Below is a series of 15 videos to demonstrate how SILKin is used. The first video should be helpful if you are not sure whether SILKin is the right tool for your project.

  • What SILKin does well, and what it doesn’t
  • Data gathering and analysis is the focus
  • SILKin handles non-genealogical factors (e.g. clans)
  • SILKin detects data errors, synonyms, and umbrellas
  • SILKin suggests kin term definitions
  • Not a general genealogical database program
  • System requirements
  • Installation procedure
  • Folder structure of a proper installation. Don’t mess with it.
  • How to launch and quit SILKin.
  • Possible security warning when first launching
  • Context (target culture)
  • Persons
  • Marriage (union = 1 couple)
  • Family tree chart
  • Ego and Alter
  • Dyad
  • Kinship system
  • Kin term vs. kin type
  • Serial numbers
  • Restrictions on the spelling of kin terms
  • Multiple charts and links
  • Polygamy
  • Non-genealogical relationships.
  • Opening a context
  • Removing a person from a family
  • Dragging items to new location
  • Snap-to-grid
  • Enlarging the chart
  • Entering detailed information
  • Date formats
  • Kin terms and “no__term”
  • Comments
  • Surname (or date) normally captured.
  • Colors of items
  • Linking kinsmen
  • Labeling with kin terms
  • Editable vs static
  • Removing a person from a family & consequences
  • Deleting persons & unions
  • Demo of creating new chart
  • Editing chart name
  • Using links.
  • Changing the fonts on charts
  • Changing the labels
  • The mini-browser
  • Menu of Help topics
  • What is a suggestion?
  • Acting on suggestions
  • Umbrellas and synonyms
  • Potential errors
  • Library of known kinship systems
  • What is a UDP
  • Why do we need them?
  • Demo of creating a UDP
  • Adoption UDPs
  • Clan UDPs
  • How SILKin handles adoptions
  • Should adoptions be recorded explicitly or not?
  • Clans and special factors
  • Horn Clause syntax
  • Editing an existing definition
  • Creating a definition
  • Comments on definitions.
  • Editing preferences
  • Editing the context
  • Exporting and importing files

Help

  • There is an extensive set of Help/Tutorial pages (under the Help menu) that should enable you to use the software without any formal training.
  • Some sample files are provided to illustrate SILKin’s use.