Step by Step Guide: Charts
Step by step guide - charts Page 10 11/09/2032
Pdf files can be produced as multiple pages (if necessary) or as a single page, without restriction of
paper size. The latter option is particularly useful for large charts which will be viewed on screen,
as the pdf format is easily scaled without loss of clarity and can be moved around on screen. Pdf’s
can be inserted into other documents (see separate Step by Step Guide). For coursework, we
suggest that you choose the ‘Export as PDF’ option.
Images are best produced as jpg or png documents. Like pdfs these can be inserted into other
documents. However, if you change the scale of an image (e.g. reduce it in size) the quality of text
can deteriorate substantially. Therefore some care needs to be taken when inserting images into
Word documents (again, see the separate Step by Step Guide to Using FTM Output).
We have focused on the vertical pedigree chart just as an example. The process of using and
adapting other charts (and indeed reports) is very similar, although there are a few minor
differences in the options available.
Additional hints and tips for coursework
Charts are meant to show an overview, not every piece of information that you have researched.
On the other hand, they should usually show more than just a mere name. At a minimum they can
merely show an individual’s lifespan, but it is normal practice to show birth, marriage and death
facts separately, with the name of the place where they occurred if there is room on the chart.
Pedigree charts should almost always be shown this way.
Whether additional facts are shown may depend on the precise purpose of the chart. If you are
looking at occupations in a family over generations, then of course it would make sense to include
occupation. If you are looking at, or even just checking census records, then it would make sense
to show census details, etc.
The table on the following page suggests some usual settings for charts created for coursework.
This is only a suggestion, and there will be times when it is necessary or sensible to deviate from
these suggestions and indeed some assessments and assignments give specific requirements for
data to be included.
Removing a person from a chart
Occasionally you may wish to remove a person from a chart without deleting them altogether. This
can be achieved by right clicking on their box in the preview panel and selecting the “Remove
Person from Chart” option. However, a quirk of FTM is that this option is greyed out if you have
selected the book layout. This can be resolved by simply changing to the poster layout, removing
the person and changing back to the book layout.
As with other features of FTM, the best way of learning is through practice and experience. It is
strongly suggested that you spend some time becoming familiar with creating charts at an early
stage of the course.