Options to change the layout of a standard report

[7slaper]

Hi all,

I'm new at Ancestris. For me to be able to use this program, I need a possibility to get a good report layout. Is it possible to make this generate this:



Generation 6
169. Jakob Remund, zoon van Heinrich en Magdalena (Salvisberg) Remund, werd op 27-09-1722 geboren in Mühleberg, Zwitserland. Hij trouwde met op 02-01-1752, Elsbeth Salvisberg, die werd in 1736 geboren, dochter van Hans en Anna (Herren) Salvisberg. Kinderen van Jakob en Elsbeth (Salvisberg) Remund:
   237      Elsbeth Remund, geboren 10-03-1754 te Muehleberg, Bern, Zwitserland.
   238      Barbara Remund, in Bern 15-02-1761.
+   239      Johannes Remund, geboren 15-08-1763 te Muehleberg; trouwde met (1) Elisabeth Hügl Johannes trouwde met (2) 25-10-1784 in Muehleberg, Anna Köchl Johannes trouwde met (3)
                                Elisabeth Remund. Elisabeth werd op 19-07-1772 geboren te Wohlen, Buttenried, Bern. Getrouwd 14-02-1845.
   240      Maria Remund, geboren 13-08-1769 in Mühleberg.


Generation 7
239. Johannes Remund, zoon van Jakob en Elsbeth (Salvisberg) Remund, werd op 15-08-1763 geboren te Muehleberg, Bern, Zwitserland. Hij trouwde met (1) Elisabeth Hügl Johannes trouwde met (2) op 25-10-1784 in Muehleberg, Anna Köchl Johannes trouwde met (3) Elisabeth Remund, die werd op 19-07-1772 geboren te Wohlen, Buttenried, Bern, dochter van Benedikt en Anna (Stöckli) Remund. Johannes overleed op 14-02-1845. Kind van Johannes Remund en zijn eerste vrouw, Elisabeth Hügli:
   323      Johannes Remund, geboren 23-05-1783 te Muehleberg.

Kind van Johannes Remund en zijn tweede vrouw, Anna Köchli:
   324      Johann Remund, geboren 28-10-1784.

Kinderen van Johannes Remund en zijn derde vrouw, Elisabeth Remund:
   325      Johannes Remund, geboren 19-08-1792 in Mühleberg.
   326      Elisabeth Remund, geboren 28-10-1804.


The '+' character means that there is an offspring...

[Zurga]

I don't know why you create a new account to post the same question than here : https://forum.ancestris.org/index.php?topic=5163.0

If you found the answer not suitable, it would have been better to continue on the same thread and explain exactly what report you want to use and what is missing.

Zurga

[7slaper]

Hi Zurga,

I created a new account because my forum name contains my email adres. I want to prevent spam. I coudn't change it in my profile.

I asked the same question on the english forum because my guess is that there are less Dutch users.

To answer the other question... the way Ancestris numbers the persons doesn't look good in a document. The numbers are too long when the number of genarations increases.
The layout does little to help to a reader to follow his ancestrers from generation to generation. In the example I showed what I need. F.i. generation 6 contains a person Jakob with no. 169 and his son Johannes with no 239 has children (+ sign). Children lines are nicely indented. And have a short summery of events. It's easy to go up or down in the generations.

For me a good looking report function is essential in the choice for a genealogy software program.

[Zurga]

You didn't indicate which report you want to use.

If I understand correctly, you want a specific numbering for this report.
Each individual having +1 from the previous number.

Zurga

[7slaper]

I think the availably report options don't work for me.

Your assumption about the numbering is correct.

[Zurga]

I think the available report options don't work for me.

I understand that, but we won't develop a complete report just for you.
We can add some numbering, but from a base report.

For descendant, you have already a "Family descent lineage" which can give you a quick view of family tree with information on each individual.

Zurga

[7slaper]

I think it would be good to have at least one report version that you could actually paste into an office document. The closest thing is the "Narrative lineage of ascendants or descendants." But that one is not really suitable either.

If I am the only one who needs that, then it is indeed a waste of everyone's time. That leaves me with two options.
a) Create a report function myself. But I have no idea how to do that, whether I can do that and how much time it would take.
b) Find another software program. Genbox had a good report function with many options. But it no longer works under Windows 11 and the creator has stopped developing it.

[mother10]

Hi good afternoon,

As you are Dutch (like me) I wonder if you have a report in mind (from a Dutch program) that you want in Anceastris.

If so, from what program? Aldfaer ? ?, as that is a very commonly used program there.
And specifically what report.

Can you give a screenshot of the report you have in mind (from that program)

Cheers,
Tineke

[Zurga]

a) Create a report function myself. But I have no idea how to do that, whether I can do that and how much time it would take.

You can do that with the GedArt mechanism : https://docs.ancestris.org/books/guia-de-lusuari/page/information-sheets-of-individualsfamilies-142

Or try to find another software more suitable to your need since you don't give a clue on what you really want except for the numbering.

Zurga

[7slaper]

I can give an other output from the Genbox program....

Generation 1
1. Freidrich Wilhelm Ruehrmund (Rürmund, Rührmund) was born in Germany and died on 18/05/1877. He married Jeanette, in born in France. Freidrich worked as Lutherse vicar. Children of Freidrich Ruehrmund and Jeanette:
   2   Johannes Rührmund born 27/08/1849. He died on 10/11/1918 in Görlitz. He worked as evangelist.
+   3   Carl August (Carl F.) Ruehrmund born 22/09/1855 at Berlin, Germany. He died on 25/10/1927 in Richmond, Virginia. He married there, Rosa H. (Rosa R.) Heiss, born 23/08/1856 and died there on 25/09/1916.
   4   Kate (Katherine) Ruehrmund born 1867 born in Germany. She died 1933 in Richmond. She married there on 10/09/1889, Max F. Lindner, born in 1863 and died 1933 in Richmond.

Generation 2
3. Carl August (Carl F.) Ruehrmund, son of Friedrich Wilhelm of Freidrich Wilhelm of Frederick W. Rürmund of Ruehrmund and Jeanette, was born 22/09/1855 in Berlin, Germany and died on 25/10/1927 in Richmond, Virginia. He married there Rosa H. (Rosa R.) Heiss, born there on 23/08/1856 and died on 25/09/1916. Carl emigrated in 1881 to the United States of America. He worked as Architect. Children of Carl and Rosa (Heiss) Ruehrmund:
   5   Charles F. (Carl) Ruehrmund born 24/05/1884 in Richmond. He died on 04/07/1928 in Colonial Beach, Westmorland Country, Virginia.
   6   Louise Marie Ruehrmund born 24/11/1885 in Richmond. She died on 21/04/1974 in Richmond. She married William Douglas Selden, born 10/12/1885 in Richmond and died there on 18/01/1927.
   7   Jeanette Kate Elizabeth Ruerhrmund (Nettie Ruehrmund) born 10/12/1888 in Richmond. She died on 03/06/1983 in Velusia County, Florida. She married on 25/09/1912 in Richmond, Robert Ivanhoe Mayo, born 15/01/1885 in Reidsville, Rockingham County, North Carolina and died June 1962 in Daytona Beach, Volusia County, Florida.
+   8   Max Ernst Ruehrmund born 20/04/1891 in Richmond. He died on 30/11/1948 in Water View, Middlesex County, Virginia. He married Lois V. Gill.
+   9   Paul Lewis (L. P.) Ruehrmund born 31/12/1892 in Richmond. He died on 21/08/1937 in Buckroe Beach, Hampton city, Virginia. He married Elise Sheppard, born 17/07/1893 in Richmond and died there on 20/02/1983.
   10   Rosa L. Ruehrmund born 31/12/1892 in Richmond. She died there in 1893.
   11   Mary Katherine Ruehrmund born 19/03/1901 in Richmond. She died on 17/01/1986 in Daytona Beach. She married Roger Gilbert, born 22/05/1900 in Virginia Beach City, Virginia and died 11/1900 in Daytona Beach.

Generation 3
8. Max Ernst Ruehrmund, son of Carl August (Carl F.) and Rosa H. (Rosa R.) (Heiss) Ruehrmund, was born 20/04/1891 in Richmond, Virginia and died on 30/11/1948 in Water View, Middlesex County, Virginia. He married Lois V. Gill. Max worked as Architect. Max and Lois (Gill) Ruehrmund where parents of one child:
   12   Max Ernst Ruehrmund was 02/09/1924 born in Richmond. He died on 15/06/1994 in Kent County, Delaware. He married Gertrude (Trudy) Rienzi, in 05/04/1929 born in Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey and died on 09/12/1998 in Dover, Kent County.
 
9. Paul Lewis (L. P.) Ruehrmund, son of Carl August (Carl F.) and Rosa H. (Rosa R.) (Heiss) Ruehrmund, was 31/12/1892 born in Richmond and died on 21/08/1937 in Buckroe Beach, Hampton city, Virginia. He married Elise Sheppard, in 17/07/1893 born in Richmond and died there on 20/02/1983. Children of Paul and Elise (Sheppard) Ruehrmund:
+   13   Paul Lewis Ruehrmund born 13/02/1919 in Richmond. He died on 09/03/1997 in Virginia Beach City, Virginia. He married Marcelle Lash, who died on 25/09/2010 in Virginia Beach City.
+   14   James C. Ruehrmund born 1929. He died on 07/04/2010. He married Elsie.

Generation 4
13. Paul Lewis Ruehrmund, son of Paul Lewis (L. P.) and Elise (Sheppard) Ruehrmund, was born 13/02/1919 in Richmond, Virginia and died on 09/03/1997 in Virginia Beach City, Virginia. He married Marcelle Lash, who died on 25/09/2010 in Virginia Beach City. Children of Paul and Marcelle (Lash) Ruehrmund:
   15   Paul Lewis Ruehrmund.
   16   Shelley Jean Ruehrmund born 15/12/1948 in Baltimore. She married in Richmond, Rodney Kuhn.
   17   Virginia (Virginia) Ruehrmund born 01/09/1953 in Portsmouth City, Virginia. She died on 14/04/1979 in Tampa, Hillsborough county, Florida.
 
14. James C. Ruehrmund, son of Paul Lewis (L. P.) and Elise (Sheppard) Ruehrmund, was born in 1929. He died on 07/04/2010. He married Elsie. Children of James Ruehrmund and Elsie:
+   18   Charles V. Ruehrmund was born in Portsmouth City. He died on 20/12/2004. He married Debbie.
   19   (James) Ruehrmund married Carol Pollock.
   20   Ruehrmund married Annette.
   21   Ruehrmund married Cindy.

Generation 5
18. Charles V. Ruehrmund, son of James C. Ruehrmund and Elsie, was born in Portsmouth City, Virginia and died on 20/12/2004. He married Debbie. Children of Charles Ruehrmund and Debbie:
   22    Jennifer Ruehrmund.
   23    Fiance Ruehrmund.

It works with 2 layout profiles. One for the parents and one for the children. When I copy this in Libre Office I can adjust the profile so it matches the style of the rest of the document.

[mother10]

Ok, I'll try again.

We try to understand what it is in fact that you want. You give an example with a special numbering.
Can you explain why exactly you want that numbering?
My guess is that you want other people to be able to easily follow a person they are interested in.
Be able to go quickly to his/her parents and or children.

Am I right?
And you want that numbering because you can then easily scroll to the right person.

If that is in fact what you want why not a report like in my screenshot.
I took the Kennedy example GEDCOM, imported that in the Dutch program Aldfaer and asked for what is called there a "Parenteel".

Now I left out a lot of info that can also be given by that report from Aldfaer, just left the essentials necessary for what I want to explain.
So the original Parenteel can have way more info.
Aldfaer gives the parenteel in HTML format, because of the jumping that is possible.


But what counts here is that you can see the links. (I yellow accented a couple of them)
They go to the parents and or the children of a person.
So all you need to do is click on them, no special numbering needed. In fact I do not need a persons number, I just want to go to his/her information.

As you can see the numbering in the screenshot can grow quite large, as any generation adds a number.
But in fact, when I, as an interested user, want to follow a person in this report, I just keep clicking on links, i dont need the number.

So my question is, is this in fact what you want:
A quick and easy way for an interested user, to go to 1 person and its parents and children.

Because what you gave is a solution of a report from a program that cannot be used anymore.
But which gave a report that allowed you to easy go up and down so to speak.

So in fact what I understand is:
The report should have an easy interface to be able to go from person to person. AND the report should contain the info you gave.

The information Zurga gave (the Gedart meganism) can be found here in the Dutch guide: https://docs.ancestris.org/books/gebruikershandleiding/page/63-informatie-bladen-en-overzichten-van-personen-en-families
In the sub-chapter "Aanpassingen (Sjablonen)".
It contains a bit more info than the English guide, about how to change/create own reports.

Last year Zurga has done a lot of work on an existing report: "Verhalende afstamming van voorouders of nakomelingen". (Lignée narrative d’ascendance ou de descendance) Link in the french forum: https://forum.ancestris.org/index.php?topic=4402.0
That looks a lot like the Dutch Parenteel and the example you gave.
So I suggest you have a look there too.

So let us know what it is in fact that you want to achieve.

Cheers,
Tineke

[7slaper]

Hi Mother10,

Thank you for taking the time and effort to explain to me why I am not being clear enough.

First of all I have to say that the Kennedy report is already quite close to what I want. So that forms a good basis. There are a few things that I would like to have differently. It is good to know that I create a LibreOffice document that also contains, for example, a story about the history of the cities in which the ancestors lived at the time. The output of the genealogy database is pasted into the document. Every year I create a pdf that is shared on the internet. There are 2 libraries that have printed the document on paper. There are also several people (of the old school) who print the story.

Numbering.
It is true that I want people to be able to easily go from generation to generation (ancestor and/or children).
I have a family tree that consists of 17 generations and more than a thousand people. In your Kennedy example, the last generation would consist of people with a reference that looks like this: 1.3.2.5.10.2.2.1.4.1.3.3.2.1.1.3.2. This is no longer easy to read and does not work well in terms of layout. I also do not see the use of such a complex number. A number like 988 is much more readable.
A hyperlink to the parents and to the children is an improvement compared to what Genbox offered. But of course it only works for the digital version.


Formatting profile / styles
Because the output is pasted into a LibreOffice document and must follow the style of the document. It is useful to add 3 styles to the output file of Ancestris. A. for header (= generation number) B. for the text of the person description with his wife and C. for his children. When the output is now pasted into LibreOffice, the layout can be put in the right format at once.

Omitting unnecessary characters
In a document, the layout is disrupted by using characters for missing information. Johanna (----), died in , , ,
And by adding line breaks everywhere:
Occupation:
farmer
The reporting becomes very long. That is not a problem for a document with a few generations, but my document is around 300 pages. Adding all line breaks would quickly make that same document grow towards 500 pages.

Thanks for the tip from Aldfaer. I will study this program. Maybe it is sufficient for my needs and it is possible to tweek the output a bit. I would prefer to have one software program in which I can do both the input and the output properly.

I will study Zurga's  Gedart meganism and the guide further. It looked complex, so that will take more time.

Once again, thanks to you and Zurga!

[mother10]

Hi 7slaper,

I must have missed your last answer, as I just read it.
Sorry.

Been thinking about the numbers.
Why not use the general number that Ancestris assigns to each entity.
That is already a number that is unique for each person (and other entity)

It looks like: "I000123", so it always starts with the letter "I", followed by a unique ascending number.
You can renumber if you wish, to make it more to your liking.
Only problem if you renumber more times, the same person in 1 output might get another number in the next output.

But that number always looks and is short. (So maybe that would not be a good idea because that number can change?)

Maybe Ancestris should "invent" a new numbering?

What you say about being able to copy it inside a Word or Openoffice document, including some styling (why not RTF output ??), I think will be a very good addition to Ancestris. And the linking inside reports, I think is needed too, and it should also be possible to copy that in some way.

About showing missing information, that could be controlled by a parameter, denoting if you want or dont want, missing information in a report. (it could make them more readable or more suitable inside the documents you named)

About Gedart: In the Dutch guide I added a bit more information about that and links where to find more info.
Hoping someone would try to make/change some of the reports.
Sofar that did not happen.

I would very much like to know what Zurga AND Frederic have to say about your questions and the possibilities of them, as you now name here. Maybe they can come up with some good solutions that CAN be implemented.

I have asked for a lot of other things to be added/changed, but sofar it does not seem possible to implement, so I gave up there, as I understood some things are really difficult to implement in Ancestris and our volunteer developers only have a certain amount of time.

About Aldfaer: that has a lot of reports written in their own "Report Language". And those are updated often. That language even has special routines to do certain jobs, so very usefull. Problem is, that program is not 100% GEDCOM compliant, so you will have difficulties importing or exporting those. AND it certainly does not offer a lot of things Ancestris does.


So I dont see an easy solution.

Mother10

[7slaper]

Hi Mother10,

Thanks for your response.

numbering
In my opinion the best would be to use n = n+1, as it is only used in the report. But using the unique entity number could also be an option.

layout
The most important would be to use paragraph styles. Whether it is in RTF or ODT format does not matter that much. Because both LibreOffice and MsOffice can read both formats. Gramps Is one of the few genealogy programs that can create a report in ODT and with paragraph styles! And it uses tabs instead of tables, making everything easily editable in the text editor. However, the program interface is not very intuitive and it does not offer the possibility to create a report of, for example, only the male line. In this respect, Aldfaer excels.

Temporary solution
For now the only solution seems to me to use Gramps. I have to manually remove all female lines. That takes a few days with every new publication. But that is still better than manually adjusting thousands of layout styles. Maybe in a few years Ancestris or another software program will see the added value of an ODT format with paragraph styling. I saw that it is an improvement request at Family Historian that is supported by hundreds of users. (Many programs offer RTF output, but with tables instead tabs and no paragraph styling.)

[mother10]

Would Markdown be a solution??

Seems to be a plugin to convert from MD to Word and back.
https://www.writage.com/