It’s been a hot minute since I’ve updated the spreadsheet in a major sort of way. Part of the issue I’ve ran into over the last year has been so many new babies. Actually, many not here yet, but some here and some on the way. Soooo…how do you display 100+ relatives with relational groupings efficiently, while still allowing for updating and editing of information? A lot of friggin’ work, that’s how. It’s been a several month process, but hopefully the new sheet will address several pain points and allow for easier updates and access.
Patch and Update
Family tree
Export
First up…put a band-aid on the original spreadsheet. It was starting to get confusing to keep up with grandchildren and great-grandchildren. So…we’ve got some fancy colors and borders to help with that. For now.
Next up…build the family tree so we can explicitly show familial relationships. I’m a visual person…I like seeing relationships and find it easier to wrap my head around versus a spreadsheet. Fun part about the tree…I can keep track of major milestones like weddings, graduations, etc.
Lastly…export the data from the original sheet and build out a new sheet directly accessible from the website while addressing pain points along the way. Once complete the sheet will be accessible via the site, adds and updates can be done in one place, and it will be exportable for address books.
What’s changing?
So, what will change with the sheet? Functionally…a lot.
Sheet Access
Previously (and a common pain point), the sheet would be accessed through the Schleicher Homepage but was hosted on my Synology NAS. Access required a password that either required an email to me, or successful completion of a security challenge. Since not all of us share and have the same traditions anymore, these questions are not as well-known as they used to be. Sheet access will transition over to the Schleicher Homepage and will require individual accounts with user-created passwords.
Structure
Familial relationships (for those interested) are shifting to the family tree. Families will still be grouped on the sheet, but color-coding will disappear, and families will be grouped primarily by last name and address.
Sheet updates
Any updates to the sheet will be made directly on the site. There are two methods for updating; first any selected record can be updated in-line (just like any Excel-based or similar sheet). Alternatively, clicking the “Edit” button will allow for pop-up based record changes. Note that you cannot bulk-edit records; the sheet (in technical terms), is based on a SQL query that pulls from a site table and updates the SQL table in real-time, one record at a time.
Sheet Additions
New additions to the sheet will be handled by a site form (currently in process). To add new members you’ll need to link them to the original 1st generation Schleicher and then, if needed, link or add to a household. E.g., Scott Patrick Bailey is linked to the household “Jami and Adam Bailey”, and further linked to Patrick Schleicher as the 1st gen sibling. Once he moves out or is married, he’ll be shifted to his own household, but still linked to Patrick Schleicher for relational purposes. More on that once the update process is finished.
In addition to easier access and structural changes, the sheet will be filterable by 1st gen Schleicher sibling and household. Search fields are added, and it’s fully exportable via CSV or Excel.
How to access
Once all the pieces are in place the sheet will be accessed in the same location as the previous sheet (https://family.schleicher.social/#spreadsheet). The key change is that you will need a individual site account to access the sheet. The shared password will no longer be valid. This is again to fix pain points associated with needing to access the sheet and not having the shared password. Accounts and passwords will be user-created and will function just like any other typical site account.
Currently, the beta version of the sheet is accessible from the frontpage. You will need a site account, and admin approval is still currently required for new accounts. As of right now edit and delete functionality is built into the sheet; later this month the add form will be available but as of right now any additions will need to come through me. The old sheet is still available in the same location with the shared password; once testing is complete data in the new and old sheet will be merged.
Author: Zack
Pharmacist, tech guy, gamer, fixer. Good at a little bit of everything.