The program FamilyTreeFactory is primarily designed for printing graphics and exporting them to files. These graphics can be descendant trees ("family trees", "descendant charts") or ancestor trees ("lineages") of a primary person. The close relatives of a primary person can also be displayed with the descendants of grandparents or great-grandparents. For displaying a complete set of relatives, configurable relatives trees can be created. The term tree is used in FamilyTreeFactory to describe a mathematical tree structure (branches) and not in the sense of an actual tree.

The printed graphics are modeled after the classic method used in the past by printer's shops, where these graphics would be created by hand. The graphics can automatically be given a title and a symbol key, and can be decorated with images. In addition to the automatically-arranged elements, any number of Free Placeable Text, Image or Geo Objects can be added by hand to make the graphics more individualized. Person indexes name the row and column position of each person in the graphic. The indexes can be output together with the graphic or be exported as a separate PDF file. Various functions allow you to show larger families in partial trees that are divided among multiple pages and linked with references to one another. A powerful personal data manager is also integrated that is capable of managing Swiss civil rights municipality data. File cards with all of the saved personal data can be exported separately or together with a graphic in a PDF file.

Print-outs in larger formats are generally done on large format printers which are available in print shops. Graphics can be exported as a PDF file that is given to a print shop for printing. These print-outs can be done on roll paper that is available in widths such as 24", 36" and 60". The technically-possible lengths are longer than any feasible print-out.

To prepare the graphic for printing, you can use the treeviews on your monitor, which include an ancestor tree, a descendant tree, a grandparents' descendant tree, a great-grandparent's descendant tree and a relatives tree. A Print Preview function is also integrated to give you an impression of the printed graphic. In addition, graphics can be exported directly as PDF files or as graphic files in the formats *.bmp, *.jpg, *.gif or *.emf. PDF files can be exported without external drivers. An Export Preview function is available for PDF file and graphic file exports.

In the graphics, persons are listed in so-called boxes, which can be individualized in many ways and are automatically arranged based on the family structure. Placeholder boxes can be created automatically. You can manually enter personal data in these empty placeholder boxes later. The program can generate ancestor numbers (such as in the Sosa-Stradonitz system) or descendant numbers (such as in the Henry and Aboville systems and numerous variations) with selectable start numbers. These numbers can be output in the person boxes.

To help you navigate through large families, a search function is integrated. Additional useful features include name lists and birthday lists.

up

All graphics that are created are based on the personal data saved in family files. If a file already exists for a family that uses the Gedcom standard, the file can be directly imported into FamilyTreeFactory. The program submits all data to a configurable integrity check, during which all relationship references and the chronological order of all date entries are checked. This is not just performed for every single person, but also for all direct relatives. The integrity check is particularly useful for Gedcom files, as they can be exported from applications without adequate data checks.

If you do not have any saved personal data, the data must be entered one person at a time. Data entry can be easily performed starting from the 2nd person using relationships. For example, you can enter data for a child in the Personal Data dialog of a parent. From there, you can create a record for the child. The relationship status is saved automatically and does not need to be defined further. Children can be entered after a single parent has been entered. Every person must at least contain data for surname and given name.

Traditionally, descendant trees were only made along lineages for men, the traditional bearers of names. Husbands of female descendants were sometimes included, but their children and further descendants were not included due to their new, different name. According to modern name law, male lineage and the lineage of a name are not necessarily identical. FamilyTreeFactory balances tradition and progress by offering two options. The output can include all saved descendants, regardless of their names, or output can be limited to those descendants whose birth names match the surname of the primary person. For the second option, gender can be taken into account.

FamilyTreeFactory can save same-gender partnerships if the so-called moderate gender check is used for the integrity check. For the so-called strict gender check, partners must be of opposite genders. For both gender checks, parents must be of the opposite gender.

Partnerships may contain the status married or not married, which causes different symbols to be used in the person boxes.

FamilyTreeFactory also uses image files, which can be used to show photos of the persons in the boxes, a family coat of arms in the title, Free Image Objects, background images or background textures underneath the graphic. Image files in JPEG (*.jpg) and bitmap (*.bmp) format can be used. Free Image Objects may also contain Enhanced Metafiles (*.emf).

up