* Display Name Suffix On Diagrams, Focus Window, etc
-
BobWard
- Superstar
- Posts: 413
- Joined: 18 Nov 2012 01:50
- Family Historian: V6.2
- Location: Mesa, Arizona, USA
Display Name Suffix On Diagrams, Focus Window, etc
I am sure there is a simple way to do this, but I have not yet found the trick.
I want to display suffix information (Jr., Sr., etc) on the names in the Focus window and on charts & diagrams. The suffix info has been entered in the Names/Titles box.
Is there a box somewhere that I need to check to get suffix info to display?
ID:6603
I want to display suffix information (Jr., Sr., etc) on the names in the Focus window and on charts & diagrams. The suffix info has been entered in the Names/Titles box.
Is there a box somewhere that I need to check to get suffix info to display?
ID:6603
- BillH
- Megastar
- Posts: 2184
- Joined: 31 May 2010 03:40
- Family Historian: V7
- Location: Washington State, USA
Display Name Suffix On Diagrams, Focus Window, etc
Hi Bob,
Unfortunately, the focus window can not be tailored to show prefix, suffix, or nickname information for individuals. I really wish that it could be. There is a workaround that I use that helps me, but isn't quite as nice as it would be to have it in the focus window.
In the property box, there is a 'title' area where the name shows. This can be tailored. For example, here is a partial screen shot for one of my individuals.

You can see how I have it include the prefix, nickname, and suffix. I also include the record ID and Soundex code.
To set this, I went into the property box options and then selected Captions.... Then, in the Individual: box, I keyed in the following:
=CombineText(' ',%INDI.NAME.NPFX%,'')=CombineText(' ',%INDI.NAME:GIVEN%,'')=CombineText(' ',%INDI.NAME:MIDDLE%,'')=CombineText(' ''',%INDI.NAME.NICK%,'''','')=CombineText(' ',%INDI.NAME:SURNAME%,'')=CombineText(' ',%INDI.NAME.NSFX%,'') [=RecordId()] [%INDI.NAME:SOUNDEX%]
Note that around the nickname I am using two single quotes surrounded by double quotes. This really looks about the same as a double quote, but FH could not understand a double quote surrounded by double quotes, the forumula got confused. This of course can be tailored to show any or all of this information.
I do not know if this information can be shown on diagrams and charts. I'm sure someone will explain how to do it if it can be done. Let me know if you have any questions.
Bill
Unfortunately, the focus window can not be tailored to show prefix, suffix, or nickname information for individuals. I really wish that it could be. There is a workaround that I use that helps me, but isn't quite as nice as it would be to have it in the focus window.
In the property box, there is a 'title' area where the name shows. This can be tailored. For example, here is a partial screen shot for one of my individuals.

You can see how I have it include the prefix, nickname, and suffix. I also include the record ID and Soundex code.
To set this, I went into the property box options and then selected Captions.... Then, in the Individual: box, I keyed in the following:
=CombineText(' ',%INDI.NAME.NPFX%,'')=CombineText(' ',%INDI.NAME:GIVEN%,'')=CombineText(' ',%INDI.NAME:MIDDLE%,'')=CombineText(' ''',%INDI.NAME.NICK%,'''','')=CombineText(' ',%INDI.NAME:SURNAME%,'')=CombineText(' ',%INDI.NAME.NSFX%,'') [=RecordId()] [%INDI.NAME:SOUNDEX%]
Note that around the nickname I am using two single quotes surrounded by double quotes. This really looks about the same as a double quote, but FH could not understand a double quote surrounded by double quotes, the forumula got confused. This of course can be tailored to show any or all of this information.
I do not know if this information can be shown on diagrams and charts. I'm sure someone will explain how to do it if it can be done. Let me know if you have any questions.
Bill
- Jane
- Site Admin
- Posts: 8442
- Joined: 01 Nov 2002 15:00
- Family Historian: V7
- Location: Somerset, England
- Contact:
Display Name Suffix On Diagrams, Focus Window, etc
On diagrams you can simply change the name data reference to
%INDI.NAME[1]:ADORNED_FULL% (%_INSTANCE_%)
I think this will show want you want. If you don't need the nickname as in Bill's example
%INDI.NAME[1]:ADORNED_FULL% (%_INSTANCE_%)
I think this will show want you want. If you don't need the nickname as in Bill's example
- tatewise
- Megastar
- Posts: 27088
- Joined: 25 May 2010 11:00
- Family Historian: V7
- Location: Torbay, Devon, UK
- Contact:
Display Name Suffix On Diagrams, Focus Window, etc
Another option is to simply add the suffix to the Name box after the surname.
e.g. Fred /Smith/ Jr.
Then it automatically appears everywhere, in Focus Window, in Records Window, on Diagrams, etc.
e.g. Fred /Smith/ Jr.
Then it automatically appears everywhere, in Focus Window, in Records Window, on Diagrams, etc.
-
BobWard
- Superstar
- Posts: 413
- Joined: 18 Nov 2012 01:50
- Family Historian: V6.2
- Location: Mesa, Arizona, USA
Display Name Suffix On Diagrams, Focus Window, etc
Thanks everyone for the tips.
Mike, regarding your suggestion. If you add '/Jr.' in the name box and also have it entered in the 'Names/Titles-Suffix' box, will it cause the 'Jr.' to show twice in some diagrams-charts-tables? For Example, William T. Ward, Jr., Jr.
Jane, does your suggestion imply that nicknames will not display if we alter the name-data reference to pick up the Jr. suffix? BTW, how do I access the name data reference line that you show? Sorry, I am still on the low end of the learning curve.
Mike, regarding your suggestion. If you add '/Jr.' in the name box and also have it entered in the 'Names/Titles-Suffix' box, will it cause the 'Jr.' to show twice in some diagrams-charts-tables? For Example, William T. Ward, Jr., Jr.
Jane, does your suggestion imply that nicknames will not display if we alter the name-data reference to pick up the Jr. suffix? BTW, how do I access the name data reference line that you show? Sorry, I am still on the low end of the learning curve.
- PeterR
- Megastar
- Posts: 1129
- Joined: 10 Jul 2006 16:55
- Family Historian: V7
- Location: Northumberland, UK
Display Name Suffix On Diagrams, Focus Window, etc
Bob,
Diagram Text Schemes are discussed briefly on page 35 in Chapter 3 of Getting the Most From Family Historian 5 and there is more information in the on-screen Help.
There are 16 possible Qualifiers for the Name field of which :ADORNED_FULL is only one. If none of them meets your requirements, you can combine them in various ways, e.g. as suggested by Bill Henshaw, above.
To prevent the possible doubling of a Name Suffix you would have to make sure that the Name Suffix field is empty (and any required suffix is added to the end of the main Name field) or that the relevant Report Option is set to Hide the Name Suffix.
Diagram Text Schemes are discussed briefly on page 35 in Chapter 3 of Getting the Most From Family Historian 5 and there is more information in the on-screen Help.
There are 16 possible Qualifiers for the Name field of which :ADORNED_FULL is only one. If none of them meets your requirements, you can combine them in various ways, e.g. as suggested by Bill Henshaw, above.
To prevent the possible doubling of a Name Suffix you would have to make sure that the Name Suffix field is empty (and any required suffix is added to the end of the main Name field) or that the relevant Report Option is set to Hide the Name Suffix.
- tatewise
- Megastar
- Posts: 27088
- Joined: 25 May 2010 11:00
- Family Historian: V7
- Location: Torbay, Devon, UK
- Contact:
Display Name Suffix On Diagrams, Focus Window, etc
I can answer both questions together, as it all depends on the Data References.
See Understanding Data References for details.
The short answer to your first question is in most cases NO, because only the Name box contents is displayed by default (but there are some exceptions).
The answer to your second question explains how & why.
I suggest performing experiments in the Family Historian Sample Project.
See File > Project Window > More Tasks > Samples > Reset Sample Project.
To access the Name Data Reference in a Diagram, first open your desired type of Diagram (Ancestor, Descendant, All Relatives, etc).
Use Diagram > Options > Text tab, and then the Edit button to edit the Text Scheme.
In passing, notice the Name Format drop-down list top left, which are shortcuts that will become clearer soon.
Click on the first Name item in the right-hand column, and click the Edit button.
The Template field at the top is what Jane is referring to.
Click on the Book: 'Getting the Most from Family Historian 5' > Chapter 9 Setting the Style, Layout & Content of Diagrams for a tutorial.
The same Data References crop up in Queries and in Reports.
See Chapter 14 Writing Custom Queries and Chapter 17 Reports.
See Understanding Data References for details.
The short answer to your first question is in most cases NO, because only the Name box contents is displayed by default (but there are some exceptions).
The answer to your second question explains how & why.
I suggest performing experiments in the Family Historian Sample Project.
See File > Project Window > More Tasks > Samples > Reset Sample Project.
To access the Name Data Reference in a Diagram, first open your desired type of Diagram (Ancestor, Descendant, All Relatives, etc).
Use Diagram > Options > Text tab, and then the Edit button to edit the Text Scheme.
In passing, notice the Name Format drop-down list top left, which are shortcuts that will become clearer soon.
Click on the first Name item in the right-hand column, and click the Edit button.
The Template field at the top is what Jane is referring to.
Click on the Book: 'Getting the Most from Family Historian 5' > Chapter 9 Setting the Style, Layout & Content of Diagrams for a tutorial.
The same Data References crop up in Queries and in Reports.
See Chapter 14 Writing Custom Queries and Chapter 17 Reports.
-
BobWard
- Superstar
- Posts: 413
- Joined: 18 Nov 2012 01:50
- Family Historian: V6.2
- Location: Mesa, Arizona, USA
Display Name Suffix On Diagrams, Focus Window, etc
After reading the additional responses, I did some experimenting with the suggestions and here are the results:

So the only way I could get the suffix to appear on both charts & the Focus window was to use Trial 1 parameters. If you just want the suffix to appear on the charts, then Trial 3 parameters would be the way to go.
I like the Trial 1 procedure, but it is a little bit unconventional. Maybe a Wish List item could revise the code to display the suffix in the Focus window & charts when just the suffix box is used.
Thanks for all the suggestions. I am moving up the learning curve.
Bob

So the only way I could get the suffix to appear on both charts & the Focus window was to use Trial 1 parameters. If you just want the suffix to appear on the charts, then Trial 3 parameters would be the way to go.
I like the Trial 1 procedure, but it is a little bit unconventional. Maybe a Wish List item could revise the code to display the suffix in the Focus window & charts when just the suffix box is used.
Thanks for all the suggestions. I am moving up the learning curve.
Bob
- BillH
- Megastar
- Posts: 2184
- Joined: 31 May 2010 03:40
- Family Historian: V7
- Location: Washington State, USA
Display Name Suffix On Diagrams, Focus Window, etc
While not an exact match, wish list item 429 does address this in the comments.
http://www.fhug.org.uk/wishlist/wldispl ... lwlref=429
I'm not sure, but it might be a good idea to create a new wish list item for just what you want.
Bill
http://www.fhug.org.uk/wishlist/wldispl ... lwlref=429
I'm not sure, but it might be a good idea to create a new wish list item for just what you want.
Bill
- tatewise
- Megastar
- Posts: 27088
- Joined: 25 May 2010 11:00
- Family Historian: V7
- Location: Torbay, Devon, UK
- Contact:
Display Name Suffix On Diagrams, Focus Window, etc
May I put the last few comments into context.
Most displays in FH allow the Name field and its related fields to be presented in whatever manner you prefer.
e.g. Diagram Text Schemes, Queries, most Reports, and the Property Box Caption.
Wish List Ref 429, Show Name Prefix and Suffixes on all reports is aimed at the few Reports that lack the capability.
i.e. Narrative, Outline & How Related Reports.
See Tools > Preferences > Property Box > Captions to customise Names at the top of the Individual Property Box.
What is needed is a similar Captions option for Tools > Preferences > Focus Window.
Note to ChrisM
One tactic would be to adjust the Wish List to cover all Name related fields everywhere they are displayed, and specifically mention the problem Reports and the Focus Window.
Most displays in FH allow the Name field and its related fields to be presented in whatever manner you prefer.
e.g. Diagram Text Schemes, Queries, most Reports, and the Property Box Caption.
Wish List Ref 429, Show Name Prefix and Suffixes on all reports is aimed at the few Reports that lack the capability.
i.e. Narrative, Outline & How Related Reports.
See Tools > Preferences > Property Box > Captions to customise Names at the top of the Individual Property Box.
What is needed is a similar Captions option for Tools > Preferences > Focus Window.
Note to ChrisM
One tactic would be to adjust the Wish List to cover all Name related fields everywhere they are displayed, and specifically mention the problem Reports and the Focus Window.
Re: Display Name Suffix On Diagrams, Focus Window, etc
On 21 Nov 2012 Tatewise said:
Another option is to simply add the suffix to the Name box after the surname.
e.g. Fred /Smith/ Jr.
Then it automatically appears everywhere, in Focus Window, in Records Window, on Diagrams, etc.
I am wondering if there is some way to do this for multiple records at the same time. I have created a custom query to find all the records in my project which have a suffix but cannot work out how to use it as an action query.
Another option is to simply add the suffix to the Name box after the surname.
e.g. Fred /Smith/ Jr.
Then it automatically appears everywhere, in Focus Window, in Records Window, on Diagrams, etc.
I am wondering if there is some way to do this for multiple records at the same time. I have created a custom query to find all the records in my project which have a suffix but cannot work out how to use it as an action query.
- tatewise
- Megastar
- Posts: 27088
- Joined: 25 May 2010 11:00
- Family Historian: V7
- Location: Torbay, Devon, UK
- Contact:
Re: Display Name Suffix On Diagrams, Focus Window, etc
A similar topic was recently discussed on the [FHU] Mailing List "INDI field".
There is no Data Reference that can identify that type of suffix, so it cannot be accessed via a Query.
I would be surprised if your custom Query can access that suffix text.
The only solution is to use a Plugin, which has the capability to process the NAME text and read/write the suffix.
There is no Data Reference that can identify that type of suffix, so it cannot be accessed via a Query.
I would be surprised if your custom Query can access that suffix text.
The only solution is to use a Plugin, which has the capability to process the NAME text and read/write the suffix.
Mike Tate ~ researching the Tate and Scott family history ~ tatewise ancestry
Re: Display Name Suffix On Diagrams, Focus Window, etc
I used %INDI.NAME:NSFX% which seemed to work in choosing records with non-empty suffixes and showing the suffixes in a column.
- tatewise
- Megastar
- Posts: 27088
- Joined: 25 May 2010 11:00
- Family Historian: V7
- Location: Torbay, Devon, UK
- Contact:
Re: Display Name Suffix On Diagrams, Focus Window, etc
Unfortunately, your %INDI.NAME:NSFX% is NOT a valid Data Reference, so I suspect you mean %INDI.NAME.NSFX% with a dot instead of a colon. However, that is NOT the suffix we are discussing.
In Gedcom Data Reference terms, there are the following:
INDI
INDI.NAME Fred /Smith/ Jr.
INDI.NAME.NSFX Junior
INDI.NAME appears in the Primary Name box as Fred /Smith/ Jr.
INDI.NAME.NSFX appears in the Name Suffix box after using more... next to the Name box.
The INDI.NAME Fred /Smith/ Jr. details appear by default in the Focus Window, in Records Window, on Diagrams, etc, but INDI.NAME.NSFX Junior does not appear there unless you add the %INDI.NAME.NSFX% reference, which is NOT possible in the Focus Window.
In Gedcom Data Reference terms, there are the following:
INDI
INDI.NAME Fred /Smith/ Jr.
INDI.NAME.NSFX Junior
INDI.NAME appears in the Primary Name box as Fred /Smith/ Jr.
INDI.NAME.NSFX appears in the Name Suffix box after using more... next to the Name box.
The INDI.NAME Fred /Smith/ Jr. details appear by default in the Focus Window, in Records Window, on Diagrams, etc, but INDI.NAME.NSFX Junior does not appear there unless you add the %INDI.NAME.NSFX% reference, which is NOT possible in the Focus Window.
Mike Tate ~ researching the Tate and Scott family history ~ tatewise ancestry
Re: Display Name Suffix On Diagrams, Focus Window, etc
You are right about my mistake.
In your previous post you said "The only solution is to use a Plugin, which has the capability to process the NAME text and read/write the suffix" - does such a plug-in exist?
In your previous post you said "The only solution is to use a Plugin, which has the capability to process the NAME text and read/write the suffix" - does such a plug-in exist?
- tatewise
- Megastar
- Posts: 27088
- Joined: 25 May 2010 11:00
- Family Historian: V7
- Location: Torbay, Devon, UK
- Contact:
Re: Display Name Suffix On Diagrams, Focus Window, etc
No such Plugin exists, but would be a very simple one to cut your teeth on!!!
Mike Tate ~ researching the Tate and Scott family history ~ tatewise ancestry
Re: Display Name Suffix On Diagrams, Focus Window, etc
Thank you for the challenge - I had never heard of Lua before.
I have written a plug-in which does what I wanted for my data file and have applied to upload it to the store in case anyone else may find it useful.
I have written a plug-in which does what I wanted for my data file and have applied to upload it to the store in case anyone else may find it useful.
- tatewise
- Megastar
- Posts: 27088
- Joined: 25 May 2010 11:00
- Family Historian: V7
- Location: Torbay, Devon, UK
- Contact:
Re: Display Name Suffix On Diagrams, Focus Window, etc
Hi John.
I have taken a look at your published Plugin and have a few comments and tips.
I have taken a look at your published Plugin and have a few comments and tips.
- The Details say it Requires version 5.0.0 but unfortunately it will not run in FH V5.0 because it is encoded in UTF-8. This is an easy mistake to arise, because that encoding is the FH V6 default for new Plugins, and should have been spotted by Calico Pie before approving the Plugin. There are two solutions:
1) Change the Plugin Store to Requires version 6.0.0
2) Change the Plugin encoding to ANSI and add the statement:
if fhGetAppVersion() > 5 then fhSetStringEncoding("UTF-8") end - Use if strSuffix ~= "" then and put pi:MoveNext() once outside the if then end.
- You do not need the :STORED qualifier.
- fhSetValueAsText( ptrName, fhGetValueAsText(ptrName) .. strSuffix ) will add the suffix without needing to use :GIVEN_ALL and :SURNAME qualifiers.
Mike Tate ~ researching the Tate and Scott family history ~ tatewise ancestry
Re: Display Name Suffix On Diagrams, Focus Window, etc
Thank you for your comments, Mike.
I have changed the minimum version of fh to six. I don't think this is a problem because the plug-in is likely to be of most use to new users of fh.
I have not actioned your other suggestions at the moment as I don't want to go through a thorough testing procedure to pick up the mistakes I am likely to make.
I have changed the minimum version of fh to six. I don't think this is a problem because the plug-in is likely to be of most use to new users of fh.
I have not actioned your other suggestions at the moment as I don't want to go through a thorough testing procedure to pick up the mistakes I am likely to make.