To not have blank or ';unknown'; boxes in diagrams

capnkeith · Post by **capnkeith** » 15 Oct 2012 18:17

To have as the default on diagrams, that when a spouse box has no entry to any field. A spouse box will not appear in the diagram.

At present if you have build a diagram from a single parent child. The child box appears below the parent with the link line coming out of the bottom of the parent box. Which is good

If that parent marries someone other than that child's parent, the same occurs.

If you construct the diagram around the single parent, the same occurs.

But if that single parent marries someone else then a spouse box not only appears for the new partner, it also makes a box and link line for the missing parent with the link line for the child now coming from that link line. Not from the child's only parent. Which is not good, inconsistent / messy.

It is possible to get around it by unlinking the other spouse, constructing the diagram, then undoing the unlink.

ID:6530

Post by **tatewise** » 16 Oct 2012 00:29

These first two images show the wished for single parent Diagram layout, regardless of the Diagram Root Individual:

The layout below is virtually impossible to avoid if the Diagram Root Individual is NOT the Single parent child.
The wish is for an option to force the Diagram layout shown above in all cases of single parents.

See thread Deleting unknown or empty spouse box for further details.

capnkeith · Post by **capnkeith** » 16 Oct 2012 09:35

A picture saves a thousand words!

Thanks

gerrynuk · Post by **gerrynuk** » 18 Oct 2012 17:35

First of all might I humbly suggest that a better title for this wish list item would be: 'Omit Blank or 'Unknown' Boxes in Diagrams.'

Secondly, I am sure you have considered the issues and have come to what you consider a satisfactory way forward for your own records. However, my approach is that there must always be a father even if his name is not known. So that I always prefer to show the father's box as this highlights the fact that this piece of research is not yet completed. So that the box isn't blank you might like to enter Unknown as the surname: '/Unknown/' or even 'Unknown /Unknown/'. As you uncover the evidence you can modify the name and BMD details and the diagram will then always show the most up-to-date information.

If you are concerned that the diagram is displaying confidential information about one or living people then then this can be easily overcome by marking the people involved with the Living and/or Private Flags. See the relevant Help files for further details.

Post by **tatewise** » 18 Oct 2012 20:39

I agree that the title could be better.
It would, I suggest, be a display option that the user could enable or disable.
In any case it would only come into play when there is only one parent linked to the Family Record.
If you enter Unknown as the missing parent, then both boxes would always be displayed, because there would be two parents linked to the Family Record.

capnkeith · Post by **capnkeith** » 18 Oct 2012 23:54

I agree my title is awful. My only excuse is that on my first attempt it was too long and I did not notice until after publishing. I then very hurriedly had to make an edit. However I am not sure 'Omit' is correct as, in my opinion, the box should not have been there in the first place. As indicated by the first two example diagrams above by Tatewise.

Gerry, Using your approach of 'there must always be a father...'. Also there must always be grand parents. So should there not also be empty boxes for them, if they are not known?

If there is no data in any field, why is the box displayed? It looks like a printing mistake.

How about this for title 'Only display diagram boxes with data input.'

Will it cause problems to change it now? Is it best left until / if it goes on the wish list?

gerrynuk · Post by **gerrynuk** » 21 Oct 2012 09:39

capnkeith said:
However I am not sure 'Omit' is correct as, in my opinion, the box should not have been there in the first place.

I disagree. Adding a child creates a family event. FH correctly displays this but because you haven't added the father's details the box will be blank. This is a useful reminder that your reserches are incomplete. The only circumstance where one of the parents is not required is when a child is adopted by a single person. Even then the child will have had two natural parents.

Gerry, Using your approach of 'there must always be a father...'. Also there must always be grand parents. So should there not also be empty boxes for them, if they are not known?

No. If you haven't created a family event for a child then there is no need to display the parents.

If there is no data in any field, why is the box displayed? It looks like a printing mistake.

There is data - a family event. It is just that you haven't entered all the data because some of it isn't known.

Cambiz · Post by **Cambiz** » 21 Oct 2012 11:37

Wish list item 517 has been created.

Please vote on it here:

http://www.fhug.org.uk/wishlist/wldispl ... lwlref=517

capnkeith · Post by **capnkeith** » 21 Oct 2012 12:29

Then why is the blank box not shown in all instances?

All that I am asking for, is the option not to have blank boxes in diagrams. It works in two of the three scenarios Tatewise has created above. Why not the third? Probably nothing more than a minor oversight in the software.

If you want, need a blank box or one with 'unknown' in, you will still be able to.

I am not asking for the Gedcom protocols on what constitutes to be a family to be rewriten. The Gedcom/database will remain the same.

Consistancy as in the first two scenarios or the option to not have blank boxes in diagrams is all that I am wishing for.

Post by **tatewise** » 21 Oct 2012 12:36

Gerry said:
Adding a child creates a family event. FH correctly displays this but because you haven't added the father's details the box will be blank.

But FH itself is inconsistent, as illustrated at the beginning.
(Left Image) If there is no other Spouse, and the Diagram Root Individual is the Single Parent then FH always displays only one Parent Box!
(Right Image) If the Diagram Root Individual is the Single parent child then FH always, always displays only one Parent Box!
There are also some other devious techniques to achieve the one Parent Box mode of display.

In these examples, it isn't that one parent's details have been left blank, but that there is only one Parent Individual Record linked to the Family Record.

We all use FH in different ways, and one of its attractions is how its features can be readily adapted.
This request is simply to include an option to tell FH which of two alternative display modes is required.
Much like the Spouse display/layout options and Check for duplicates options within Diagram Options.

gerrynuk · Post by **gerrynuk** » 21 Oct 2012 19:08

Mike,

Thanks for clarifying the display issues.

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