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Archiver > PAF-5-USERS > 2001-05 > 0989906645


From: Joan Lowrey <>
Subject: Re: [PAF-5] Wall Charts
Date: Mon, 14 May 2001 23:04:05 -0700
References: <004401c0dcb8$a4d9bc40$6875facc@andrea>
In-Reply-To: <005201c0dcc3$ebea2ce0$2266a8c0@shannajo>


Andrea wrote:

"While I managed to create and save one to a print file (to take to a copy
place that could print a large format one one sheet of paper) in PAF 5, it
was 3 feet wide by 161 feet tall! Surely there is a way to make one of
manageable proportions? "

I print excellent wall charts from PAF 4 and the Companion 2.1. I assume
PAF 5 and Companion 5.0 work just as well. I think you need to change the
size of your boxes. I usually set them at 4.5" wide and select all the
same size, then when I reduce the scale to 50%, the boxes are 2.25" wide
which is just right. But if your grandmother needs larger print, then yes,
your chart will be larger. Try printing just three generations and try
differnet box sizes; print those charts and look at them to see if they are
what you want. Then use those proportions for your big chart. The
proportions you got indicate that your boxes are set too narrow, so instead
of being horizontal rectangles, they are long vertically.

I always print to paper, then glue the pages together with a
"repositionable glue" stick. Then if any pages need to be adjusted/moved, I
can do it. I also use my old wallpapering tools to smooth the seams and
make sure there are no wrinkles. I then put tape across all the seams on
the back. By printing to paper, I can be sure that what I am going to have
printed is exactly what I want it to be. The cost at the copy shop for a
one-piece chart is only a few dollars per copy -- $1.20 per running foot on
36" wide paper sounds familiar, but I am not positive about that. If I want
a really nice chart, I go to a blueprint place and have it printed on
vellum. That costs a few dollars more, but it's worth it. I get no paste-up
lines showing that way, and I have, on occasion (not always) had the copy
shop's copy come out with lines showing where the pages were joined. If
that happens, ask them to do it over and to print it a little lighter.

I am not sure you will be able to get 15 generations on 36" wide paper.
That is only about 2" per generation, allowing for margins. Part of that 2"
is the connecting line, so at best, you can have only 1.5" boxes. Try not
putting so much information for each person. See what you get with only
birth, marriage and death dates, no places. Yes, I would want places too,
if I could do it. So back up your database, go to Tools, then Global Search
and Replace. Replace each place with a shortened version. Abbreviate as
much as you can. This will make your chart smaller.

Also, if your chart is wider than it is high, it can be wider than 36".
Have it printed down the length of the paper rather than across the width.
(I hope you aren't planning to buy a FRAME for this chart... <g>)

Let us all know how you do.

Joan Lowrey



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