Problem with wall chart layout and adjustments

[Jim Wem]

I find the chart layout strange and wonder if I can set some different parameters or if I am missing something somewhere

A I find that if I make an error when manipulating box positions I can not go back a step and have to start from scratch again

B I am trying to change a 10 ft by 20 inch top to bottom descendant chart to less than 8ft which I find convenient for display purposes - our local hardware store keeps board up to 8 ft long.

I have got it down to about 8 ft 10 in and do not wish to change box sizes again if I can help it. There is still scope for more change BUT

1 There is a 13 in gap in the middle with no data showing, just connecting lines
2 The first row of descendants has siblings 228 inches apart ie parents at RH end and oldest siblings at the other end
3 there are numerous instances where children are shown close to cousins and their parents are far to the right
4 Boxes at the RH end are far removed from siblings in lower generations ie close to the end of the chart

[DrRoots]

You can move any boxes anywhere you want so surely you could just move the boxes up to fill the gap you described?

There is also an "Undo" (ctrl+z) option just like any other package.

You can group boxes which may make it easier to move selections or even generations at once.

[Jim Wem]

My first question has not been answered.
Why are there such large gaps. Even using a 50% view it takes a long time to select half the chart to allow the move to fill the gap.
Why are cousins grouped as they are.
Why are children not centrally grouped under parents as a default position. I do not remember having this arise when using RM2 or 3

I did not know about the short cut.
I do not usually use them. There are too many for me to bother to remember
Yes I can move boxes singly or in any number up to the full chart

(18-02-2010 08:48)Jim Wem Wrote:  I find the chart layout strange and wonder if I can set some different parameters or if I am missing something somewhere

A I find that if I make an error when manipulating box positions I can not go back a step and have to start from scratch again

B I am trying to change a 10 ft by 20 inch top to bottom descendant chart to less than 8ft which I find convenient for display purposes - our local hardware store keeps board up to 8 ft long.

I have got it down to about 8 ft 10 in and do not wish to change box sizes again if I can help it. There is still scope for more change BUT

1 There is a 13 in gap in the middle with no data showing, just connecting lines
2 The first row of descendants has siblings 228 inches apart ie parents at RH end and oldest siblings at the other end
3 there are numerous instances where children are shown close to cousins and their parents are far to the right
4 Boxes at the RH end are far removed from siblings in lower generations ie close to the end of the chart

[DrRoots]

Basically each row is a generation. On a large tree if there is only a few people in a generation then you will see gaps.

As to why children are not always centrally grouped, I can only assume that is a result of the way the software has been written to accommodate an infinitely variable arrangement of boxes. People may have to be moved to extreme edges of the chart otherwise it would be physically impossible to retain the rows of generations.

RMchart on version 3 and 4 is exactly the same (1.02) so you would of had exactly the same results in version 3 (with an identical database).

If you don't want to use shortcuts then use the standard "Edit" - "undo", again this is a standard Windows operation.

[Jim Wem]

Thanks, since moving to Windows 7 I am having to relearn a lot of things

Regards Jim