Family Historian User Group

Probably a stupid question (sorry) and down to personal preference, but I'm looking for ideas about the 'place' in reports (particularly the 'Family Group Sheet' which I'm using in a book) as it appears in an awkward position if you want to add a photo on the right of the text.

Currently my solution is to remove all text from place and add to the address field, but that then removes place (obviously) from the index. I've tried numerous column indents settings but depending on the length of the date and age, and the place, some will wrap-around and look untidy. I've tried to hide 'place' from the reports so that they stayed in the individuals data for other uses, and to show 'place' on a separate line, but can't get either of those options to work.

I've attached 2 images using the snipping tool so only the relevant bit is showing. The first one is fine, but results in a large number of other records in the report - with longer dates / ages - wrapping around.
Moving the tab further out results in the image in the second picture.
I'd be really grateful for any ideas or suggestions.

I think that you may have to bite the bullet and accept wrap-round in either the date or the place. Or even both...

This is using the default setting for Column Indents (Page Layout tab on Report Options) with Indent 3 set to 3.5" The Greenheys placename is actually fine for me but let's say that it wasn't because I didn't like the way Chorlton-upon-Medlock was printed. If I alter Indent #3 from 3.5" down to 2.5", then the Greenheys bit still looks fine, viz: but a 1936-38 residence date further down the page is too wide (now that column 3 has moved in fom the right) and so it wraps: I did try Indent #3 set to 3" but that looked worse because I then had the month (Nov) on the top line of the date, and the year on the next line.

My picture width, by the way, appears to be set at 1.42".

Here are some ideas involving the Options... settings:

1. On the Format tab, select the Section Data and Edit... the Font Size so it is smaller.
   Then the tab can be moved without upsetting the line layout so much.
2. On the Page Layout tab, set Orientation to Landscape &/or reduce the Margins Left and Right values.
   That allows more text on each line.
3. On the Pictures tab, choose any option except To the Right of the Text &/or reduce the Size of the images.
   Then the line layout is not affected at all.

Cheers both, I've only just seen your posts sorry - have ticked the notify me button now - and am about to go to bed, but Adrian, I think you're right, I'll just have to play with the tabs and decide on the best format (though I get one that fits nicely only to find it's not as good for another family - and I want to produce the whole family in one go to have the index ideally). Mike - thanks, I've tried all those options, the font is already only 10 for the label and 9 for the text but it looks larger in my clips; not keen on the idea of landscape but will give it a try; and I don't like the other picture options but these could be smaller.

PS Adrian, i was helping someone with a family in Chorlton-upon-Medlock earlier today

I had to have a quick look but having changed #3 to 2.5" i get this further down the report.... ps the actual image is much smaller than it looks

but I like the full date - oh well something will have to give

Adrian, thanks for adding those clips - my details of events are factual but very boring ….. eg Frank, aged 26, bachelor, civil servant, of address, father: John, schoolmaster, followed by the bride and then witnesses:…… priest:……
I am going to pinch your idea and write it more as a story, thanks

Here are a few more Report Options tweaks to consider:

1. On the Contents tab, untick or calculated bottom right. Then calculated ages are excluded so the Date column is less likely to wrap.
2. On the Format tab, set Format for Dates: at bottom to Compact. Then months are abbreviated to 3 letters so the Date column is less likely to wrap.
3. On the Page Layout tab, reduce the Left: & Right: Margins and the Column Indents 1. - 4. and the Gap: as shown below to shift the columns left and allow more room for Place names:
   
   

   

   ReportOptionsPageLayout.png (24.36 KiB) Viewed 791 times

Thanks Mike, I’ve been playing with various options and have changed the date to compact, which helps a lot. I’m in work at the moment but will look at the other options you give later on. Thanks