{"id":13240,"date":"2026-09-23T11:04:20","date_gmt":"2026-09-23T11:04:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fhug.org.uk\/kb\/?post_type=kb_article&p=13240"},"modified":"2026-10-02T15:59:18","modified_gmt":"2026-10-02T15:59:18","slug":"whats-new-in-family-historian-8","status":"publish","type":"kb_article","link":"https:\/\/www.fhug.org.uk\/kb\/kb-article\/whats-new-in-family-historian-8\/","title":{"rendered":"What’s New in Family Historian 8"},"content":{"rendered":"

This is a short tour of the main changes in \u0192h<\/span><\/span>8, with links to the Knowledge Base articles that cover each one. For the Knowledge Base articles written or revised for Version 8, see What’s New in the Knowledge Base for Version 8<\/a>. If you are about to upgrade, start with Upgrading to Family Historian 8<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Headline Features<\/h2>\n

Smart Folders<\/h3>\n

Smart folders sort your records into folders automatically, so you can browse a project by source template, place or anything else a query can pick out. They appear in an optional pane beside every tab of the Records Window, in every record selector, and in the Query Window. Folders are grouped into folder sets; \u0192h<\/span><\/span> comes with a standard set for each record type, and you can make your own. See An Overview of Smart Folders<\/a>.<\/p>\n

FamilySearch<\/h3>\n

A new FamilySearch Window lets you match people in your project with people in the FamilySearch global tree or in a FamilySearch user tree, compare the two, copy information in either direction, and receive record hints. Matching shares nothing with FamilySearch; \u0192h<\/span><\/span> only stores the FamilySearch Id. You need a free FamilySearch account. The window can float in front of other windows and follow your selection. See the help page The FamilySearch Window<\/a>.<\/p>\n

AI Connector<\/h3>\n

The AI Connector is an optional plugin that lets Claude, or another compatible AI assistant, work with your project through \u0192h<\/span><\/span>‘s plugin interface: answering questions about your data or, if you allow it, making changes, which you can undo when you finish. You need your own account with the AI service, and anything it reads is sent to that service. See The AI Connector<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Family Historian Mobile<\/h3>\n

A free companion app shows your project on your phone: people, relationships, sources, notes, pictures, maps and trees. \u0192h<\/span><\/span>8 makes a compact copy for it with Export to Family Historian Mobile<\/em> on the File menu. At launch the Android app is in beta and an iPhone version is in development. See Family Historian Mobile<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Maps<\/h3>\n

Events can now be mapped by address as well as by place. Maps can carry shapes and text, and overlays such as the historic counties of the UK; you can import your own overlays in geoJSON format. Maps can be saved and reopened, or saved as Media records or JPEG images. There is also a search for markers within a given distance of a point. See Maps in Version 8<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Queries<\/h3>\n

The Query Window has been redesigned. The Rows tab is now the Filters tab, and the old Add if \/ Remove unless conditions have gone; filters are grouped in AND and OR subgroups instead, shown as a tree. Queries use a new file format (.fhqx<\/code>); older queries are converted when you upgrade or import them. There are new query types for addresses, citations and witnesses, and a Query Manager tool. See An Overview of Queries in Version 8<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Addresses<\/h3>\n

Addresses are now records in their own right, normally linked to a place. An Address record can have a map location, pictures and notes, and there is a new Address List report. Entering an address works much as before, and auto-complete offers the addresses already linked to the place. See Working with Places and Addresses in Version 8<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Sources and Citations<\/h3>\n

There is a third type of source, free form, alongside generic and templated sources. Any citation’s footnote, short footnote and bibliography output can now be customised in the Citation Window. Smart folders can show sources grouped by template or other details without changing how the data is stored. See Sources and Citations in Version 8 (for New Users)<\/a>, Sources and Citations in Version 8 (for Upgraders from Version 7)<\/a> and Free Form Sources<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Reports<\/h3>\n

The new All Relatives Narrative report covers every relative of one person, a generation at a time, youngest first, and can say how each is related to them. There is also a new Register Report, Address List and Place List reports, and a Special Text option on the Formats tab for the wording used for partners and children. See the help page Report Options Dialog: Main Tab (All Relative)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Diagrams<\/h3>\n

Box icons are now SVG, the default fan chart is three-quarter, and box styles can be saved as presets and shared. Options for any diagram type can be saved and reused. See Diagrams in Version 8<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Books<\/h3>\n

Books can include a pedigree chart, and diagrams can still be edited after they have been added. Multi-page diagrams can be laid out to fit a book’s pages exactly, and small figures can take up part of a page. You can also make scrapbooks and photo books. See Creating a Book<\/a>.<\/p>\n

64-bit<\/h3>\n\u0192h<\/span><\/span>8 is a 64-bit program, so it copes with much larger projects, diagrams, reports and books. It needs a 64-bit version of Windows. The old limits on backup size have gone.<\/p>\n

Non-Family Relationships<\/h3>\n

Witness support has been extended so you can record relationships of any kind: friend lists, friendship groups, enslavement, and custom relationships that are one-to-one, one-to-many or many-to-many. See Recording Non-Family Relationships<\/a> and Witness Facts<\/a>.<\/p>\n

LDS Church Support<\/h3>\n

For members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, \u0192h<\/span><\/span>8 can record ordinance details on the Facts tab, and has an updated LDS Ordinances report and a new LDS Ordinances query. Turn it on with Enable LDS Support<\/em> on the General tab of Tools > Preferences<\/a>. See LDS Church Support in Version 8<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Other Changes<\/h2>\n