Categories:WikiTree Help |Profile Management Help

A profile manager has primary responsibility for managing a WikiTreeprofile. Here are questions and answers about profile managers.

Does the manager own the profile?

No.

For modern profiles, the manager is aprivacy steward. The profile manager sets theprivacy level and manages theTrusted List.

For older profiles, the manager is aleader for thegenealogical collaboration.

SeeOwnership and Control for more information.

Does the manager get to decide what is true and what is not?

No.

Since all descendants have toshare the same ancestor profile the profile manager needs to seek consensus. They should see themselves as a leader and try to resolve conflicts through clear communication and careful use ofsources.

Do you have to communicate with the manager before editing a profile?

You don't need permission to edit a profile if you're on theTrusted List or it's anOpen profile and you've signed theHonor Code. However, it's often recommended.

SeeCommunication Before Editing for guidelines.

How is being the manager different from being on the Trusted List?

Profile Managers:

1. Receivemerge proposals via email.
2. Receive Trusted List requests via email.
3. Receive notices about comments posted on the profile via email.
4. Can delete inappropriate comments and memories.
5. Can adjust theprivacy level.
6. Can add and remove other managers.
7. Onproject-protected profiles, the manager can edit relationships, Project Coordinators and Project Leaders.

In all other ways, the manager is just like everyone else on theTrusted List. Everyone on the Trusted List has the power to edit and merge, and gets alerted to changes to the profile through theiractivity feeds.

The profile manager role isn't about power. It's about leadership. The manager is expected to lead in the protection and improvement of the profile. If they're currently unable or unwilling to lead, it's best that they let someone else manage the profile.

How do you set or change the manager?

When you create a new profile you are set as the profile manager.

To add managers to an existing profile:

1. Click the lock icon on the profile.
2. In the "Add to Trusted List" section, enter a user's email address and press "ADD THIS PERSON."
3. In the "Trusted List" section, select the link for the desired user to "Add as Manager."

To remove managers from a profile:

• Select the link for a single user to "Remove as Manager," or
• Select the check boxes for multiple users and press "REMOVE SELECTED PEOPLE."

To change many profiles at once, use theProfile Manager Changes tool. You must be on a user's Trusted List to add/remove them from multiple profiles at once.

Can you have multiple profile managers? If so, many?

There can be more than one manager for a profile. If two profiles aremerged, the managers of the merged profiles become managers of the new combined profile (unless one is aproject-protected profile).

It's best that no profile have more than a few managers. Four or five is too many.

Many widely-collaborative profiles aremanaged collectively by project accounts.

Do closer family members have a greater right to manage a profile?

If the profile is for a person who was born over 150 years ago or who died over 100 years ago,no. SeeOwnership and Control.

If the profile is for a person who was born within the past 150 years and didn't die more than 100 years ago,yes. Relatives within five degrees of the person can claim management and may decide to restrict Trusted List access to others within five degrees. SeeDisagreements about Control.

Can you remove other profile managers?

If a profile has more than four or five profile managers, it becomes unwieldy.

Any profile manager can remove another profile manager in these cases, but it should be discussed first. Remember thatmanagers don't own profiles. When discussing who should manage a profile or family line, think of yourselves as volunteers who are dividing up responsibility so that you can get more done.

This is done inprojects throughproject-management, i.e. theproject account enables all the members of the project to manage the profile together.

Also note that many people can be on the Trusted List. If you remove someone as a manager, they should be left on the Trusted List.

If there is any conflict about who should manage a profile, seeProblems with Members.

What does it mean for a profile to be managed by a project?

SeeProject-Managed Profiles.

What if you want to reduce your management responsibility?

Managing profiles, especially those shared by many descendants, can be a big responsibility.

Even the most active WikiTreers can't manage more than a few thousand profiles. Less active members may only want to manage a few hundred or a few dozen.

This doesn't mean you can't contribute to the profiles. You can collaborate on a profile as a member of theTrusted List without leading the collaboration as the profile manager.

Simply go to theProfile Manager Changes tool and do the following:

• Select the "remove" option.
• Enter your own email address.
• Click "select all" or select the profiles or family lines you don't want to manage.

You will not be removed from the Trusted Lists (use theTrusted List Changes tool if that's what you want to do). And you will not be removed as the manager of private profiles if there is no other manager to watch over them.

There's nothing wrong with giving up management. This will enable other members to step up and do more.

Profile managers for active user profiles

There are special rules regardingactive account profiles, i.e. profiles for living people who are users of WikiTree.

If you create a profile for a friend or family member and then invite them to join you on WikiTree by adding their e-mail address to their profile, they will replace you as the profile manager when they accept your invitation.

An active user can add other managers to their account profile. This may be appropriate if they want to let aWiki Genealogist manage the privacy controls here.

Although an active user can add other managers, they must always remain a manager of their own profile.

Unresponsive profile managers

Profile managers who don't respond to private messages and merge proposals are a big problem on WikiTree.

If you can't reach the manager of a profile, seeUnresponsive Profile Managers.