* Unusual box outline in diagram

[LynnAnnMcLaughlin]

I brought over a GEDCOM and create a diagram of everyone. There are a couple of people who don't have a colored box and for whom the box is just a dotted line, and I'm curious as to why this is. In the attachment, one is Benjamin Aydelott on the 3rd line, and another is Mary Aydelott at the bottom.

I'm guessing this is because he is repeated below so that he can be connected more easily to his wife - is that right? I can move him to the far right of the siblings that are shown so that shouldn't be necessary, but can I move him up and get rid of his dotted-line box? When I try, everyone from him on up in the diagram moves together.

Thanks, Lynn

[LornaCraig]

The dotted line boxes are called Proxy boxes. They only appear in All Relatives diagrams and are used to show where an ancestor fits in the context of his or her own parents' family. They can be helpful in large diagrams where the ancestor's main box (next to their spouse) is a long way from the point where they fit between their siblings. However the display of proxy boxes is optional. It can be controlled from Diagram > Options > Proxies tab. Click the Help button at the bottom of that tab for a full explanation and a description of what the options do.

If you particularly want to have the direct ancestors' boxes on the same level as their siblings you can use Diagram > Options > General tab and set the Style to Flat. However lines will often have to cross in that type of diagram unless you are prepared to arrange siblings in the wrong order.

[tatewise]

Just to add to what Lorna has said, even if you 'Never show proxy boxes' the dotted line between where the Proxy Box would have been and the normal box next to the spouse will still exist, i.e. the normal box does NOT move up between the siblings.

On the Proxies tab click the Help button for more explanation about Proxy Boxes.

[LornaCraig]

Just to add to what Lorna has said, even if you 'Never show proxy boxes' the dotted line between where the Proxy Box would have been and the normal box next to the spouse will still exist, i.e. the normal box does NOT move up between the siblings.

But, as I mentioned in the second paragraph of my reply, you can opt to use the 'Flat' diagram style, where there will still be some crossing lines unless you are prepared to arrange siblings in the wrong order. Personally I would always keep siblings in correct order, but The OP has already said "I can move him to the far right of the siblings". Having done that, if the Flat style of diagram is used there will not be any dotted line left. The normal box will be where the Proxy box would have been.

On the Proxies tab click the Help button for more explanation about Proxy Boxes.

Yes, I already said that.