Drawing Tools

GenoEasy offers several drawing tools for free annotations and notes:

Freehand Drawing

Press D to activate freehand mode. Draw directly on the canvas by holding down the mouse button. Line style and stroke width can be customized.

Lasso Tool

Press L to activate the lasso tool. Circle areas in the genogram to visually highlight them. Lines are automatically smoothed with Catmull-Rom splines.

Text Boxes & Notes

Press Shift+Double-click to create a text box anywhere. Text boxes can be linked to persons and will show a dashed connection line.

Search

The live search in the toolbar searches all persons by name, occupation and notes. Results appear instantly in a dropdown menu.

Navigating search results:

  • Arrow keys to navigate the result list
  • Enter to select a person
  • The canvas automatically centers on the found person

Templates

GenoEasy includes templates for common family structures to help you get started:

  • Empty genogram
  • Single person
  • Nuclear family (2 parents, 2 children)
  • Three generations
  • Blended family
  • Single parent
  • Example family (10 persons across 3 generations)

Settings

Click the gear icon in the toolbar to open the settings dialog. Here you can customize:

  • Sizes: Symbol and font size, line width
  • Spacing: Generation gap, sibling and partner spacing
  • Color scheme: Standard, Monochrome or Colorful
  • Display: Show/hide age, occupation, medical data and notes
  • Grid: Adjust grid size and visibility

GenoTimeline

The timeline is an interactive display of life events for all persons in the genogram. Activate it via the timeline button in the toolbar.

Timeline features:

  • Life events per person (birth, marriage, illness, etc.)
  • Visual display across all generations
  • Events can be added in the properties panel

Device Change

GenoEasy makes it easy to switch devices when you get a new computer or reinstall your system.

Desktop App (recommended)

  1. Download GenoEasy from genoeasy.de/download.php on your new computer and install it.
  2. Start the app – the license dialog will appear.
  3. Enter your license key (GENO-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX).
  4. The old device will be automatically deactivated and the new one activated.

Web Version (no installation needed)

  1. Open genoeasy.de/genoweb/ in any browser.
  2. Enter your license key.
  3. Start working right away – works in Chrome, Firefox, Edge and Safari.
Tip: Device changes are possible up to 2 times per year. Remember to manually copy your .geno files (genograms) to the new computer (e.g. via USB drive or cloud storage).

Keyboard Shortcuts

Key Function
Ctrl+NNew genogram
Ctrl+OOpen genogram
Ctrl+SSave
Ctrl+Shift+SSave as
Ctrl+ZUndo
Ctrl+YRedo
DelDelete selected element
Ctrl+PPrint
DFreehand drawing mode
LLasso mode
Shift+Double-click:Create text box
EscDeselect / Exit mode
ZoomZoom
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