Genealogy Chat

Frances

The GR tree thingy is pretty much useless, especially for editing, viewing and especially printing.

You would be better having a software programme, then export a gedcom of your current tree from GR, and get your contact to send you a gedcom of their tree.
Open the files into the programme (they will remain separate trees), you can then merge the two together automatically if you want to without entering everything manually.

It's better for security, ease of access and editing/adding info to use a programme as your master tree, you only need to edit the master tree then upload gedcom files to update your online trees (eg Genes, Ancestry and Tribal Pages etc).

If you stick with Genes as your tree building set up then you will just make lots of work for yourself.

Glen

sorry should have said the ptint option is there but when i click on it i get no selection on the box so i cannot choose a piece to print as its far too big to print as a whole and has to be done in sections

yes then i am stuck as it doesnt give any options for print or download or save etc

Can I assume that you have clicked "full tree" in the top bar? This takes you to another screen with a print option.

wow so much info and help thanks guys, however i still have the original problem in how do i download or print out my relatives tree without having to cut and paste and cut up copious bits of paper to make ti fit together with tape, there isnt even an option to save the darn thing. its pretty poor really when you consider how many people come on here hoping to share info with family members. while waiting a reply i will be slowly moving along the tree and printing bits hoping not to miss anyone, i spent half an hour trying to find an amelia last night to find i hat cut her out and put her in the bin lol

Frances
You would be well to get a software programme now while you have a small tree and transfer the info. It gives you control of your tree and keeping it offline means you can work with your tree without internet access. Starting now would be easier than trying to start afresh with a larger tree and you could view the other tree you have access to independantly of your own tree and add the two together more easily when the time comes.

Until you start to collect lots of bmd and census info you won't realise just how much info there is to try and store.
Trying to keep paper records isn't impossible but it takes a lot of work, far easier via software and you cn back everything up offline and share parts of it with other people via gedcom files.

Genes don't have a very good system for building your tree, viewing it or sharing it with others (i think you have found that last bit out already by the sound of it). Adding all the bits and pieces you discover along the way can be done on GR but it can only go into notes so your sources and other info may not transfer between different programmes and sites.

I have done some reference threads about software and gedcom files on GR and some screenshot/visual guides to other topics on another site.

Some links to the GR threads for you;

Tree software;
http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/boards.asp?wci=thread&tk=1079847

Gedcom Files;
http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/boards.asp?wci=thread&tk=724270


These two are GR threads but have links to visual guides on another site;

Link to census search;
http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/boards.asp?wci=thread&tk=1023946

Link to bmd certs guide
http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/boards.asp?wci=thread&tk=748727

Also, via the FTF website, a visual guide and some "how to" tips for the FTM (Family Tree Maker) software programme, to give you an idea of how you can arrange and store info;

http://www.familytreeforum.com/family-tree-software-hints-tips/51172-ftm-2005-06-tips-guides.html


Glen

A gedcom file is essentially a text file (although it has the extension .ged instead of .txt). It contains all the info that was typed in to create the tree in a standard format. Not every family tree program adheres to the same standard, (so some info can be lost in going from one program to another), but they all deal with the core events. Every family tree program I know of has the ability to import/export gedcoms, although you might find that an online tree program like GR uses restricts this option to the tree's owner only.

I seem to recal that "Glen in Tinsel Knickers" had a rather good thread on gedcoms, but I can't find it now. Tou might send him a pm to ask about it. I know he's recently posted to:
http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/boards.asp?wci=thread&tk=1083821
so you could click on his name there.

err as a noob i have no idea what a gedcom is or how to use it when i find out lolol

Oh dear, it would have been better if he had asked for it to be sent as a gedcom to him and then sent it on to you to open in a program.

he hasnt sent me anything just opened his tree on here for me to see, it comes up in a new box with no buttons on top to save or print etc. so i need a way to download or print from that box. i just spent two hours trying to cut and paste to paint and print from there then cut up and stick together. he has 1247 people on his tree i think i managed 25 or so before i got a headache lol so i gave up. if there isnt another way to do it i will have to spend hours each day doing that till i get them all sigh

Do you have a family tree program on your computer? If your cousin has sent a ged com you wont be able to open it without a compatible program.

If you dont have one, download the free PAF from familysearch.org

i have had a mail from a distant cousin of my husbands who has a large tree 1247 people on it. it has taken me two days to find how to look at the tree i could only see immediate family. now i would like to download this tree or print it out but how do i do this? i tried the print button and have no preview so cannot select a section to print, i tried to click print only to jam up my printer with lots of paper rushing through unprinted. i cannot read the tree the way it is in a small window with tiny boxes and the only way is to download or print it. since i have only found 42 people i really need this info