* When using Control Box functions

[Tornado]

Let's say we have a Diagram with a well populated multi-generation Descendant Tree, and we are using Movement Control Box functions (with page boundaries shown, avoid page boundaries off, more layout options all unticked) to adjust the layout over multiple pages.
Is there a way to constrain the Smart capability so that for instance the top level parent's boxes do not move from their original position when making positional adjustments further down the diagram?  I seem to be forever having to move the top level parent's boxes back into their original position and then probably having to slide child rows to get my diagram back into shape.

Any guidance would be appreciated.

ID:6893

[Jane]

I am not quite sure what you are seeing, but have you tried using the fixed point option?

[Tornado]

Hi Jane

I apologize for the late reply.

In the attached example I have moved the top level parents and their first four children onto a page of their own. Also I had previously set their second child, George Smith ADAMS directly below his parents.

I now need to progressively position the other children and descendants on other pages and add whatever text, arrows, ...

Intuitively then I have fixed the fourth child, Richard ADAMS, with the intention of moving his brother, Robert ADAMS, to the right onto page 3 proper.  As soon as I commence the move operation, the top level parents start to move to the right whilst their four children on page 2 remain fixed.

No doubt there is a simple solution to prevent this unintended movement, in this case the movement of the top level parents.

Again any pearls of wisdom would be greatly appreciated.

[tatewise]

Unfortunately, there is no way to lock the parent boxes in place while adjusting the children.

I presume you have a particular need for organising the boxes onto pages in order to physically print or publish your tree diagram onto paper.
If not, and you intend to publish via CD/DVD/Web pages, then I would advise against organising into pages at all.
Simply export the diagram all on one page, which avoids the problem of navigating across page boundaries.

However, if you still need to organise into pages then try this:
First, try selecting Avoid Page Boundaries, then when moving child boxes, the parent boxes tend not to move so much.
Second, start at the bottom of the tree and use Fixed Point to move the youngest child boxes first, and then use Box & Bar and Tree to move the parents.
Repeat the above, working up the tree from the bottom.

You might even find that using Box & Bar and Tree, while Avoid Page Boundaries is enabled, will automatically adjust the children to avoid boundaries, and you won't need to use Fixed Point.

[Tornado]

Thanks Mike

I usually do them both single page and multi-page; the elderly relatives need print-outs which both they (and I) can read, and I suggest in my DVD presentations that even the computer literate will at times find it useful to print-out pertinent diagrams to keep an overview as they delve into their past.

I have used Avoid Page Boundaries but it too gets messy, and I had suspected that working from the bottom up might have a different effect. However with complex multi-page layouts 'the story' really develops from the top down, and I think that the layout decisions are much better conceived working from the top-down.

I thought that I must be missing an option somewhere, so I am happy to continue as is. However, perhaps this issue is worth putting on a wish list for the next version of the software.