Sending Tree to Someone

davidm_uk · Post by **davidm_uk** » 22 Jan 2011 09:59

I know this has been asked before but I can't now find the post(s) so apologies for raising it again!

I want to send details of the relevant part of my tree to a cousin. I've created a new GED file with just those individuals that will be of interest to him, and sent a jpg diagram and report covering all ancestors. Now I want to send him details of all his relatives (640 of them). The diagram is too big now to create a picture file, and the pdf option results in about 400 pages (even at the largest page size), which is unusable.

I've looked for a 'tree draw' type program that would enable me to send him the GED file and the program, but can't find anything.

I think that I'd previously seen someone suggest sending him an old (free? or evaluation) version of FH that he could install and then use to look at the GED file and view a diagram. I know there is an evaluation version of FH4, but it's only good for 30 days.

The main requirement is that he can view a diagram, as I think reports are a bit meaningless otherwise.

Any ideas?

ID:4956

Post by **tatewise** » 22 Jan 2011 12:47

Ask your cousin to visit the Family Historian website at http://www.family-historian.co.uk/ and select the Downloads tab and choose the Read Only Version.
It is only FH V3.0.1 but it is free and not time-limited.
Check the restrictions, but it should let your cousin create the necessary diagrams.
Click on the Download Now! button and install on any version of Windows.
Although it does not support the Focus Window nor Project Folders, if you send the entire Project Folder on a CD or USB pen drive, your cousin can open the GEDCOM file and navigate the family tree in much the same way as you do with full access to all the multimedia.

davidm_uk · Post by **davidm_uk** » 22 Jan 2011 14:36

Thanks Tatewise,

That was the version of FH I was thinking about.

However upon checking the restrictions one of them is that it will only display the all relatives diagram for files with up to 100 individual records - I have about 640 individuals in the file that I want to send.

I wouldn't have minded splitting it into 2 files/trees, but not 6 or 7. My cousin is not very knowledgable about PCs, and even less so genealogy, so would struggle to get any sort of understanding just by viewing bits of the diagram.

Any other ideas welcome.

Post by **tatewise** » 22 Jan 2011 16:30

Strangely, the 100 Individuals restriction only applies to the All Relatives Diagram.
It does not apply to Ancestors, Descendants, Ancestors & Descendants, nor Everyone Diagrams.

However, I wonder that anybody (never mind a novice) would find it easy to navigate an All Relatives diagram of 640 Individuals!!!
I have 160 Individuals in my database, and that is tricky enough.
As you found yourself, picture file and PDF options for 640 relations are unusable.

I suggest you teach your cousin how to:
(a) create Ancestors, Descendants, and Ancestors & Descendants diagrams in Diagram Windows.
(b) use Window > Lock Window (prevent reuse) to lock/unlock Diagram Windows.
(c) select an Individual or a Family Couple in one diagram and create a new Diagram Window of their Ancestors &/or Descendants.

Note in Ancestors & Descendants diagrams of an Individual the Auto display root's sibling's branches can be enabled to yield a quite comprehensive set of relations!

Also the Windows > Cascade / Tile Horizontally / Tile Vertically options help navigate the Windows.

davidm_uk · Post by **davidm_uk** » 22 Jan 2011 16:42

Thanks again Tatewise.

I'll have to chat with my cousin to see how serious he is about looking at the family history, and if he's willing to learn the basics of using FH (and how much time I'll have to spend teaching him!).

Do you know if the read only FH v3.0.1 can safely be installed alongside v4 without messing anything up? I can then give it a try myself first (on a copy of the ged file).

Post by **tatewise** » 22 Jan 2011 17:39

Yes they can.
I have had both Read Only FH V3.0.1 and FH V4.1.3 simultaneously installed, originally on Windows 98, and now Windows 7 PC for years, without any problems.
They each use their own installation Program Files and ProgramData folders, but can operate on the same GEDCOM files & Project Folders.

davidm_uk · Post by **davidm_uk** » 22 Jan 2011 18:50

[smile]

Post by **tatewise** » 23 Jan 2011 14:44

Here are some more suggestions.

Read Only FH V3.0.1 supports View > Standard Diagrams > All Relatives - Colourful and - No Box without restriction!!!

Using your FH V4.1.3 you can create a Custom Diagram based on the Standard Diagram for All Relatives.
Use File > Import/Export > Export > Diagram Type and save your All Relatives Custom Diagram in the same folder as your GEDCOM file.
Your cousin can use File > Import/Export > Import > Diagram Type > All Relatives Custom Diagram and use that Custom Diagram without restriction!!!

If you have other customised Diagram Types, Diagram Text Schemes, Fact Sets, or Report Types that your cousin needs, then these can be exported/imported in a similar way.
In particular, Diagram Text Schemes used by exported Diagram Types, and Fact Sets used by your GEDCOM Facts must be exported/imported.
Use the GEDCOM folder for these exports/imports because this will be the default folder for Read Only FH V3.0.1.
However, beware of any exports/imports that use FH V4.1.3 new Functions etc, as they will not work in Read Only FH V3.0.1.

Unfortunately, Family Historian Charts from FH V4.1.3 are not backward compatible with Read Only FH V3.0.1, otherwise they would be a great way of supplying preconfigured diagrams.

P.S.
Above, when I said I had 160 Individuals in my database, I meant 480 Individuals and 160 Families.

davidm_uk · Post by **davidm_uk** » 23 Jan 2011 15:33

Thanks Tatewise, that's very helpful!

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