* Moving in Ancestors view

[GeneSniper]

Hi

I have just noticed this and don't know why I haven't noticed it before as I used to use this feature all the time when I used FTM. When I have my family tree in Ancestors (Pedigree view) in the Focus Window I can't move about the tree using the arrow keys, yes I can move about what is on the screen but once I get to the 5th generation I can't move to the next person (6th generation) without pressing the enter key or double clicking the 5th generation person and then I can't find an easy way back without again using the back icon.

Is there a way to do this in FH?

[PeterR]

The Preferences dialogue for the Focus Window (accessible via Customize View…) has Max. Ancestor Generations (space permitting): but if you try to enter a value greater than 5 an error box tells you to “Enter an integer between 2 and 5.”
Earlier versions of FH did not have the Focus Window, and many users still prefer to navigate via e.g. an Ancestor Diagram where there does not have to be an upper limit on the number of generations.

[GeneSniper]

Peter

Does that mean no there isn't a way to do it in FH? FTM has the same restrictions of how many generations are shown on screen (up to 5), it just moves to the next generation up if you keep pressing the right arrow. I am hoping there is a way to do it although with no answers so far I am not holding out much hope.

[tatewise]

There is no way on the Ancestors tab of the Focus Window, except as you described.

But as Peter said, the Ancestor Diagram has all the capabilities you are expecting and more.

The other Diagram types offer Descendants, Ancestors & Descendants and All Relatives.

In addition, Diagrams are dynamically interactive with Property Boxes and allow new Relatives to be added directly to boxes in the Diagram. They are also highly customisable as illustrated by fhugdownloads:diagramtypes|> Downloads and Links ~ Diagram Types and fhugdownloads:diagramtextschemes|> Downloads and Links ~ Diagram Text Schemes.

[GeneSniper]

The Ancestors Diagram works perfectly once I change the orientation run Right-Left (Bit counter intuitive, as I would call this Left-Right ). I only realised I could do this reading a computer magazine today, so someone obviously knew I was going to ask this question and helpfully wrote an article to complete the answer I got here. Sadly it doesn't work in All Relatives Diagram, but I was asking for Ancestors after all.

[LornaCraig]

Have you tried the Ancestors and Descendants diagram (third of the four diagram icons in the main toolbar)? You will need to untick the option to Auto-display root's siblings' branches, which I think is ticked by default.

[tatewise]

William, what do you mean by "Sadly it doesn't work in All Relatives Diagram"?
All four Orientation: options work just fine for me!

The default Top-down puts Ancestors to the top and Descendants to the bottom.
So logically, Right-left puts Ancestors to the right and Descendants to the left.
Similarly, for the other two being a mirror image of the above.

In the Diagram Window try clicking F1 to get the Help page, then click Diagram Menu for all the menu commands, then right at the bottom click Diagram Options Dialog for all the option tab settings.

Also, Getting the Most From Family Historian Chapter 3. Introduction to Diagrams covers many of the basic settings and Chapter 9. Setting the Style, Layout & Content of Diagrams Page 96 mentions Diagram Orientaion.

[LornaCraig]

Mike, I think William probably meant that the All Relatives diagram contains more people than he wants. I think he wants to imitate the Ancestors and Descendants tabs of the Focus window. This is why I suggested the Ancestors and Descendants diagram with the siblings roots branches unticked.

[GeneSniper]

Sorry Mike

I didn't mean the orientation didn't work in all relatives I meant moving up and down the trees with the direction arrows didn't work. If you start at yourself say and move up the tree it doesn't stay with your family (paternal) and then when you try to come back down it can get trapped in a relative who has no descendants. Easier to try it than try to describe it.

The reason I say counter intuitive is that I kind of start a diagram from the main person (myself say) and if I am at the left and move across the tree to the right, I would call that left-right, but it is called right-left. No complaint just different way of describing something I would say is the opposite way from the way I would describe it. Same would go for up down, I would say Ancestors diagram starting with myself moving up through the tree bottom to top and Decendents again starting with myself top to bottom, yet FH describes them both Top-Down.

[LornaCraig]

When you talk about starting with yourself on the left and moving across the tree to the right, you have to be clear about whether you are moving across your ancestors to the right or across your descendants to the right. And how would you expect to describe a tree in which you place yourself in the middle and show your ancestors on one side and your descendants on the other?

In FH the top/bottom or left/right descriptions always apply to the order of the generations in time. So in top-down, the earliest generations are at the top and the most recent generations are at the bottom. The reverse applies for bottom-up diagrams. And in left-right the earliest generations are on the left and the most recent are on the right, while the reverse applies for right-left diagrams. This is clear and unambiguous.

I am not sure why navigating around the tree is a problem. I always work from trees as I find the visual layout makes things clear. Have you tried the Ancestors and Descendants diagram? You can't "come back down it and get trapped in a relative who has no descendants" because those people are not included in the diagram.

[tatewise]

I totally agree with Lorna about Orientation with respect to Generations.

Movement works in All Relatives Diagrams if you set Diagram > Options > Proxies > Always show proxy boxes.

[GeneSniper]

Lorna - Makes perfect sense when you describe it that way Thanks

Mike- Thanks for that, works perfectly