* Mapping ancestors through time

[dmac]

ancestor map.jpg (49.1 KiB) Viewed 822 times

The image was created manually by a friend for his own family research.
Is it possible within FH to create a map showing your ancestors journey through the ages?

[themoudie]

Aye dmac,

I do like your friend's plotting of his forebears travels through the generations. I suspect that they were shepherds and went to the Highlands as the estates were cleared of crofters/tenants to make way for the sheep.

Ironically, my wife is an Anderson from Tushielaw (landed gentry) and also an Anderson from from Badlieu/Carterhope (shepherd). Whilst I started my forestry in Strathglass in the early 1970's, so the first six places your friend's ancestors resided are familiar places. I'm happy to have a blether, if your friend thinks that I might have further information about his family or the general areas of their residence.

If I were to try and produce a similar map for my wifes family, UK, Africa, Caribbean, North and South American continents would be required. As FH does not have a mapping facility, may I suggest that you have a look at National Geographics, Mapmaker, application.
Link:National_Geographic_Mapmaker

Sign in.
Use the base map, zoom in to the place you wish to pinpoint. If the scale is too large, I also have Google maps open on another tab, find the place on Google maps and then using landscape features place the point on the NG map.
Using the wee menu, number and colour the symbol, add the placename and a short description. Close the point menu.
Save the map.
I have produced a wee map of the two places where the shepherd was in the Scottish Borders, saved it and the then copied the link, so that you can view the map:
https://mapmaker.nationalgeographic.org ... 487b752daa
Open the link.
Move the map across to the UK, then zoom in to the two symbols.
Left click on the symbols and the name of the place and limited details appear.

Have a wee play around and see how you get on. It may do all you require.

Good health, Bill

[Gowermick]

Contrary to what Themoudie said, FH does have a good mapping facility.

You can produce a Map in FH that marks all the places an Individual has associated with their facts you have.entered.
(I have done this for my fathers travels during WW2)

The only thing lacking is a way to mark them chronologically, but there is a workaround!

Open the map for the individual, with all their marks displayed, then take a screenshot of the map. ( Alt-PrtScrn)

Paste this into an external image editor (Ctl-V), then add numbers/dates alongside the markers already visible on the map as appropriate.
This following image is an example of an un-edited map.

Map.jpg (159.38 KiB) Viewed 725 times

Note one can change shape/colour of marker before taking the screenshot

[themoudie]

My apologies dmac.

Thank you Mike for highlighting my lack of nouse in the use of FH v7. May be I should upgrade from v6?

Good health, BillR

[BillH]

Actually, this mapping is available in version 6 as well.

Bill

[themoudie]

Aye BillH,

Thank you Bill. I live a sheltered life and spend more time researching than I do using the FH "features". I had enough problem sorting out a filing/folder sequence that made sense and then entering the information. Citations, still give me nightmares!

Consequently, I use AS for the majority of my data entry and have a lot of data entry to catch up with.

I know FH is the best genealogy software available, but "features", "plug-ins", constant upgrades/versions, etc, to my mind are a distraction to the research and recording of the genealogical information and the story it tells.

Really, I would be happy with a very simple ACCESS/Excel type database and use OneNote to write the story. But then the all important GEDCOM that nobody can agree on would be lacking. Hey! Ho!

I'll stick with FH for the time being, but cease posting on the "General Usage" for fear of making a of myself.

Good health and happy genealogy, BillR

[dmac]

Aye dmac,

I do like your friend's plotting of his forebears travels through the generations. I suspect that they were shepherds and went to the Highlands as the estates were cleared of crofters/tenants to make way for the sheep.

Spot on, who would have thought of the consequences that brought....

Thanks for your offer I've dropped him a message.
OH dear I see you've had had your wrists slapped re FH mapping..
As someone once said "every days a school day" Incidentally I think I'm part way to a solution will response in another post.

[dmac]

Contrary to what Themoudie said, FH does have a good mapping facility.

Agreed, effectively you have Coords and FH data part way to a GIS programme.
What I have tried is user ancestor query with birth fact and map places for individuals selected which works after a fashion. Just need male line.
Also Diagram for DNA blood relatives again select all and map selected gives an answer of sorts.
So given correct query (brain not as agile as inn the fast) I think something should be possible and then find a way to display labels on map.

[themoudie]

Aye dmac,
PM'd you.
Slainte, Bill