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Archiver > NEW-ZEALAND > 2002-07 > 1025915751


From: Maureen Donwen <>
Subject: Re: [NZ] How many generations
Date: Sat, 06 Jul 2002 12:34:19 -0700
References: <000001c22402$db94ece0$6498a7cb@jedi> <407ciuop1g7aiejek3032nc6n5saodscb5@smtp.xtra.co.nz>


Hello List,

I use an Ancestor Circle chart as described. The primary subject or
family forms the central ring and each previous generation forms the
next outside ring, with the top portion of the chart dedicated to
paternal family and the bottom the maternal family. I've also included
a section which runs between the maternal and paternal families and
indicates grandparents, great grandparents etc. My chart contains 6
generations and 63 individuals.

While it is certainly wasteful in terms of space it's the most useful
form of chart I have found to be able to see at a glance who is who,
especially when you have a family who used the same first names through
successive generations. In my family for example I have 4 generations of
Thomas and Georges each marrying Anns and Marys.... I also have the same
surname in both my father's family and mother's family.

I've created my form in Powerpoint which makes it easy to add or change
data and have developed a way to turn this chart into an image file
which I plan to put on a website. The information I've included is
minimal, full name and birth and death year. I've also decorated my
chart to make it pretty to look at, and given it to family members as a
gift.


Regards
Maureen Donwen



R. G. 'Stumpy' Marsh wrote:

>On Fri, 05 Jul 2002 21:02:40 +1200, you wrote:
>
>>Starting with one person and parents, how many genarations can be
>>shown on a manually constructed chart. Is there a layout that can be
>>manipulated to use empty space, or compressed to utilise available
>>space.
>>Does anybody have the answer. Your experience will be greatly appreciated.
>>
>
>You can put an arbitrarily large number of generations on a manually
>generated chart, depending on layout and the size of your paper and
>your writing. A circular layout is least wasteful of space for a pure
>ancestry chart, especially if your database is reasonably balanced.
>
>Put the primary subject in a small circle in the centre, then mum and
>dad on either side of the next ring of the tree trunk, their parents
>in the upper and lower halves of the appropriate side of the next ring
>and so on. By varying the width of each ring you can even keep the
>amount of space for each person constant across generations, although
>shape is as important as size in this layout.
>
>Stumpy.
>


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