Timeline chart is blank

BillH · Post by **BillH** » 31 Mar 2012 22:31

Jane,

For most people when I use the timeline chart I get what I expect is the complete chart. The lifetime is the correct length and has the correct start year and end year. In the main portion (or middle portion) of the chart I get dots for the events in the persons life with corresponding text.

However, for some people, the lifetime is the correct length and has the correct start year and end year, but there is nothing in the main portion of the chart. No dots. No text.

Any idea what might be the problem?

Thanks,

Bill

ID:6082

Cambiz · Post by **Cambiz** » 31 Mar 2012 22:52

Happens for me where there are a lot of facts. I have many facts associated with one day for my grandfather (military records) which seem to overwhelm the plugin.

BillH · Post by **BillH** » 31 Mar 2012 22:57

Chris,

Thanks for the idea, but I don't think this is what is happening for me. One of the individuals that I've noticed the problem on has only 7 facts and no more than 1 on any given day.

Bill

Post by **LornaCraig** » 31 Mar 2012 23:03

Bill, this sounds like yet another variation of the display problems I have described in this thread:http://www.fhug.org.uk/cgi-bin/index.cg ... y&num=6065

I haven't had this particular problem (when the body of the page is blank for some of my individuals the top is also blank, i.e. no start or end marked).

BillH · Post by **BillH** » 31 Mar 2012 23:10

Lorna,

I saw your post, but wasn't sure if it was the same or not so I started a new post. [grin]

I haven't run into any problem with the bar at the top and the bottom so far, just with no facts displaying.

Hopefully Jane will be able to figure out what is happening for both of us.

Bill

YouTube · Post by **Jane** » 01 Apr 2012 07:18

Thanks all, I will try and take a look next week.

Please could you export sample individual(s) who have the issues to a separate gedcom and email to me so I can debug the the code.

It won't be for a little while as I am teaching courses this weekend and working next week.

BillH · Post by **BillH** » 01 Apr 2012 20:27

Jane,

OK... so I exported two of the individuals that have the problem into a separate GED file and I was going to send that to you. But, I thought first I'd check that GED file to see if it exhibited the problem.

It doesn't. The plugin works fine on this smaller file.

So, the problem doesn't appear to be in the Individuals themselves, but in my main GED file somehow.

So... now what should I do? I could send you my entire .ged file, but it is 2.5 mb when zipped.

Bill

Post by **LornaCraig** » 01 Apr 2012 20:57

Bill, I exported 4 sample individuals (for whom the timeline produces 4 different types of display) and included their immediate family in the export, so that the deaths of the parents and the births of the children would in theory be included in the timeline. I checked before I sent it to Jane and all 4 still behave in the same way with the small file, so that doesn't seem to make a difference. Did you export the parents and children of your individuals?

I know Jane is very busy so I don't expect her to sort it in a hurry.

Post by **tatewise** » 01 Apr 2012 21:13

I did a little inconclusive experimentation earlier, and came to the same conclusion as Lorna, that immediate relations are having some effect too.

I got the impression that the Tan top bar indicated that there was NO Death Date and the Individual may still be Alive.

However, the Tools > Preferences > Estimates also come into play and the Death is estimated at 100 years (or whatever your max lifespan is set to).

Another effect appeared to be that the Age markers only appeared if there was explicit Birth Date information.
e.g.
Full Birth Date with dd/mmm/yyy
or
Full Census Date with dd/mmm/yyy and an Age

BillH · Post by **BillH** » 01 Apr 2012 21:18

Mike, I seem to always be getting the correct bars at the top and the bottom with the correct birth date and death date and corresponding life span. The only problem I'm having is the empty chart, no dots and no text for the facts.

Lorna, I exported a new .ged file including the problem person's parents and children and the problem does show up in the smaller .ged file. Thanks for the suggestion.

Jane, I've sent you the smaller .ged file by email.

Thanks all,

Bill

Post by **LornaCraig** » 01 Apr 2012 22:22

I got the impression that the Tan top bar indicated that there was NO Death Date and the Individual may still be Alive.

I don't think so, Mike. I have managed to get the tan top bar for some individuals who have a definite death date, as well as for some who are still living. I think we'd better just wait until Jane has time to look at it....

BillH · Post by **BillH** » 15 Apr 2012 00:32

Jane,

I just wondered if you had gotten my file and had a chance to look at it it.

I know you have been extremely busy what with training and the new release, so I would completely understand if you haven't had a chance to look at it.

Thanks,

Bill

YouTube · Post by **Jane** » 15 Apr 2012 10:26

Sorry not yet, it's on my to do list, I spent last week teaching a residential course in Family History (which was 9am to 9:30pm each day, and we are off to a wedding this afternoon (500 mile round trip) so I suspect it will be next weekend before I get a chance, I have a selection files to try so hopefully I will be able to spot the issue.

BillH · Post by **BillH** » 19 Apr 2012 16:17

Jane,

Version 1.4 seems to fix all the problems I was having.

Thanks!

Bill

Family Historian User Group