Genosm Documentation

Everything you need to know about creating professional genograms

Introduction

Welcome to Genosm, the AI-powered genogram creator designed for healthcare professionals. Genosm combines the speed of AI with the precision of standard clinical notation to help you map family systems efficiently.

Privacy First: Genosm operates on a local-first architecture. Your patient data is stored in your browser's secure database. Data is never sent to our servers for storage.

System Requirements

  • Browser: Chrome, Edge, or Safari (latest versions recommended)
  • Internet: Required for AI features only
  • Storage: Minimum 50MB free browser storage

Quick Start Guide

  1. 1. Open Genosm and create your first document
  2. 2. Use the AI Assistant tab to describe a family structure in plain English
  3. 3. Click Generate - your genogram will appear instantly
  4. 4. Refine the diagram using the editing tools
  5. 5. Export to PDF or save for later

Pro Tip: For best AI results, include ages, relationship types, and family dynamics in your description.

Interface Overview

The Genosm workspace is divided into several key areas:

  • Top Bar: Document management, undo/redo, zoom controls, and export options
  • Left Sidebar: Access your Workspace (files), Components (drag-and-drop), Tools, and Templates
  • Center Canvas: Your interactive drawing area. Zoom, pan, and click objects to edit them
  • Right Panel: Context-aware panel with three tabs:
    • AI: AI Assistant for generating and modifying genograms
    • Insights: Clinical insights and pattern analysis
    • Properties: Edit selected person or relationship details
  • Status Bar: Shows save status, backup folder connection, and validation warnings

Floating Canvas Toolbar

The floating toolbar in the bottom-left corner provides quick access to essential canvas management tools.

Accessing the Toolbar

  • • Located in the bottom-left corner of the canvas
  • • Click the + icon to expand and reveal all tools
  • • Click the × icon to collapse and save screen space

Available Tools

Zoom Controls

  • • Zoom In (+): Magnify the canvas for detailed editing
  • • Zoom Out (-): See more of the genogram at once
  • • Tip: Use scroll wheel for continuous zoom control

🔍 Focus Mode (Critical Feature)

What it does: Highlights a specific person and their immediate connections while dimming the rest of the genogram.

How to use:

  1. 1. Click the Focus Mode button (magnifying glass icon) in the toolbar
  2. 2. Click any person node on the canvas
  3. 3. That person and their direct relationships are highlighted; everything else dims
  4. 4. Click the Focus Mode button again to exit and see the full genogram

Why it's important:

  • • Complex families: Essential for navigating genograms with 15+ people
  • • Session focus: Isolate the client's immediate network during therapy
  • • Reduce overwhelm: Help clients see only relevant connections
  • • Better presentations: Focus on specific family branches when explaining patterns

Undo / Redo

  • • Undo (←): Revert the last action (move node, add relationship, etc.)
  • • Redo (→): Restore an undone action
  • • Keyboard shortcuts: Ctrl+Z (Windows) / Cmd+Z (Mac) for undo

Canvas Notes

Add free-standing notes anywhere on the canvas (already documented in Canvas Notes section).

  • • Click the note icon to open the note modal
  • • Max 50 words per note
  • • Drag notes anywhere on canvas after creation

Quick Tips

Essential tips for efficient and safe genogram creation.

💾

Select Folder Before Working

Recommended: Choose a cloud-based folder (OneDrive, Google Drive) for automatic portability across devices.

✅

Verify AI-Generated Genograms

After AI generates a genogram, always check the layout and connections. The AI is powerful but may occasionally misinterpret complex family structures.

👥

Partner Limit: Max 2 Per Person

Currently supports up to 2 partners per person. Support for 3+ partners will be introduced in a future update.

🔄

Move Nodes Freely

If AI-generated layout is inaccurate, drag any node anywhere on the canvas. Auto-layout is a starting point - customize as needed.

⏱️

Hover for Quick Details

Hover over any person for 2 seconds to see a quick preview without opening the full editor panel.

🔗

Inter-Family Relationships

When a node is selected, use the inter-family icon in the node toolbar to create relationships between different family branches or unrelated individuals.

🔒

HIPAA Privacy

Never use real client names in file names if you're syncing to cloud. Use initials or case numbers. All data stays local unless you export or sync.

💾

Export Backups Regularly

Browser storage can be cleared. Export your important genograms as JSON regularly for permanent backups.

🎨

Use Legend to Audit

Click any item in the legend to highlight all occurrences on the canvas - great for identifying patterns across generations.

🔍

Use Focus Mode for Large Families

For genograms with 15+ people, use Focus Mode to highlight one person's immediate network and reduce visual clutter.

📋

Collapsible Sections in Editor

The person editor has 8 collapsible sections. Expand only what you need to keep the interface clean while editing.

💡

AI Prompt Tips

Include ages, specific relationship types (biological, adopted, step), and dates in your AI prompt for best results.

Need More Help? Check out the Interactive Tour for hands-on guidance, or use the Feedback form to ask specific questions. We're here to help!

AI Generation

The fastest way to start is using the AI Assistant.

  1. 1. Open the AI Tab in the right panel
  2. 2. Type a description of the family in plain English
  3. 3. Click Send - the AI will generate the entire structure instantly

Example Prompts

Simple Nuclear Family:

"John (45) and Mary (43) are married with two kids, Tom (12) and Sarah (10). John's parents are Robert (70) and Susan (68)."

Complex Family with Multiple Relationships:

"Sarah (38) was married to David (40) from 2005-2015. They have two children: Emma (15) and Lucas (12). Sarah is now in a relationship with Michael (42) since 2018. David remarried to Jennifer (35) in 2017."

Tips for Better AI Results

  • • Include ages in parentheses: "John (45)"
  • • Specify relationship types: married, divorced, dating, affair, etc.
  • • Mention health conditions or significant events
  • • Be specific about relationship timelines with years
  • • Use clear family terms: parents, children, siblings, partners

Manual Creation

For fine-grained control, use the Components panel on the left.

Adding People

  • • Drag and Drop: Drag squares (Male), circles (Female), or diamonds (Unknown) onto the canvas
  • • Context Menu: Click any person to see "Add Relative" options (parent, child, partner, sibling)
  • • Quick Add: Use the "+" button in the Components panel

Adding Relationships

  1. 1. Click the first person
  2. 2. Click "Add Partner" from the context menu
  3. 3. Select relationship type (Marriage, Partnership, Cohabitation, etc.)
  4. 4. Adjust relationship details in the Properties panel

Adding Children

  1. 1. Select the parent(s)
  2. 2. Click "Add Child"
  3. 3. Specify child type: Biological, Adopted, Foster, or Step-child
  4. 4. For multiple children, use "Add Sibling Group"

Clinical Documentation

Genosm now includes a comprehensive Clinical Notes system designed to help therapists and healthcare professionals document the "why" and "how" behind the family diagram.

Privacy Note: All clinical notes are stored locally on your device, just like the genogram itself. They are fully encrypted at rest in your browser.

Four Types of Notes

🏥 Medical Notes

Document physical health conditions, genetic risks, diagnoses, and medical history. Critical for tracking hereditary patterns.

🧠 Psychosocial Notes

Record mental health history, social dynamics, behavioral observations, and emotional patterns.

📅 Timeline Events

Log significant life events (moves, traumas, marriages, losses) chronologically to build a family timeline.

📝 General Notes

Private observations, session notes, or drafts that don't fit into a specific clinical category.

How to Add Notes

  1. 1. Select a person on the canvas.
  2. 2. In the right-hand panel, click the Notes tab (next to Properties).
  3. 3. Click "New Note" and choose the note type.
  4. 4. Enter your note content. Rich text formatting is supported.
  5. 5. Click Save. The note is now attached to that person and versioned with your genogram.

Including Notes in Exports

You can choose whether to include these private notes when exporting your genogram:

  • • PDF Export: Option to append a "Clinical Report" page with all notes.
  • • JSON Export: Notes are always included in the backup file for restoration.
  • • Image Export (PNG/SVG): Notes are not included in visual-only exports to protect privacy.

Using Templates

Save time with pre-built family structures found in the Templates left panel.

Available Templates

  • • Nuclear Family: Two parents with 2-3 children
  • • Single Parent Family: One parent with children
  • • Blended Family: Two parents with children from previous relationships
  • • Multiple Births: Twins, triplets, or quadruplets with optional parents
  • • Three Generations: Grandparents, parents, and children
  • • Extended Family: Multiple family branches

Templates are added to your current canvas and can be customized after insertion.

Editing a Person

Genosm allows you to capture comprehensive information about each person with 60+ data points organized into collapsible sections for easy navigation.

How to Edit a Person

  1. 1. Click on any person node in the genogram
  2. 2. The Properties panel opens on the right side
  3. 3. Expand any section to edit details - changes save automatically

Available Data Sections

Identity

  • • Index Person: Mark the primary client/patient (one per genogram)
  • • Name Fields: First name, middle name, last name, preferred name
  • • Gender: Male, Female, Non-binary, Unknown, Pet
  • • Status: Living, Deceased, Pregnancy, Stillbirth, Miscarriage, Abortion
  • • Birth/Death Years: Track birth year; death year and age at death for deceased
  • • General Notes: Contextual notes displayed on canvas (max 500 characters)
  • • Intra-Family Annotation: For adoption, custody, or guardianship within family (e.g., "Adopted by Grandfather")

Decorators

Apply visual decorators to modify how this person appears on the canvas.

  • • Select from custom patterns created in the Custom Pattern Builder
  • • Decorators override base node appearance with custom colors, borders, and icons

Professional & Social

  • • Occupation: Current or previous profession
  • • Education Level: Highest education completed
  • • Socioeconomic Status: Current economic situation

Cultural Identity

  • • Nationality: Add multiple nationalities with country flags
  • • Religion: Religious or spiritual beliefs (autocomplete suggestions available)
  • • Ethnicity: Self-identified cultural background

Medical Conditions

Track diagnosed, suspected, or resolved medical conditions.

  • • Add multiple conditions with status: Diagnosed, Suspected, or Resolved
  • • For resolved conditions, optionally add resolution year
  • • Conditions appear color-coded on genogram with abbreviations

Mental Health

Document mental health conditions with the same structure as medical conditions.

  • • Track depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and other conditions
  • • Status tracking: Diagnosed, Suspected, Resolved (with optional resolution date)

Substance Use

  • • Document alcohol, tobacco, or drug use
  • • Track current use or recovery status with resolution dates

Psychological & Behavioral

  • • Personality Type: MBTI or other personality frameworks
  • • Role in Family: e.g., caregiver, peacemaker, scapegoat
  • • Coping Styles: Comma-separated list of coping mechanisms
  • • Strengths: Personal strengths and protective factors
  • • Challenges: Current difficulties or risk factors
  • • Trauma History: Documented traumatic experiences
  • • Significant Life Events: Major life milestones or changes

Note: All text fields support a maximum of 500 characters to ensure optimal canvas performance and readability. Changes are automatically saved as you type.

Tips for Efficient Editing

  • • Click the Canvas Display Settings button at the top to control what information appears on the canvas
  • • Use comma-separated lists for fields like coping styles, strengths, and challenges
  • • Sections are collapsible - expand only what you need to keep the interface clean
  • • All edits auto-save after 500ms - no need to click a save button

Ecomap Integration 🎉 NEW

Now Available! Genosm now seamlessly integrates ecomaps with genograms, allowing you to visualize a person's connections to external support systems alongside their family structure.

An ecomap is a visual tool that shows the relationships between a person and the external systems in their life — work, school, healthcare, community organizations, and more. Combined with a genogram, it provides a complete picture of a client's social ecology.

What is an Ecomap?

While genograms map internal family relationships, ecomaps map external connections to:

  • • Work/Employment: Job, colleagues, supervisors, career stress or support
  • • Education: Schools, teachers, academic programs, learning environments
  • • Healthcare: Doctors, therapists, hospitals, treatment programs
  • • Community: Religious organizations, clubs, volunteer groups, neighbors
  • • Social: Friends, peer groups, social networks
  • • Legal: Courts, probation officers, lawyers, legal obligations
  • • Recreation: Sports, hobbies, leisure activities
  • • Spiritual: Faith communities, spiritual practices, religious leaders

How to Add an Ecomap

  1. 1. Select a person on the canvas by clicking on their node
  2. 2. In the node toolbar that appears, click the Ecomap icon (network symbol)
  3. 3. Choose a system category (Work, School, Health, Legal, etc.)
  4. 4. Select the connection type:

Strong / Supportive

Solid thick line — indicates a positive, resource-providing relationship with mutual support and benefit.

Tenuous / Weak

Dashed line — indicates a fragile, uncertain, or inconsistent relationship that may need strengthening.

Stressful / Conflicted

Zigzag line — indicates tension, conflict, or a relationship that drains energy and resources.

Flow / Energy Direction

Arrows indicate which way resources/energy flow — toward the person, from the person, or bidirectional.

  1. 5. Select flow direction: To Person, From Person, Both Ways, or None
  2. 6. The system circle will appear connected to the person — drag it to position as needed

Understanding Connection Lines

Line Style Meaning Example
━━━━ (Thick solid, green) Strong/Supportive relationship Boss is a mentor, provides career growth
┅┅┅┅ (Dashed, gray) Tenuous/Weak relationship Rarely attends church, minimal involvement
⚡⚡⚡ (Zigzag, red) Stressful/Conflicted relationship Hostile work environment, legal battle
→ (Arrow pointing to system) Person gives energy/resources TO system Volunteers at local shelter
← (Arrow pointing to person) System provides resources TO person Gets financial aid from school
↔ (Bidirectional arrows) Mutual exchange of resources Active member of support group

Working with Ecomap Systems

  • • Drag to reposition: Click and drag any system circle to arrange your ecomap layout
  • • Connection auto-updates: Lines automatically adjust when you move systems or the person node
  • • Multiple systems per person: Add as many systems as needed to capture the full social ecology
  • • Multiple people with ecomaps: Each person in the genogram can have their own ecomap

Clinical Use Cases

🏥 Healthcare Settings

Map patient's healthcare providers, insurance, pharmacy, specialists, and support groups to coordinate care.

🧠 Therapy & Counseling

Visualize client's support network, identify isolation, and explore how external stressors affect family dynamics.

👨‍👩‍👧 Social Work

Assess family's connections to community resources, identify gaps in support, and plan interventions.

📚 Case Management

Document client's full ecosystem for case reviews, treatment planning, and resource referrals.

Pro Tip: Use ecomaps to identify both sources of support AND sources of stress. This helps in treatment planning — you can work to strengthen supportive connections and address or minimize stressful ones.

Free Standalone Tool: We also offer a Free Ecomap Maker if you just need to create a quick ecomap without the full genogram integration. Data is stored locally in your browser.

Clinical Insights & SOAP Notes

Genosm can analyze family structures for clinical patterns using AI.

Generating Insights

  1. 1. Complete your genogram structure
  2. 2. Open the Insights tab on the right
  3. 3. Click "Generate Analysis"
  4. 4. Review identified patterns, risk factors, and clinical observations

What Gets Analyzed

  • • Family Patterns: Divorce, substance abuse, mental health, chronic illness
  • • Risk Factors: Genetic predispositions, environmental factors
  • • Relationship Dynamics: Cutoffs, enmeshment, triangulation
  • • Protective Factors: Strong relationships, support systems

SOAP Notes

The AI can generate SOAP note snippets based on the genogram, ready to copy into your EHR system.

Pattern Recognition

Genosm includes built-in pattern recognition for common clinical and family patterns.

Standard Patterns

  • • Substance Abuse
  • • Mental Health Conditions (Depression, Anxiety, Bipolar, Schizophrenia)
  • • Chronic Illnesses (Diabetes, Heart Disease, Cancer)
  • • Domestic Violence
  • • Divorce/Separation Patterns
  • • Adoption/Foster Care

Patterns are color-coded and automatically detected when editing person properties.

Custom Patterns & Node Decorators

Extend Genosm's clinical notation by creating your own reusable symbols, relationship types, and visual decorators.

1. Custom Node Decorators

Create unique visual markers for nodes to represent specific clinical states (e.g., "Primary Caregiver", "Legacy Burden", or "Crisis State").

  • • Customize node fill color, border style, and icons
  • • Apply to any male, female, or non-binary node
  • • Manage via the Decorators section in the Person Editor

2. Custom Relationship Patterns

Build complex, multi-line relationship symbols that adhere to your specific therapeutic framework or research needs.

  • • Build patterns with multiple lines, colors, and markers
  • • Use as emotional relationship extensions
  • • Fully integrated with AI analysis and insights

The Reusable Pattern Builder (Sandbox Mode)

Genosm features a dedicated Sandbox Mode for building complex patterns without disturbing your active case work.

  1. 1. Go to the Tools panel and click "Custom Pattern Builder".
  2. 2. Select "Create Custom Pattern". The app will enter a safe sandbox document where you can draw your pattern components freely.
  3. 3. Add nodes and lines that form your new symbol. Once satisfied, click "Capture Pattern" in the top overlay.
  4. 4. Name your pattern, add a clinical description, and save. You will be automatically returned to your original document.

How to Fetch & Apply Reusable Patterns

Applying Node Decorators

Select a person node → Open Properties → Expand Decorators → Select your saved pattern from the dropdown.

Applying Relationship Patterns

Select any emotional relationship line → Open Properties → Choose your custom pattern from the Style menu.

Fetching the Library

All created patterns are stored in your local library. Go to Tools → Custom Pattern Builder → View Pattern Library to manage, edit, or delete existing designs.

💡 Pro Tip:

Custom patterns are indexed by our AI Insights engine. If you describe a family using your custom pattern names, the AI will attempt to apply those visual styles automatically!

Using the Legend

The legend helps you understand all symbols used in your genogram and provides an interactive highlighting feature to locate specific elements quickly.

Opening and Closing the Legend

  • • Click the Legend button (three horizontal lines icon) in the bottom-right corner of the canvas
  • • The legend panel appears as a semi-transparent overlay
  • • Click the × to close and minimize it back to the button

Interactive Highlighting

The legend is fully interactive - click any item to highlight all occurrences on your genogram.

How Highlighting Works

  1. 1. Click any legend item (e.g., "Male", "Deceased", "Diabetes")
  2. 2. All matching elements on the canvas are highlighted with a red background
  3. 3. The clicked legend item also shows a red background to indicate it's selected
  4. 4. Click the same item again to deselect and remove highlighting

Legend Categories

Important: The legend only shows symbols and types that are actually used in your current genogram. Empty categories won't appear.

Nodes

Displays genders and life statuses used in your genogram:

  • • Genders: Male, Female, Non-binary, Unknown, Pet
  • • Statuses: Deceased, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Abortion

Family Relationships

Shows partner/couple relationships present:

  • • Marriage, Divorce, Separated
  • • Cohabitation, Dating, Engagement
  • • Affair, Partnership

Child Relationships

Different parent-child connection types:

  • • Biological (solid line)
  • • Adopted (dashed line)
  • • Foster (dotted line)
  • • Step-child

Other Relationships

Special relationship types:

  • • Step-sibling connections

Emotional Relationships

All emotional dynamics between family members:

  • • Normal, Close, Very Close, Distant
  • • Conflicted, Hostile, Cutoff, Estranged
  • • Fused, Physical/Emotional/Sexual Abuse
  • • Ambivalent, Close-Conflicted, Focused On

Health Conditions

Medical, mental health, and substance use conditions with color-coded abbreviations. Each condition is automatically assigned:

  • • A unique background color for quick identification
  • • An abbreviation (first 2-3 letters)
  • • Click to highlight all people with that condition

Custom Patterns

Any custom node or line patterns you've created appear here with visual preview.

Tip: Use the highlighting feature to quickly audit your genogram - for example, click "Divorced" to see all divorced relationships at once, or click a health condition to identify patterns across generations.

Emotional Relationships

Map the emotional dynamics between family members using standard genogram notation.

Adding Emotional Relationships

  1. 1. Select a person on the canvas
  2. 2. Click the Link/Connect icon in the toolbar
  3. 3. Click the second person involved
  4. 4. Select the relationship type

Relationship Types

Type Visual Description
Close Triple solid line Strong emotional bond
Distant Dashed line Weak or distant relationship
Conflicted Zigzag line Conflict or tension
Cutoff Double slash marks Emotional cutoff
Fused/Enmeshed Thick overlapping lines Overly close, poor boundaries

Canvas Notes

Genosm offers two types of notes to document important information: node-dependent notes attached to specific people, and independent canvas notes that can be placed anywhere on the genogram.

Node-Dependent Notes

Notes directly attached to a person's node, displayed alongside their information on the canvas.

Creating Node Notes

  1. 1. Click on a person node to open the Properties panel
  2. 2. Scroll to the "General Notes" field in the Identity section
  3. 3. Type your notes (max 500 characters)
  4. 4. Notes save automatically and appear on the canvas near the person
  • • When to use: For person-specific information like medical history details, relationship context, or behavioral notes
  • • Display: Shown on canvas next to the person (can be toggled in Display Settings)
  • • Character limit: 500 characters for optimal canvas performance

Independent Canvas Notes

Free-standing notes that can be placed anywhere on the canvas, perfect for general observations, session notes, or genogram-wide annotations.

Creating Canvas Notes

  1. 1. Click the Notes icon in the Floating Canvas Toolbar
  2. 2. A modal opens - type your note content
  3. 3. Click "Add Note" to place it on the canvas
  4. 4. Drag the note to position it anywhere you need
  • • Fully draggable: Click and drag notes to any position on the canvas
  • • Inline editing: Click on an existing note to edit its content
  • • Text wrapping: Text automatically wraps after every two sentences for readability
  • • Security: All note content is sanitized with DOMPurify to prevent security issues

When to Use Each Type

Note Type Best For Example Use
Node-Dependent Person-specific details "Diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes in 2015, currently managed with medication"
Canvas Notes General observations, patterns, session notes "Notice pattern of addiction across 3 generations on maternal side"

Best Practices for Clinical Documentation

  • • Keep person notes concise and factual
  • • Use canvas notes for hypotheses or observations that span multiple family members
  • • Avoid including identifying information if you plan to share the genogram
  • • All notes are included in JSON exports for complete documentation

Quick Details

Quickly preview key information about any person without opening the full editor panel.

Using Quick Details

  1. 1. Hover your mouse over any person node on the canvas
  2. 2. Wait approximately 2 seconds
  3. 3. A tooltip appears showing essential information

What's Displayed

The quick details tooltip shows a snapshot of the most important information:

  • • Full name (first, middle, last)
  • • Birth year and age (if living) or death information (if deceased)
  • • Gender and life status
  • • Medical and mental health conditions
  • • Occupation and education

Tip for Efficiency: Use quick details when reviewing large genograms during sessions. You can quickly scan family members without constantly opening and closing the full editor panel, keeping the session flow smooth.

Creating Files

Organize your genogram projects by creating separate files for each client or family you work with.

How to Create a New Case

Genosm uses a comprehensive case creation modal that captures clinical context beyond just a file name.

  1. 1. Click the New Document button in the Workspace panel (left sidebar)
  2. 2. A comprehensive modal opens with multiple sections to fill out
  3. 3. Fill in the required fields (Case Name and Date) and optional clinical details
  4. 4. Click "Create Case" - your new genogram opens automatically with metadata saved

Case Creation Sections

The New Case modal includes four comprehensive sections:

1. Basic Information (Required)

  • • Case Name: Descriptive identifier (e.g., "Family-AB-Intake", "Client-JD-2024")
  • • Date: Session or creation date

2. Client Details (Optional)

  • • Subject's Name: Primary client being assessed
  • • Date of Birth: Client's DOB for age tracking
  • • Gender: Male, Female, Non-binary, Transgender options
  • • Contact Details: Phone, email (for your reference)
  • • Referrer: Who referred this client

3. Session Information (Optional)

  • • Session Type: Intake, Assessment, Therapy, Review, Termination, Other
  • • Session Number: Track session progression (1, 2, 3...)

4. Clinical Context (Optional, Collapsible)

  • • What's happening? (Initial Notes): Brief summary of presenting problem
  • • What are we here for? (Goals): Therapeutic goals (collapsible section)
  • • What's getting in the way? (Struggles): Barriers and struggles (collapsible section)

Why Capture This Information? All metadata you enter is saved with the genogram and can be edited later. It helps maintain clinical context, tracks session progression, and ensures continuity of care. This information is included in exports for comprehensive documentation.

Editing Case Metadata

You can update case details anytime:

  • • Click on a case in the Workspace panel to open it
  • • Click the Edit Case Details button in the workspace
  • • Update any field and click "Save Changes"

Naming Best Practices

HIPAA-Compliant Naming

  • • Use client initials or case numbers instead of full names
  • • Include session dates for version tracking (e.g., "Client-AB-2024-12-15")
  • • Avoid real names if you plan to sync or share files
  • • Be descriptive but private: "Family-Therapy-Session-3" instead of "Smith Family"

File Management Features

  • • Auto-save: All changes save automatically to browser storage
  • • Document list: All files appear in the Workspace panel for easy switching
  • • Rename anytime: Click on a document name in the list to rename it
  • • Delete when needed: Right-click to delete files you no longer need

Backup Reminder: Always export important genograms as JSON files for backup. Browser storage can be cleared accidentally, but JSON files provide a permanent backup you can re-import anytime.

Importing Files

Import previously exported genograms to restore backups or transfer work between devices.

Import Process

  1. 1. Click the Import button in the toolbar
  2. 2. Drag and drop your JSON file, or click to browse and select
  3. 3. Automatic validation: The file is checked for integrity and correctness
  4. 4. Preview summary: See node count, relationship count, and a list of people in the genogram
  5. 5. Click "Proceed with Import" to add it as a new document

Import Best Practices

  • • Only import JSON files exported from Genosm - Other formats won't work
  • • Keep a backup of your original file before making changes
  • • Imported genograms appear as new documents - They don't overwrite existing ones
  • • Files are validated for integrity automatically before import

Troubleshooting Import Issues

File Validation Errors

If you see an error during import, try these solutions:

  1. 1. Ensure the file was exported from Genosm - Files from other programs won't work
  2. 2. Check that the file hasn't been modified by external text editors or tools
  3. 3. Try re-exporting the genogram if you have access to the original
  4. 4. Verify the file extension is .json and the file isn't corrupted

Common Import Issues

Issue: "Invalid JSON file" error

Solution: The file structure is corrupted. Try exporting again or contact support with the file.

Issue: "Missing required fields" error

Solution: The file is from an incompatible version or has been manually edited. Use only unmodified Genosm exports.

Issue: Import succeeds but genogram looks wrong

Solution: This shouldn't happen. Contact support at hello@genosm.com with the JSON file for assistance.

Transferring Between Devices: Export all your genograms as JSON, store them in a cloud folder (Dropbox, Google Drive), then import on your new device. This is the recommended way to move your work between computers.

📚

Version Tracking

✨ NEW - DEMANDED FEATURE

Git-style version control for genograms — our most requested feature is finally here! Track changes over time, create snapshots at critical moments, and compare versions visually.

What is Version Tracking?

Version tracking allows you to create read-only snapshots of your genograms at different points in time. Each version is a complete, independent copy that preserves the exact state of your work at that moment. Think of it like Git commits for your family diagrams.

Why is this important? For long-term patient cases, family dynamics evolve over months or years. Version tracking lets you document these changes professionally, compare states, and maintain a complete audit trail for HIPAA compliance.

How Version Tracking Works

•
Version 1 (v1) - The Baseline: Your first save automatically creates v1, the baseline. This is the reference point for all comparisons.
•
Latest Version - Always Editable: Only the most recent version can be edited. All older versions are locked to preserve history.
•
Historical Versions - Read-Only: Previous versions are read-only snapshots. You can view and compare them, but not edit them.
•
Automatic Numbering: Versions are auto-numbered sequentially (v1, v2, v3...) with timestamps and optional names.

When to Create a New Version

📅 Long-Term Patient Tracking

Create versions at regular intervals (e.g., every 3 months) to document how family dynamics evolve during therapy. Perfect for tracking treatment progress over time.

🎯 Major Life Events

Save snapshots before and after significant changes - new diagnosis, marriage, birth, divorce, death, treatment milestones, or family discoveries.

💊 Treatment Progress

Document how family patterns change during therapy sessions. Compare "before" and "after" states to measure treatment impact objectively.

📋 Audit Trail & Compliance

Maintain a complete, timestamped record of all changes. Essential for HIPAA compliance, professional documentation, and legal protection.

Creating a New Version

  1. 1. Click the Timeline button (clock icon) in the top bar
  2. 2. In the timeline modal, click "+ New Version" (top-right button)
  3. 3. Optional: Add a name (e.g., "After Family Therapy Session 8") and notes describing what changed
  4. 4. Click "Create Version" - your current work is saved as the new latest version

Pro Tip: Version names and notes are searchable! Use descriptive labels like "Post-Diagnosis Update" or "Family Genogram - Jan 2025" to find versions quickly later.

Navigating Between Versions

Genosm provides two ways to move between versions:

← → Arrow Buttons (Quick Navigation)

  • • Located in the top bar, next to the document title
  • • ← Left arrow: Go to previous version (older)
  • • → Right arrow: Go to next version (newer)
  • • Auto-hide: Arrows only appear when multiple versions exist
  • • Direct switch: No modal - instant version switching

Timeline Modal (Full History View)

  • • Click the Timeline button in the top bar
  • • See all versions with names, dates, and change statistics
  • • Click any version card to switch to it
  • • Current version is highlighted with a colored border

Visual Diff Mode

Compare any version against the original baseline (v1) with visual highlights:

  1. 1. Navigate to any version you want to inspect
  2. 2. Click the "Diff" toggle button in the top bar
  3. 3. Changes are highlighted on the canvas:
Green Highlight

Nodes added since the baseline (v1)

Yellow Highlight

Nodes modified (changed name, notes, health info, relationships, etc.)

Normal (No Highlight)

Nodes unchanged from the baseline

Important: Diff mode always compares against v1 (baseline), not the previous version. This ensures you can see the total evolution of your genogram from its original state.

Granular Change Tracking

Our diff algorithm detects changes at every level:

•
Basic Information: Name, birth year, death year, gender, status changes
•
Clinical Details: Notes, health conditions, behavioral information, occupation
•
Relationships: New relationships (marriage, partnership, parent-child) or relationship type changes
•
Structural Changes: Position, family groupings, nationality updates

Version Control Rules

Critical Rules to Remember:

  1. 1. Only the latest version is editable. If you try to edit an older version, you'll get a warning to create a new version first.
  2. 2. Versions cannot be deleted individually. They're permanent snapshots for audit trail integrity.
  3. 3. Version numbering is sequential. You can't skip numbers or reorder versions.
  4. 4. Each version is a complete copy. Versions don't share data - each is fully independent.
  5. 5. v1 is always the baseline. The first version is special - it's the reference point for all diffs.

Best Practices

✅ DO: Create Meaningful Milestones

Save versions at clinically significant points: "Pre-Diagnosis", "After 6-Month Therapy", "Family Restructuring Post-Divorce"

✅ DO: Add Descriptive Notes

Document why you created the version: "Patient revealed abuse history - updated genogram to reflect new information"

✅ DO: Use Diff Mode for Presentations

When presenting patient progress, use diff mode to visually demonstrate changes over the treatment period

✅ DO: Export All Versions

When exporting to JSON, all versions are included automatically - perfect for backup and transfer

❌ DON'T: Create Versions for Minor Typos

Just fix typos in the latest version - save version creation for meaningful clinical changes

❌ DON'T: Rely Solely on Versions for Backup

Versions live in your browser. Always export to JSON for permanent external backups

Version Limit: There's no hard limit on the number of versions you can create, but be mindful that each version increases storage usage in your browser. For most clinical cases, 5-15 versions is typical.

Exporting & Saving

Auto-Save: Your work is automatically saved to your browser's local database every few seconds.

Export Formats

Format Use Case Details
PDF Clinical records, printing High-quality, embedded fonts
PNG Presentations, reports High-resolution raster image
SVG Design software editing Scalable vector graphics
JSON Backup, data migration ⚠️ Use for backups! Fully re-importable

Important: Always keep JSON backups of critical genograms. JSON is the only format that preserves all data and can be re-imported.

Backup & Sync

Genosm provides multiple backup strategies for maximum data safety.

Local Folder Backup (Recommended)

  1. 1. Click Settings in the status bar
  2. 2. Click "Connect Backup Folder"
  3. 3. Select a folder (Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox recommended)
  4. 4. Genosm will auto-save to this folder every 30-60 seconds

Backup Files

  • • genosm-master.json: Your primary data file
  • • autosave.json: Frequent auto-save file
  • • backups/: Versioned backups folder

Backup Best Practices

  • • Use a cloud-synced folder (Google Drive, OneDrive) for automatic multi-device access
  • • Export JSON backups monthly for critical cases
  • • Verify backup folder connection in the status bar
  • • Never store backups on external drives that may be disconnected

Sending Feedback

Help us improve Genosm by sharing your feedback, reporting bugs, or suggesting new features.

How to Send Feedback

  1. 1. Click the Feedback option in the Support tab of the right sidebar
  2. 2. A Google Form opens in a new tab with your email pre-filled (if you're logged in)
  3. 3. Describe your feedback, bug report, or feature request
  4. 4. Submit the form - our team will review and respond

What to Include

For Bug Reports

  • • What happened: Describe the unexpected behavior
  • • Steps to reproduce: How can we replicate the issue?
  • • Expected vs actual: What should have happened?
  • • Screenshots: Include screenshots if applicable (very helpful!)
  • • Browser: Which browser and version you're using

For Feature Requests

  • • Use case: What problem would this feature solve?
  • • Current workflow: How do you accomplish this today?
  • • Desired outcome: What should the feature do?

For General Feedback

  • • Share your experience using Genosm
  • • Suggest improvements to the user interface
  • • Tell us what features you love or find confusing

Response Time: We typically respond to feedback within 24 hours. Your input helps make Genosm better for everyone!

Interactive Tour

New to Genosm? Take a quick 3-minute guided tour to learn all the essential features.

Starting the Tour

  1. 1. Open the Support tab in the right sidebar
  2. 2. Click Start Interactive Tour
  3. 3. Follow the on-screen prompts - the tour is fully interactive
  4. 4. You can exit the tour anytime by clicking "Skip Tour"

What the Tour Covers

  • • Adding your first person to the genogram manually
  • • Using AI generation to create entire genograms from text
  • • Applying templates for quick family structure setup
  • • Connecting relationships between family members
  • • Editing person details with the comprehensive property panel
  • • Exporting your work as PDF, PNG, or JSON

Tour Features

  • • Duration: Approximately 3 minutes to complete
  • • Restart anytime: You can restart the tour whenever you need a refresher
  • • Progress saved: Your tour completion is saved in the browser
  • • Hands-on learning: Practice with real tools as you learn

Recommended for New Users: Even if you're familiar with genograms, the tour is a great way to discover Genosm-specific features like AI generation, custom patterns, and clinical insights that you might not find in traditional tools.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my patient data secure?

Yes. Genosm uses a local-first architecture. All patient data stays in your browser and your local file system. AI requests are anonymized before being sent to our servers.

Can I use Genosm offline?

Yes, for manual editing. AI features require an internet connection.

How do I move my data to a new computer?

Export all documents as JSON, then import them on the new computer. Or use the local folder backup feature with a cloud-synced folder.

Does Genosm comply with HIPAA?

Genosm is built with privacy-first architecture that aligns with HIPAA technical safeguards:

  • • Local-Only Storage: All patient data stays in your browser and local file system - never transmitted to our servers
  • • AI Anonymization: When using AI features, data is anonymized client-side before transmission
  • • No Cloud Storage: Genosm does not provide cloud storage or sync - data remains under your control
  • • File System Backup: Optional local folder backup uses browser-native File System Access API

However, HIPAA compliance requires organizational policies, workforce training, and Business Associate Agreements (BAAs). We recommend consulting your organization's compliance officer to ensure Genosm fits within your HIPAA compliance program.

Can I customize the genogram symbols?

Genosm follows standard genogram notation. Symbol customization is planned for a future release.

How many genograms can I create?

Unlimited.

Troubleshooting

Genogram won't load / Blank canvas

  • • Refresh the page (Ctrl+R / Cmd+R)
  • • Check browser console for errors (F12)
  • • Ensure browser storage is not full
  • • Try a different browser

AI generation fails

  • • Check your internet connection
  • • Verify you haven't hit your AI usage limit
  • • Simplify your prompt - try smaller family structures first
  • • Check subscription status in Settings

Folder backup not working

  • • Click "Reconnect Folder" in Settings
  • • Ensure the folder still exists and hasn't been moved
  • • Check browser permissions for File System Access
  • • Try a different folder

Performance issues / Slow canvas

  • • Close unused browser tabs
  • • Zoom out if working with very large genograms (>50 people)
  • • Clear browser cache and refresh
  • • Use Chrome or Edge for best performance

Export failed

  • • Disable browser popup blockers
  • • Try a different export format
  • • Ensure sufficient disk space
  • • For large genograms, try PNG instead of PDF

Still having issues? Contact us at hello@genosm.com