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Connection Management ​

This document provides a comprehensive overview of the connection management system in Family Shapes, including the data model, implementation details, and key features.

Overview ​

The connection system is a core component of Family Shapes, enabling the representation of relationships between people, donors, and families. It supports various relationship types and provides the foundation for family tree visualization.

Data Model ​

Connections in Family Shapes are represented by the following key tables:

  • connections: Core relationship data between people
  • connection_types: Defines the types of relationships (parent-child, donor-recipient, etc.)
  • connection_metadata: Additional data associated with connections
  • connection_visibility: Controls who can see specific connections

Key Features ​

Connection Creation and Management ​

  • Standardized Connection Interface: Unified interface for creating and managing connections
  • Relationship Type Support: Support for various relationship types including biological, donor, and social relationships
  • Bidirectional Relationships: Automatic creation of reciprocal relationships when appropriate
  • Validation Rules: Ensures data integrity and prevents invalid relationships

Connection Visualization ​

  • Family Tree Integration: Connections form the basis of family tree visualization
  • Layout Algorithms: Support for different layout algorithms based on connection types
  • Interactive Editing: Real-time editing of connections in the family tree view
  • Filtering Options: Ability to filter connections by type, visibility, and other criteria

Connection Data Consolidation ​

  • Duplicate Detection: Identification and resolution of duplicate connections
  • Data Normalization: Ensures consistent representation of relationships
  • Migration Support: Tools for migrating legacy connection data to the new model

Implementation Details ​

Connection Service ​

The ConnectionService provides the following key methods:

typescript
// Create a new connection between two people
createConnection(fromPersonId: string, toPersonId: string, type: ConnectionType, metadata?: ConnectionMetadata): Promise<Connection>

// Get all connections for a person
getConnectionsForPerson(personId: string, options?: ConnectionQueryOptions): Promise<Connection[]>

// Get all connections for a family tree
getConnectionsForFamilyTree(treeId: string): Promise<Connection[]>

// Update an existing connection
updateConnection(connectionId: string, updates: Partial<Connection>): Promise<Connection>

// Delete a connection
deleteConnection(connectionId: string): Promise<void>

// Clean up duplicate connections
cleanupDuplicateConnections(personId: string): Promise<CleanupResult>

Connection Types ​

The system supports the following connection types:

  • Biological Parent-Child: Biological relationship between parent and child
  • Donor-Recipient: Relationship between donor and recipient
  • Social Parent-Child: Non-biological parenting relationship
  • Partner: Relationship between partners (marriage, domestic partnership, etc.)
  • Sibling: Relationship between siblings
  • Half-Sibling: Relationship between half-siblings
  • Donor-Sibling: Relationship between people who share a donor

Connection Visibility ​

Connections can have different visibility settings:

  • Public: Visible to all users with access to the family tree
  • Private: Visible only to the people directly involved in the connection
  • Organization: Visible only to members of the organization
  • Custom: Visibility controlled by custom rules

Performance Considerations ​

  • Efficient Querying: Optimized database queries for connection retrieval
  • Caching Strategy: React Query caching for frequently accessed connections
  • Batch Operations: Support for batch creation and updates of connections
  • Lazy Loading: Loading connections on demand to improve performance

Future Enhancements ​

  • Advanced Filtering: More sophisticated filtering options for connections
  • Temporal Connections: Support for time-based relationship changes
  • Connection Templates: Predefined connection patterns for common family structures
  • Bulk Editing: Tools for editing multiple connections simultaneously