Genealogy Chat

Sorry I don't know the technical term for them although I'm sure there is one! I mean a good clear - parents at the top, horizontal line and all the children coming down off this and the same for the next generation. Much like GR itself I suppose, but fancier ;-) Some of the demo versions of other programs I've seen only seem to do generations vertically if you see what I mean and in big boxes which seem to make things out of line and difficult to read. I would get a demo of FTM but it seems they don't do one so I can't check. Would be grateful if someone could tell me what kind of trees it can print please? No point in buying a genealogy program I don't think if you can't get a good clear tree! Thanks all Sharon

Thanks Peter! Can you produce something reasonable though when you change the settings? I'm really torn about what program to buy. FTM seems really good in all the aspects I've read about it but need it do a good tree because that, after all, is a lot of what genealogy is all about! Plus the program is called Family Tree Maker for goodness sake! LOL! Sharon

To print out a tree that has lots of generations will obviously have to be done on lots of pages, as most home printers are limited to printing on A4 paper, and you need the tree to have large enough print to be able to read it. The alternative is to save all your data from FTM onto a disc and get a professional firm to print it on one large roll or sheet of paper. It would probably be expensive, but could be done. Kath. x

Thanks! I'm not so much bothered that it will be over lots of pages - I expected that really - but just wanted to know it could print one in that sort of style because I much prefer that to the ones which just on back vertically if you see what I mean. Would be easier if I knew the proper terminology for each type of tree I suppose!! Sharon

The tree you are talking about is called a descendant tree. Family Tree Maker is very good at producing this type of tree with lots of options as to what's included in the boxes on it such as B,M,D, etc. also lots of options for making it look 'pretty'. Carol www.genealogyprinters(.)com

Hi Carol, Could you tell me if I'm right in thinking that a commercial firm of printers would be able to print out a tree from FTM in one piece. Kath. x

Hi Kathleen. Commercial printers that can print directly from family history program files are very thin on the ground here in the U.K. I'm a bit biased here, I suggest you may want to check out the English website below but my husband owns the company and I am the company secretary. Remove the brackets from the website address below. www.genealogyprinters(.)com or www.familytreeprinter(.)com Best wishes. Carol