Selecting 'Focus' in the Family Records

RogerF · Post by **RogerF** » 15 Jul 2011 16:41

It's not quite clear to me why I can't ask the Focus Window to open on the currently-selected married couple. If I highlight somebody's Individual record, I can open the Focus window on that person and his/her spouse. How does that differ from highlighting the same couple's Family record and selecting Focus?

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YouTube · Post by **Jane** » 15 Jul 2011 17:13

A family record contains two people, the Focus window is only ever focused on one person, so I assume this is the reason. If someone has 3 spouses they will all show. I seldom use the Family Record option in the Property Box how are you ending up there out of interest?

If you want to open the focus window from the Family records tab, just open the record with the + and select the person you want to focus on.

Post by **tatewise** » 15 Jul 2011 17:17

I think Roger means - select the Family Records window and select a record, then click Focus button to display family.

PeterR · Post by **PeterR** » 15 Jul 2011 17:30

How would the system know which of the two spouses should have the focus? The system would also have to cater for Family records where there is only one spouse, or indeed where there is no spouse - such records are displayed in the records window as '...of (parents not known)'.

RogerF · Post by **RogerF** » 15 Jul 2011 20:52

Yes, Mike, that's right. Select the Family Records window and select a record, then click Focus button to display family.

Peter: I don't see the problem. Each Family Records window record describes some form of 'family'. The Focus Window presents one or more of those families. I should generally be able to go from one to the other (except for the special case of neither spouse being defined). For example, I've a 'George married Agnes in 1842' Family record, and a 'George married Hannah in 1867' Family record. The Focus Window happily displays both families, one above the other. Surely it's reasonable to get to that Focus Window from either of the Family Records?

Post by **tatewise** » 15 Jul 2011 21:52

The point that PeterR is making is that one of the Spouses has to have Focus in order for the summary box at the top to know which Individual to show.

However, FH could always choose the Husband when there are two Spouses, otherwise choose the only Spouse in the Family.

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