User’s Guide
Vista Family Tree
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© Copyright 2015 by: Jerry C. DeKeyser
All Rights Reserved
With Vista Family Tree you can build and share your family tree. With your personal computer and the Internet you can now search library records, steamship ledgers, government files and cemetery ledgers at no cost and from the convenience of your own home.
Vista Family Tree simplifies this process of building your family tree. The steps for creating your family tree are integrated into one easy to use package.
Record the information you know. Fill in the names of your family. Start with your name then add your parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles. You can also record photographs, maps, drawings, web pages, text and documents.
Research your family. Use our list of free Internet databases. Point and click to search for distant and lost family members.
Create to your family tree web pages and a variety of personalized charts, filled in forms and reports.
Share your family tree. Use our list of free Internet web hosting sites to put your family tree on the Internet. You can also make printed copies and copies on cd's for friends and relatives.
Gedcom Data Format: Vista Family Tree uses the GEDCOM standard for storing and sharing genealogy data. Most genealogy tools can import and export GEDCOM based files. Vista Family Tree will import family trees saved from many genealogy programs. Some genealogy programs include non-standard GEDCOM code which may not be readable.
Practical Limits: Vista Family Tree is designed for all sizes of genealogy applications. All data is stored in memory while it is working. This version supports trees up to 1,000,000 people and up to 500 generations with an unlimited number of pictures and documents.
Select Family Tree: You need to first select a family tree to use. The opening screen shows a list of the family tree files stored on your computer. Click on the name of the file you want to use.
New Trees:To start a new family tree, enter a name for it in the input box at the top of the startup screen.
Use Existing Family Tree:Option 1. Copy the file ending with .ged to the gedcom sub-directory in the Vista Family Tree folder of your documents folder. Option 2. Use the Browse to manually search through the folder on your computer for family tree files and copy them to Vista Family Tree file selection box.
Sample Tree: Select RoyalPets to see a sample family tree.
Start: After selecting a family tree or starting a new one, click the Start button. This will close the startup window and the main program window will open.
First Person: The main program opens with the Family page. Find the Individual section and enter the name of a person, his gender and date of birth.
Add Family: Click the New button in the Father, Mother, Children or Spouse box and enter their name. Then click the Edit button and this new person’s name is shown near the top of the page.
Moving Around: Find a person in the chart on the right side of the screen. Enter the number next to their name in the ID No box and press enter. Or right click on their name. The name of this person is now shown at the top of the Family and Details pages.
Add Details: First display the person’s name at the top of the page – See Moving Around above. Then click the Family or Details tab. Add dates and places in the designated areas.
Save Tree: Click the Save button on the top menu. Enter a name for the family tree. Then click the Normal Save button.
Browse: The Browse button on the Startup window and in the Open Family Tree File window allows you to manually search your computer for family tree (.ged) files. Files you find with this procedure are added to the family trees list and become available to the to the Vista Family Tree program. See Over Write Current Tree below.
Restore: First the family tree must have previously been saved with the Copy to Another Drive procedure in the Save window. Use this to copy a family tree (with the same name as the currently open family tree) and all supporting data files back (restore) from the other drive. See Over Write Current Tree below.
Over Write Current Tree: If you are copying a file with the same name as the name of the currently open family tree, the current family tree will be saved to the backup folder and the program will reload the new family tree into memory.
Desktop Mode: When opening picture and text files, the default viewers for Windows 8 leave the desktop and use the full screen. If you prefer the older style that keeps the program, pictures and documents in separate windows on the desktop, then follow these instruction:
1. Start the Vista Family Tree program.
2. Click the Folders button in the top menu.
3. A new window opens. Click the Media button.
4. A picture folder opens. Right click on any picture.
5. Click on Properties at bottom of the popup menu.
6. The top line shows a file type, such as: JPG Image.
7. Click the Change button. A new window opens.
8. Select: Windows Photo Viewer. Then click the OK.
9. This changes all pictures of JPG type.
Later, if you add BMP, GIF or PNG picture types, repeat the procedure for the new picture type. TXT and RFT text files should be changed to open with WordPad. Check in the Media, My Files, My Doc and Config folders for the file that need to be changed.
Start With Yourself You should start with yourself and work backwards. Next, contact older family members for family information. Ask specifically for maiden names, birth, marriage and death dates and places.
Fill-in Your Family Tree Ancestral Chart Write all the information on a blank family tree chart. Fill in vital events such as birth, marriage, death and burial next to the person's name. When finished, you will be able to see which ancestors are missing and what information you still need to find.
Talk to Family Members and Relatives Talk to your aunts, uncles, parents and grandparents in more distant families to find new information and to verify what you already know. Prepare questions such as when and where your ancestors came from. Fill in a Family Group Record sheet for each family. This shows the husband and wife plus all children. It enables you to keep track of the entire family. Use the Personal Record form to record extensive information for a person.
Use Research Done by Others Previous researchers may have already completed the research for you. Compiled sources include family histories, pedigree charts and biographies.
Access Original Records Research original records such as birth, death and marriage records, city directories, church records, census schedules, probate records, court records and military records. You should do your research with original records whenever possible.
These are the ways to change the person displayed on the Family page. You can then edit that person's record and enter more details about them.
Click on Chart: To change the person displayed on the Family page, find that person's name on the chart and left click on it.
ID Number: Each individual is assigned a unique ID Number and this number cannot be changed. If you enter a number in the ID No box and press enter the display changes to the individual with that ID number.
Family Buttons: The Father, Mother, Spouse and Child buttons on the Details page change to the person on the button. The status bar at the bottom the window shows the actual name of the person the button will change to.
Edit Buttons: These are found on the Family tab page. They change to the father, mother, spouse or child of the person currently being displayed.
Find Button: The Find button opens another window. You can then select which individual to display or edit.
Show Spouse: You can view all the spouses, but only one at a time. Use the Show Spouse button to change which spouse is displayed. Next click the Edit button if you want to edit or view the details for that person.
Show Child: You can view all the children, but only one at a time. Use the Show Child button to change which child is shown. Next click the Edit button if you want to edit or view the details for that person.
Advance Arrow Keys: These buttons are in the top right corner of the Family and Details pages and also in the Notes and Sources window. They advance the display to the person with the next higher or back to the next lower ID Number.
History Arrow Keys: These buttons are just left of the Advance Arrow Keys. They move the display back to the previous persons viewed and forward again
Double Click on Name: Eight windows allow you to double click on a name to change the person displayed in the main window. These are: Address List, Split List, Hide Info, Relationship Calculator, To Do Lists, Statistics List, Problems List (see Verify) and Visitation List (see Traverse Tree).
New Button: Change to the Family tab page. The New buttons on this page allow you to create a new record and add a father, a mother, spouses and children. After a father or mother is added, their New button changes to an Edit button.
Add Button: Change to the Family tab page. The Add buttons on this page you to use and existing record and designate the person as a father, a mother, spouses or child.
Unknown Name: The Given Name input area can be left blank if the given name in not known. When the name is shown on web pages or other areas of the program the word Unknown will be displayed with the last name. If you prefer, you can enter Unknown or some other word in the name fields instead.
Unknown Spouse: Children can be added to a one parent family. If this is the first family for this person just add the children. If this is the second family, add a blank spouse first, then add the children, then go to the Organizer page and delete the blank spouse.
Same Sex Marriage: When a spouse or partner is added they are automatically set to the opposite sex. After the partner is added change the sex. Everything will work correctly with both the same sex. However, if the Verifier is run it will indicate a potential entry error because the gender of the husband or wife is wrong.
Use the Family, Details, Religion tab pages and the Notes and Sources window to add or change details about a person.
Title or Suffix: The title (such as King) or suffix (such as Jr.) is added to end of the person’s name. (Arthur King of England) If there is a last name, a comma is also added before the suffix. (John Henry, Jr.)
Clipboard Button: System clipboard shortcut. When the input entry area is blank, double click in it to paste the contents of the system clipboard.
System Clipboard: Each time you enter a place it is copied to the Vista Family Tree clipboard. Click the Clipboard button to paste from this clipboard.
Change Case: Change Case: Double click on a word to change it to all capital or all lower case letters
All Caps Option: There is an Option setting for converting surnames and dates to all capital letters as they are entered. Preexisting surnames and dates are not converted until they are modified.
Accented Letters: Special characters and accented letters may be entered in names and places. Enter a character that looks like the type of accent wanted, ' ` ^ : ~ , % / Then enter the letter that you want accented.
Dates: After the date is input it will be redisplayed in the form of "day month year". Abbreviations may be use. You may use the first three letter of the month, "abt" for about, "btw" for between, "bef" for before and "aft" for after.
Include Without Details: If you know that an event occurred but you do not know the date or the place then check the Include Without Details box.
Select Picture This button on the Family tab page allows you to select a picture. A small copy of the picture is shown on the Family tab page. A larger copy of the same picture is shown on web pages created by this program.
These controls are found on the Picture tab page. They allow you to add and remove pictures and documents in your family tree. They can also attach the picture or document to an individual. This adds a link from the person's web page to the pictures and document for that person.
Viewing Area: This is the area you will see pictures with JPG, BMP and GIF file extensions and text documents with TXT and RTF file extensions. Files with all other file extensions are also permitted but they will be displayed by other software viewers programs.
Show Album: Pictures and documents are organized into groups called albums. Use this box to select an album to view or modify.
Album Names: Use the Album Names button to add, remove or change the name of an album.
Add Picture: This button finds a picture or document on your computer and adds it to an album.
Remove: This button removes a picture or document from an album. It is not deleted from your computer and you may still include it in other albums.
View Previous and View Next: These buttons change the display to the next and previous item in the album.
Move Earlier and Move Later: These button change the order in which the item appear in the album. This is also the order the items will appear on your family tree web pages.
Move to Album: This item allows you to move the picture or document displayed to a different album. First display the item to move. Next find the destination album name in the dropdown Move To list. Click the album name and the item moves to the new album.
Attach To: Each person in your family tree will have his own web page and this web page may contain links to pictures and documents. Use this button to create a list of individuals that should have links to the picture or document being displayed. Links to living individuals (who have everything hidden) will not be displayed.
Attached to Individuals: This is a list of everyone with a link to the displayed item. Click inside the box to increase its viewing size. Later when you click another button the box automatically returns to its normal size.
Item Type: The purpose of this setting is to organize the items on the web pages. Picture, document and head stones items can be mixed with an album. And the file type of a picture or document can be of any type. For example a JPG file could be document.
Hide Item: Check this box to prevent this media item from being added on web pages. Even if this box is not checked, media items that are not linked to at least one displayed (not hidden) individual are also not displayed.
Source: This area contains two buttons: New and Add. If the source you need has already been created use the Add button to find that source and reuse it. Otherwise use the New button to create a new empty source and then fill in the source fields. Sources created for pictures and documents can also be reused for events such as birth and marriage.
Title: The title will be displayed at the top of the web page above the picture or document.
Notes: The notes will be shown between the title and the picture or document.
When you click the Select picture button in the Family tab page or in the Options window, the Select Picture Folder window opens. This allows you to quickly access on of the folder where your pictures are stored on your computer.
My Pictures: This opens the My Pictures subdirectory in your My Documents directory. This contains pictures saved from camera and other picture programs.
Media: This opens the Media subdirectory in the Vista Family Tree directory. This contains copies of pictures already in use by Vista Family Tree. These are the full size pictures and documents.
Thumb: This opens the Thumb subdirectory in the Vista Family Tree directory. This contains the thumb sizes of pictures already in use by Vista Family Tree. These are the cut down sizes of the pictures shown on the Family tab page.
Remove: Removes current picture selection shown of the Family tab page. Startup window pictures cannot be removed. But they can be deactivated or replaced with another picture.
With this screen you can add the sources of your information and special notes for most of the details you entered for each individual. You can also add or modify the details for most and events.
Find Individual: First select the individual needed. You can also use the Find Individual button to change the display to a different individual. This opens another window and you can select which individual to display.
Spouse Arrow Keys: If you are working with a marriage topic use the Show Spouse arrow keys to change which spouse is displayed.
Event Buttons: Select the event or topic to modify or add. A green check mark next to an event indicated an event that contains some information. This could be a date, place, note, source or the check box for this topic is checked. The event in bold type is the event that is displayed in the panels on the left side of the screen.
Event Details: All events allow you to add notes and sources. Some also provide to other information such as dates and places.
Individual Topic: This is found in the bottom row of events. This refers to the entire Individual Record for this person. This record includes all the non-family events and topics. These are events such as Birth, Education and Occupation.
Individual Topic Notes: The Notes you enter for the Individual topic refer to this person in general and they are also displayed in a special place on the Family tab page and on your finished web pages.
Family Topic: This is found in the bottom row of events. It refers to the entire Family Record for the family of this person and the spouse shown. It includes events such as the Engagement, and Marriage.
Show Source: If there is more than one source for a topic use this button to change which source to display.
Add Source: If the source you need has already been created for another event, use this button to find that source and reuse it. Each time an old source is reused there are three fields that should be filled in for this specific use of the source. These are: Page, Quality and Details.
Quick Select: These buttons at the bottom, show the source number of the last ten sources added. Click one of them to quickly add that source.
Remove: This button removes a source. The source is not deleted it can still be user for other records.
New Source: This creates a new empty source record. Fill in the empty source fields. There are five fields that should be filled in each time a new source record is created. These are: Title, Author, Publication, Media and Description.
Delete Source: There is no Delete Source button, but sources that are not used are skipped when the family tree is saved. This automatically deleted all source records that are not being used.
Multiple parents are supported. Children can have adopted, step, foster and sealing parents in addition to biological birth parents. The first parents are set on the Family page when the child is added. Additional parents are added with the Add to Children button on the Organizer page.
For step parent and adoption by only one parent selections, it is implied that the second parent is a birth parent.
The birth parents are used on the Pedigree chart and Ancestral list. If the birth parents are not listed in the family tree the adopted parents are used. Step, foster and sealing parents are not used on the pedigree chart or included in the ancestral list. One exception: On the Ancestral Chart for HTML web pages the husband and wife of the family are used regardless of the types of children.
Special characters and accented letters may be entered in notes, given names, surnames and places .
Important: Accented letters for the Windows version uses the ISO-8859-1 character encoding. If accented letters look wrong on your web pages change the web server this standard. This change can also be made on the web browser by changing encoding to ISO-8859-1 or Western European (ISO).
Entering Accent Letters: 1. Enter a character that looks like the type of accent wanted: ' ` ^ : ~% ,/
2. Enter the letter that you want accented.
3. After the second character is entered they are combined and converted into one accented character.
Examples: The letter ñ with a tilde, enter a ~ then the letter n.
The ç with a cedilla, enter a comma then the letter c.
The ü with two dots, enter a colon then the letter u.
The é with an accent, enter an apostrophe then an e.
                    First Key
      ,   `   '   ^   ~   :   %   /
    a     à   á   â   ã   ä   å  
    A     À   Á   Â   Ã   Ä   Å  
    b     ß            
    B     ß            
    c   ç   ç            
  S   C   Ç   Ç            
  e   e     è   é   ê      ë    
  c   E     È   É   Ê     Ë    
  o   i     ì   í   î     ï    
  n   I     Ì   Í   Î     Ï    
  d   n     ñ       ñ      
    N     Ñ       Ñ      
  K   o     ò   ó   ô   õ   ö     ø
  e   O     Ò   Ó   Ô   Õ   Ö     Ø
  y   s     ß            
    S     ß            
    u     ù   ú   û     ü    
    U     Ù   Ú   Û     Ü    
    y       ý       ÿ    
    Y       Ý          
    !     ¡            
    ?     ¿            

Dates may be entered day month year (dd mm yyyy) or month day year (mm dd yyyy) format. The date field is examined to determine which format to use. If the day and month are both less than 13 such as 2 3 1845 then the dd mm yyyy format is used. In this case it will be interpreted as: 2 Mar 1845. Months should be written textually to eliminate ambiguity. If the date intended cannot be determined then the text as entered is stored.
Month Abbreviations: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec.
Other Abbreviations: AD, BC, CE, abt = about, bet, btw = between,
est = estimate, bef = before, aft = after.
Other Valid Words and Qualifiers: “and”, “or”, “to”, “?”, “/”.
Date Separator: Use space as separator within a date. Slash and dash (/ and -) are not valid seperators.
Date Examples:
 25 Sep 1845   abt 25 sep 1845
 25 9/10 1845   bef 25 sep 1845
 sep/oct 1845  aft 25 sep 1845
 Sep 1845?  est 25 sep 1845
 Sep 25 1845  about 25 September 1845
 Sep 1845/46   before 25 September 1845
 9 25 1845?  estimate 25 Sept 1845
  bet 22 september 1845 and sept 24 1847
  btw 22 september 1845 and sept 24 1847
 between 22 sept 1845 and sept 24 1847

This procedure takes one of your pictures and keeps only the specified part of the picture you specify. The original picture is not modified and remains unchanged. A new file is created for the picture and saved in the Thumb folder inside the Vista Family Tree folder in your My Documents folder.
Use this to set a picture for the start-up screen of this program or when adding pictures to show on the Family page. Larger copies of the pictures you add to the Family pages will also appear on the web pages created by this program.
Startup Window: Use the Select button in the Start Window Picture section of the Options window to open the Cut Out Picture window.
Family Page: Use the Select button to open the Cut Out Picture window.
Use these buttons inside the Cut Out procedure window:
Red Box: Put the red box around the part of the picture to keep.
Move Red Box: Use these four arrow buttons to move the red box.
Red Box Size: Arrow buttons to make the red box larger or smaller.
Fine Tune: After the red box is close to the area you want check the box. When you click the arrow buttons the red box will then change slower and more precisely.
Accept: Click this button to save your picture and close the window.
Making Corrections: To change an event such as date of birth or marriage, first use the navigation tools to access the person's record. Then type the new information over the old. Use the Organizer tab page to change the order of children or spouses in a family, or to add and remove individuals from a family.
You can marry or unmarry two individuals. Add and remove children from a family. Change the order in which spouses and children are listed in their family.
Marry Two Individuals: 1. Change to the Organizer tab page. 2. Enter the first person in the Individual box at the top of page. 3. Enter the second person in the Individual to Add box. 4. Click the Marry to Individual button to marry the individuals.
Second Method: 1. Change to the Organizer tab page. 2. Enter the first person in the Spouse box. 3. Enter the second person in the Individual to Add box. 4. Click the Marry to Spouse button to marry the individuals.
To marry two individuals of the same sex, change the sex of one person so that their sexes are different. Marry the individuals as described above. Then change the sex back.
Unmarry Two Individuals: 1. Change to the Organizer tab page. 2. Enter one of the spouses in the Individual box. 3. Find the second spouse in the Spouse box and highlight his or her name. 4. Click the Remove Spouse button to remove a spouse from the family. When you remove a spouse from a family that individual is not deleted from your family tree. He may still be present in other families.
Change Order Spouses Appear: 1. Change to the Organizer tab page 2. Enter the person with multiple spouses in the Individual box. 3. Find one of his spouses in the Spouse box and highlight his or her name. 4. Click the Move Earlier or Move Later buttons to change the order in which the spouse appears in the family.
Add Children to a Family: 1. Change to the Organizer tab page 2. Enter the parents in the Individual box and the Spouse box. 3. Enter the child in the Individual to Add box. 4. Click the Add to Children button to add the child to the family.
Remove Child From a Family: 1. Change to the Organizer tab page 2. Enter the parents in the Individual box and the Spouse box. 3. Find the child in the Children box and highlight his or her name. 4. Click the Remove Child button to remove the highlighted child from the family. When you remove a child from a family that individual is not deleted from your family tree. He may still be present in other families.
Change Order Children Appear: 1. Change to the Organizer tab page 2. Enter the parents in the Individual box and the Spouse box. 3. Find the child in the Children box and highlight his or her name. 4. Click the Move Earlier or Move Later buttons to change the order in which the child appear in the family.
Chart Buttons: The Organizer page has it own set of buttons above the chart. They work the individuals on the Organizer page instead the Family page. Clicking the Individual, Spouse, Child, Add, Delete or Merge button above the chart to change the Tree View chart for a person highlighted in one of the boxed on that page.
You can remove a parent, child, spouse or any individual and the entire record associated with that person from your family tree.
Change to the Organizer tab page. Enter the ID number of the person to delete in the ID No box in the Delete or Merge box or use the Find button.
When the correct individual is displayed in the Delete or Merge box click the Delete button. After being deleted this individual and all references to this person will no longer be accessible.
This procedure takes a person who is listed in your family tree two times and merges the information from both records into one record.
Before starting this procedure check the pedigree charts. Make a list of all the ID numbers that need to be merged. Decide in advance which ID numbers to keep and merge the information into it, and which ID numbers to delete. If you make a mistake do not save your file. Close this program without saving and start over. If Autosave option is enabled, turn if off.
Enter ID Numbers: Change to the Organizer tab page. Enter one of the ID numbers in the ID No box in the Delete or Merge section. Enter the other ID number in the ID No box in the Merge Individuals section.
Merge Window: Then click the Merge button and the Merge Two Individuals window opens and it allow you to select which details to keep.
These items are inside the Merge window:
Keep These Parents: The parents recorded in each record are shown at the top of the Merge window. Check one of the boxes to indicate which set of parents you want to use. This also determines which ID number you will keep. If you start merging with the older ancestors first one set of parents will always be blank.
Basic Tab Page: Each individual will have his details shown one of the two tab pages called Basic. Put check marks in the boxes on these pages to indicate which information you want to keep. If there are more tab pages change to them and continue checking boxes.
Marriage Tab Page: If both the records being merged for this person show a marriage to the same person (and both records for the spouse use the same ID number) then the Marriage tab page appears with marriage information check boxes.
All children and spouses from all marriages are combined together and kept. If a child or spouse is listed in both families with different ID numbers then they will be listed two times in the new family. In this case the two ID numbers for this person should be merged together later in a separate merge.
However, if both records for this person have a child or a spouse (and both records use the same ID number) then that person is listed only one time.
Merge: After all check box selections are made, click this button. This makes the changes and closes the window.
Pictures and documents are kept in groups called albums. Use this procedure to add and remove albums or to change the name of an album. First change to the Pictures tab page. Click the Album Names button to open Modify Albums window.
Change Album Name: The album on the highlighted line is also shown in the edit box near the top. Enter a new name in the edit box to change the name of the album. Album names are limited to twenty-four characters and spaces.
Add: Allows you to add a new album.
Delete: Removes the album on the highlighted line.
Move Up and Move Down: Allow you to customize the order of the albums by moving the highlighted album up or down.
Online Sources With your personal computer and the Internet you can now search library records, steamship ledgers, government files, cemetery ledgers at no cost and from the convenience of your own home. Vista Family Tree contains links to free Internet databases or add your own favorite web sites for quick and easy access. Just point and click to search for distant and lost family members. Then copy family details directly from your web browser. You can also record photographs, maps, drawings, web pages, text and pdf documents.
Offline Sources First print copies of blank pedigree charts, family records, personal information forms, cemetery transcripts and research extracts. Next fill these in with information from relatives, courthouses, cemeteries, libraries, birth, death and marriage records, city directories, church records, census schedules, probate records, court records and military records.
This is found on the Search page. This page contains a list of free family tree databases. With the tools on this page you can perform Internet searches for lost and distant family members.
Left Column: The names of the family tree web sites.
Right Column: The Internet links to the web sites. If you have an active Internet connection, double click on any name or link and your Internet browser will start and connect to the web site you clicked on.
Add: Allows you to add a favorite web sites to the list.
Delete: This removes a web site from the list.
Modify: This changes or updates web sites already in the list.
Move Up and Move Down: Allow you to customize the order of the list by moving the contents of the highlighted line up or down.
This is at the top of the Search tab page. Visit each individual in your family tree or sub-tree exactly one time.
Initialize: This needs to be done first when starting to traverse a new tree. This removes all visited and edge settings made during a previous tree traversal.
1. Click the Initialize button.
2. Click Yes to close popup warning window.
3. Click on any name on the chart that is included in your sub-tree.
4. Click the Visit check box to start tree traversal.
5. The Find Next button becomes visible.
Find Next: The green triangle button is above the Initialize button. Click it to find an unvisited individual in your sub-tree. Their name is then shown at the top of the Family and Details tab pages and it is also shown in blue on the chart.
Visit Check Box: This is checked if the active person has been visited. (The active person has their name at the top of the Family and Details tab pages and in blue on the chart.) You can also uncheck the box to make unvisited, or check the box to make visited.
Edge Check Box: This is checked if the active person has been visited. (The active person has their name at the top of the Family and Details tab pages and in blue on the chart.) You can also uncheck the box to make unvisited, or check the box to make visited.
Use the Visit and Edge check boxes to mark all individuals in your sub-tree in any order you choose. Use Find Next to find another part of your sub-tree that is not yet visited.
Chart Colors: The color for the name of the individual on the chart indicated their visitation status.
The name of the person at the top of the Family and Details tab pages is shown in blue on the chart. Otherwise, the name of each person visited shows in green and the name of each edge person is shown in red.
Black: Not visited, not edge person, not on edit page.
Blue: This person is on edit page and name is at top of Family and Details tab pages.
Green: Not on edit page and person has been visited.
Red: Not on edit page and person blocks access to other relatives.
Chart: Track your progress on the main display. You can also left click on the name of any person visible in the chart to switch to that person (their name is then become shown in blue). You can then click the Visit check box to mark visited or unvisited. Or click the Edge check box to set or remove the edge setting.
The visit and edge settings are saved and restored when the family tree is reopened.
The Soundex Generator is found at the top of the Search tab page. Soundex turns your name into its corresponding phonetic code. Use this code to research your surnames and spelling variations of it in passenger manifests and US census records.
The Soundex code represents a word, such as a person's name, based on the way the word sounds rather than the way it is spelled. Words that are spelled differently but sound the same such as Stewart and Stuart have the same Soundex code.
Thus, the spelling of names varies in early records but these variations are phonetically identical and they have identical Soundex codes.
Two codes are created. Use the left one when searching 1910 census and before. Use the one right for 1920 census and later.
After you have compiled your family history you will need to present the information in an understandable and attractive format. With the aid of Vista Family Tree you can compile reports, indexes, summaries and charts. You can produce just a few plain pages listing key details or a full family history booklet complete with photos and charts.
The first step is to create an ancestral family tree chart. This identifies all the family members. The chart acts as the viewer's map, indicating the relationship links over each generation. Additional information such as birth and death dates and places are also included.
Because too much information clutters the chart and is confusing, separate text reports add additional details about all the facts for each person and family. Separate descendants and ancestry lists show distant generations in the family tree.
You can also copy photographs, extracts of your verifying documents and informative notes about the family members into your family history reports.
The chart on the right side of the screen shows a graphic view of relationships in your family tree or the pictures you have for that person in the Individual box.
Tree View: Shows the ancestors and descendants for the person shown in the Individual box on the Family page.
Ancestors View: Shows a list of the ancestors for the person shown in the Individual box on the Family page.
Descendant View: Shows a list of the descendants for this person.
Pedigree View: Shows a pedigree chart for this person.
Individual View: Shows a list of details for this person.
Family View: Shows this person and his immediate family members.
Picture View: (at bottom) Shows the pictures and documents for this person.
The display panel shows only a portion of the chart. Use the scroll bars at the bottom and right sides to view the complete chart. You can also drag the right edge of the chart to make it wider or narrower.
The ancestors and descendants are displayed for the person shown in the Individual box on the Family page. To change the chart to show the ancestors and descendants of a different person, find that person's name on the chart and left click on it.
You can also use the chart to change what person is displayed in the Individual box on the Family page. To change to a different person find that person's name on the chart and right click on it.
Left Click on name to change the person displayed on the Family page and the name shown at the top of the edit pages.
Right Click on name to center the chart on a different person.
Click Here to Show Family: This message appears in the Tree View when a person with a family is included more than one time. Click on this message to swap the family between the first and second positions in the tree for that person.
Warning: If you click on the third or fourth position no change may be noticeable. Only the first and second positions are swapped.
Tip: When following ancestors or descendants in the Tree View right click on these individuals to tell the program when to center the screen. Or left click on them then click the Tree View button.
Open the Reports window then select the individuals that you want by putting a check in the boxes next to their names. Individuals can be found fast by entering their ID number or part of their name into the search box. Then click on the Search button until the correct person is found. After all individuals are selected click the Print button to print the report or save it to a file.
Save to File: Select individuals for your report then click the Print button. The print option window will open. Check the Print to File check box then click the Ok button.
Ancestral Chart: This uses your family tree information to create a chart that shows four generations of ancestors from whom each person you selected is directly descended.
Ancestral List: Print or save a text list of up to 99 generations of ancestors for each person you selected.
Descendants List: Print or save a list of the spouses and all descendants of each person you selected.
Individual Record: This creates a personal information form. It shows the parents, spouses and children for this person, and the most important dates and details for this person.
List of Details: This creates a list of all the information you entered for each person. Optional check boxes permit adding a header line to each page and for starting a new page for each person and for sending output to a file instead of a printer.
Index Page: Print or save an alphabetical list of the individuals you entered in your family tree with their ID number, date and place of birth. Landscape style also prints the place of death, but it prints fewer lines per page.
Family Record: This creates a family group form. It shows the parents, grandparents and children for the family, and the most important dates and details for each person.
Open the Reports window then select the Wall Chart tab. Highlight the name of one person for the root of the wall chart. Wall charts are available for either ancestors or descendants of the root person selected.
The finished wall chart shows the root person and his descendants or ancestors from two to twelve generations in tree format. A title line is shown in the top left corner. After the wall chart is created, a digital copy is saved. You may then view or print it. Optional printed sizes are available from a few inches to several feet. Large wall charts are printed on multiple overlapping sheets. Trim sheets and paste together.
Blank forms are useful for recording and organizing your research before you enter it into your computer. At family gatherings have relatives fill in blank Personal Record Forms and Ancestral Charts. On field trips to court houses and cemeteries use the Research Extract and Cemetery Transcriptions forms to record information. Use the Source Summary and the Correspondence Log forms to create a record your research contacts. This tells you where and when your research was productive and it helps you decide where you should continue with additional research.
Personal Record: This personal information form has blank spaces to add the parents, spouses and children for this person, and the most important dates and details for this person.
Family Record: This family from has blank spaces to add the parents, grandparents, and children for the family, and the most important dates and details for each person.
Ancestral Chart: This ancestral chart has blank spaces to add four or five generations of ancestors from whom the person is directly descended.
Source Summary: Use to create a reference to the information you have found for each individual and the sources of that information.
Research Extract: Use to summarize information for which there is no document in your possession or information that cannot be easily photocopied.
Cemetery Records: Use to record and summarize the information gathered from the transcriptions found on family tombstones.
Correspondence Log: Use to create a quick reference to those whom you have corresponded, the reason for writing, and a description of the information you received.
Progress Schedule: Use to record and summarize the changes to your gedcom file and family tree. This shows when major research projects started or ended, when families were added and dates when corrections were made.
Click the Relate button on the top menu to open the Relationship Calculator window. This calculates the family relationship between two people who share a common blood ancestor. Adopted parents are used if the Birth parents are not included. Step, Foster and Sealing parents are not used.
Vista Family Tree can auto create dynamic PHP or static HTML web pages. Click on the Share tap under the main menu to set the configuration and specifications for how your finished family tree will look.
The page background selected will be used on every web page and the title will be displayed at the top each web page.
Title at Top of Page (Text): Two lines of text are permitted. The top line of smaller text can have up to forty letters. The lower line of larger text can have up to thirty-four letters. Text color and font style can be selected for each line. A special color or graphic pattern background can be added. If not is added, the page color or background is used.
Text Color: This opens the color select window. A sample of the color you select will be shown in the box to the left of the button.
Select Font: This opens the font select window. A sample of the type style you select will be shown in the box to the left of the button. The type size is fixed and cannot be changed.
Note: Font styles on your computer may not be available of the computer of the person viewing your web page.
Title at Top of Page (Graphic): Create a graphic image 786 pixels wide and between 60 and 120 pixels high. More details are on the setup page.
Note: Fill in the Text Title information even if a graphic image is used. Search engines cannot read graphic images and they use this instead.
Page Background: Create a graphic image of any size. Small is best if you select the Tile Pattern box. It will be tiled over the entire background. If you prefer a solid color, uncheck Use Graphic Background and select a color on the Select Color page. More details are on the setup page.
Select Pattern: This opens the Images folder that shows the graphic patterns available. A sample of the pattern you select will be shown in the box to the left. See Add Image or Pattern below if there are no patterns shown to select from.
Add Image or Pattern: Use these steps to copy to the Image and Pattern folders.
1. Click the Folders button in the main menu.
2. Click the Images button in the Folders window.
3. Copy images and patterns to the window that opens.
4. The image or pattern can now be uses with your web pages.
Add Picture: You can select up to nine pictures that will be displayed one at a time on the home page and the contact information page. The picture or document you select will be copied to the media folder in the Vista Family Tree folder. The originals remains in the original folder unchanged.
Message: Add a message telling about your family tree. This appears on the home page next to the pictures.
All color settings (except page title background color) are on the Select Colors tab page.
First select one of the color themes at the top of the page. Then click the buttons next to the color samples to modify the color settings.
Color Test Page: You can view a sample of the current settings by clicking the Color Test Page button. Look at the description of each setting to see what its purpose is and where it is location at on the test page. Leave the test page open while you make changes. After each change click the button again to check your progress.
The Contact Us Information tab page contains space for your e-mail, copyright and links to other web pages such as Facebook, a guestbook and other web sites.
All contact information is optional. Uncheck box at top to exclude entire contact page. The E-Mail address is not displayed. For php web pages, it is kept in a separate file. The e-mail form on the Contact Us page works only if your web server is able to send e-mail without a password. For html pages it is encoded with a Java script.
The Internet Link Names are shown on your web pages. They appear in the menu under the page tile or in the box at the bottom of the page. If not all link names are shown then it may be necessary to shorten some of them.
The Internet Address is where the link will bring a visitor. This is not displayed. Add "http://" before the internet address if it uses a different domain name. If it is on the same computer enter only the folder and file name.
Vista Family Tree can auto create dynamic PHP or static HTML web pages. Click on the Share tap under the main menu to set the configuration and specifications for how your finished family tree will look. On this page you will set the final specifications needed and actually create the family tree web pages.
HTML: Creates large number of files. Not recommended for trees over 10,000 individuals. These can be copied to and read from a cd, dvd or web server.
PHP: Preferred over HTML. Uses scripts that create web pages in HTML format as needed. This requires a web server.
Use Split Tree List: Check this box to only include the individuals selected in the Modify Split Tree List. All other individuals will still be included in your family tree. They will only be excluded from the web pages.
Use Hide Individuals and Pictures List: Check this box to exclude and hide the individuals and information (selected with the Modify Hide List) selected from your finished web pages. The individuals and information will still be included in your family tree. They will only be missing from the web pages. This also hides selected media items (pictures).
Hide Source Information: Check this box to exclude a source references from you web pages.
Desktop Link: Check this box to create a link on your desktop to your finished web pages. This is available only with HTML web pages.
Create Web Pages: Use this button to create the actual web pages.
Open HTML (or PHP) Web Page Folder: These folders contain your finished web pages. Copy the entire contents (all files and folders) to your cd, dvd or web site.
View HTML Web Pages: After creating your HTML family tree web pages use this button to view a sample of your entire family tree web site with all links working.
Share your family tree. Print ancestral charts and lists of ancestors for friends and relatives. Copy your family tree to cd's and publish it on the Internet. Distant relatives will also find you, contribute more to your research and fill in missing information.
Create Web Pages: First use the Create Web Page instructions.
Create New Folder: Login to your web site and create a new folder. If you use an existing folder you could copy over and destroy some files already on your web site.
Open Web Page Folder: Change to the Create Web Page tab page. Click the Open PHP Web Page Folder or the Open HTML Web Page Folder button. This opens the folder containing your finished family tree web page files. These are the files that you need to copy to your Internet web site or compact disk (CD).
Copy Files to Web Site: Copy all the web page files from your computer to the new folder on your web site.
Example:
1. Your web site is: www.acme.com/jones.
2. Create a new folder in the jones folder called: jonesfamily.
3. Open the web pages folder on your computer.
4. Copy all the web pages to the jonesfamily folder.
5. Use: www.acme.com/jones/jonesfamily to access your family tree.
Create Web Pages: First use the Create Web Page instructions.
Open HTML Web Page Folder: Change to the Create Web Page tab page. Click the Open HTML Web Page Folder button. This opens the folder containing your finished family tree web page files. These are the files that you need to copy to your Internet web site or compact disk (CD).
Open CD Folder: Next to the Drive button is a dropdown list of drives. Select the drive letter for you CD drive. Then click the Drive button.
Copy Files to CD Folder: Click on an open area of the folder with the web pages. Hold the "Ctrl" button and press the letter "A" key. This highlights all the file names. Drag all files and drop them in the CD drive folder.
Copy Files to CD: Right click in an open area of the CD drive and select Write these files to CD.
Double-click the index.html file on the CD to access the web pages.
Family tree data files are stored in a folder named Vista Family Tree inside of your My Document folder.
The Vista Family Tree folder contains these subdirectories. Use the Folder button on the main menu to access these folders.
Backup: Contains the backup copies of the family tree and configuration files.
My Files: Contains copies Reports, Wall Charts and charts saved with Save Chart button on the lower right corner below the chart on the main display.
Config: Contains the progam settings and web page configuration files.
Gedcom: Contains the genealogical information files. These are the list of trees you select from when the program first starts.
Image: Contains the special graphic images you use when designing your web pages. Copy files to this folder, then use the Select Image or Select Pattern button to add them to your family tree.
Media: Contains the pictures and text files included with your family tree. Copy files to this folder, then use the Picture tab page to add them to your family tree.
Thumb: Contains the small picture shown on the Family page and on the same person's web page. These files are created when you use the Select picture button.
Web: Contains your family tree web pages created by this program. Copy the files in this folder to a CD and share with your family and friends. You can also put your family tree on the Internet by copying these files to the home directory of your web site.
Multiple Users: All users who need to access the family tree files need to login to Window with the same account. Since Windows creates a separate My Documents folder for each user, each user will also have a separate Vista Family Tree data folder.
Use the Open button on the top menu to access the Open Family Tree Files window. There three different ways a family tree file can be opened.
Open: This replaces the active family tree with another. You are given an option to save the old file first if it has unsaved changed.
Browse: This allows you to manually search your computer for family tree (.ged) files. Files you find with this procedure are added to the family trees list and become available to the to the Vista Family Tree program. See Over Write Current Tree below.
Merge: This leaves the old family tree in memory and merges the new file with it. Picture and configuration files are not merged.
Dual: This leaves the old family tree in the old window and opens the new family tree in a new window.
Delete: This removes a family tree stored on the computer. Web page files created are also removed. There is an option to also remove picture and document files. These should not be removed if they are also used by another family tree.
Restore: First the family tree must have previously been saved with the Copy to Another Drive procedure in the Save window. Use this to copy a family tree (with the same name as the currently open family tree) and all supporting data files back (restore) from the other drive. See Over Write Current Tree below.
Over Write Current Tree: If you are copying a file with the same name as the name of the currently open family tree, the current family tree will be saved to the backup folder and the program will reload the new family tree into memory.
Normal Save: The save procedure you will use most often is the Normal Save. This saves your family tree to your hard drive and makes a backup copy. Use this after making changes or additions to your family tree.
Before saving, you can give your family tree a new name by entering it into the file name box. Also set the number of day to keep backup family tree files. Only the family tree data file is backed up. Picture, document, image and background files are not backed up.
When you click the Normal Save button this creates a backup file (on the first save only), copies your family tree to your hard drive and closes the window. To automatically save your files check the Enable Automatic Save box in the Options window.
Backup to Another Drive: This copies program and/or data to a dvd or other drive for a secure backup or to a flash drive to take with you. This also performs a Normal Save before copying files and it copies only the data files of currently open family tree.
Important: When running the program from a flash (or other removable) drive do not remove the drive until the program is closed.
Split Tree: This save creates a new family tree that includes only the individuals you select. First click the Select button and select the individuals you want to include. When you click the Save button a new family tree file that includes only the selected individuals is created. The original family tree remains in your computer memory unchanged.
Hide Details: This save creates a new family tree that hides the list of names and places you select. This can be used to select individuals and information to hide from web pages or you can create a new family tree file that excludes the individuals and information you select.
First click the Select button and select the details you want to hide. When you click the H-Save button a new family tree file that hides the selected individuals and details is created. The original family tree remains in your computer memory unchanged. Family tree files with insecure information such as maiden name of living individuals should not be made available in public places.
Take your family tree with you or make backup. Copy family tree, all supporting data files and this computer program to or from a flash drive. First select what to copy. This can be everything or only the currently open family tree. Next select the destination folder of drive. Then click the Copy Now button. This also performs a Normal Save before copying files.
If the Keep Newest box is checked and the source and destination files have the same name, then their dates are compared and the destination file is not overwritten if it is newer. If this box is not selected then the destination file is overwritten even if it is newer.
The Vista Family Tree program does not write anything to the Registry and it can be run from a flash drive. When running the program from a flash (or other removable) drive do not remove the drive until the program is closed.
This creates a new family tree or web pages that included only the individuals you select. The Split Tree option is located in the Save window and from the Create Web Pages section on the Share tab page.
First select the individuals that you want to include in your new family tree. The individuals that you do not select are not lost. They remain unchanged as part of the original family tree.
Search: Individuals can be found fast by entering their ID number or part of their name into the search box. Then click on the Search button until the correct person is found.
Add All Ancestors: Sub-trees and be quickly added by using the Add All Ancestors button. This will automatically select all ancestors of the highlighted individual.
Include Siblings: If the Include Siblings of Ancestors and Their Families box is checked all the siblings of the ancestors will also be selected when the Add All Ancestors button is clicked.
Add All Descendants: A second way to quickly add sub-trees is by using the Add All Descendants button. This will automatically select all descendants of the highlighted individual.
Include Spouses: If the Include Spouses of Descendants box is checked all the spouses of the descendants will also be selected when Add All Descendants button is clicked.
Add Ancestor Tree: This will automatically add a full family sub-tree. It includes all ancestors of the selected person plus all descendants of those ancestors. Descendants do not add past the selected person.
Chart Buttons: Track your progress on the main display. The name of each person selected shows in brown while the Split List window is open. Use the Tree, Ancestor, Descendant, Pedigree and Arrow buttons to control the chart.
Close: After everyone you want to include is selected with a check mark next to their name click the Close button.
If you have return to the Save Family Tree window click the Save button. This will create a new family tree file that includes only the individuals you selected here. The original family tree remains in your computer memory unchanged.
This creates a new family tree or web pages that leaves out names and places for certain individuals. The Hide Details option is located in the Save window and from the Create Web Pages section on the Share tab page.
This page allows you to hide certain details about each living and deceased individual or to hide all reference to that person. The seven columns on the left side are: "L", "E", "S", "P", "T", "C" and "N". These stand for: Living, Everything, Surname, Place, Social Security Number, Telephone and Notes.
You can hide: Everything, Surname, Places, Notes, Social Security Numbers and Phone numbers. (Some notes may contain surnames or place names that are exposed unless the note is hidden.) Click in the columns to indicate if the person is living and what to hide.
Hide Individual: Click in the "E" column to show a letter "E" next to his name. This will hide everything. Living individuals have a letter "L" if the left column. Living (as well as deceased) individuals are not hidden unless there is a letter "E" in the Everything column.
Perform Action: This allows you to check or unckeck an entire column. First, select a column in the left drop down selection box (next to close button). Next, select an action in the second drop down selection box. Then click the Perform Action button.
Close: After everything you want to hide is selected click the Close button. This will bring you back to the Save Family Tree window or the Create Site tab page.
Save Button: If you return to the Save Family Tree window click the Save button. This will create a new family tree file that excludes the individuals and information you selected. The original family tree remains in your computer memory unchanged.
Hide Information and Pictures List: If you return to the Create Site tab page check the Hide Information and Pictures List check box. When you create your family tree web pages the individuals and information you selected will be hidden. Everything will still be included in your family tree. It will only be excluded from the web pages.
The list of items you selected to hide is saved during a regular save of your family tree. Later when you reopen your family tree the list is also read. This allows you to use the list again without reentering it.
Two or more family trees can be viewed simultaneously.
First select and open the first file. Then click on the Open button in the top menu. Select the second file and click the Dual button. A second copy of the Vista Family Tree opens with the second file.
The second file can be the same file already open or a different file.
The new file is opened Read Only. But this can be changed with the Option settings.
Two family tree (.ged) files can be merged into one file. Picture and configuration files are not merged.
First select and open the first file. Then click on the Open button in the top menu. Select the second file and click the Merge button.
After the files are merged use the Organizer page to interconnect the two files. You are able to add individuals to the list of children, marry individuals together, delete individuals and merge duplicate records together.
If an individual is present in both trees he will have two records. Use the Merge Individual procedure on the Organizer page to combine the two records into one. This will also interconnect the two files.
The Folders window contains a set of buttons that allows you to quickly find and open important family tree folders.
Gedcom: This folder contains the genealogical information files. These are the list of trees you select from when the program first starts.
Media: This folder contains the pictures and document files included with your family tree. Copy files to this folder then use the Picture tab page to add them to your family tree.
Thumb: This folder contains the small pictures shown on the Family edit page and on the web page for and individual.
Image: This folder contains the special graphic images you use when designing your web pages. Copy files to this folder then use the Select Image or Select Pattern button to add them to your family tree.
My Files: This folder contains wall charts, the reports printed with the Print to File box checked and charts saved with the Save Chart button.
Web Page: This opens the folder that contains your family tree web pages created by this program. Copy the files in this folder to a CD and share with your family and friends. You can also put your family tree on the Internet by copying these files to the home directory of your web site.
Backup: This folder contains the backup copies of the family tree gedcom (ged) data and list of pictures and documents (med) files.
Config: This folder contains the media (.med) file that contains a list of pictures and documents used for a family tree and configuration settings for the web pages.
My Pics: This is your pictures folder in your Windows My Documents folder. Open this and one of above folders. Then drag picture and image files from this folder and drop them in one of the above folders.
My Doc: This is your documents Windows folder. Open this and one of above folders. Then drag text and document files from this folder and drop them in one of the above folders.
Drive: Use this button to open a folder on a flash drive, network drive or other drive on this computer. First select a drive letter then open that drive and one of above folders. Then drag files from this folder and drop them in one of the above folders.
Customize several features of Vista Family Tree to your personal preferences.
Options permits you to customize several features of the Vista Family Tree program to your personal preferences.
Ancestor Check Mark: Enter the ID number of a person for whom you would like to track ancestors. A green check mark next to a name on an edit page indicates that person is a direct ancestor of the person selected (grandparent). A blue check indicates the person is a sibling of an ancestor (uncle or aunt). A red check indicates the person is a child of a sibling of an ancestor (cousin).
Parents Position on Family Page: This option puts the Individual group box on the Family page between the parents and the spouses. This puts the father and mother near the top of the page and above individual box.
Surname Capitalization: Use this to convert surnames to all capital letters as they are entered. Preexisting surnames are not converted until they are modified.
Date Capitalization: This converts dates to all capital letters as they are entered. Preexisting dates are not converted until they are modified.
Automatic Save: This enables automatic saving. It makes a backup file on the first save. Select minutes between automatic saves from 5 to 240 minutes.
Read Only File: This makes the file read only and prevents saving. Check this to prevent accidentally over writing a good file.
Popup Tool Tip Hints: Check this to show tool tips by cursor and in status bar at bottom. Unchecked to disable popup hints. They will still show in status bars at the bottom of the window.
Popup Notes and Sources: When you move the mouse cursor over an input box such as Birth Place the notes and sources for that topic can popup in a small window. Check this box to enable these popups.
Startup Window Picture: Use this button to Select one of your own pictures and show it in the Vista Family Tree startup screen.
Select up to nine of your own pictures to show in the Vista Family Tree startup window. Each time the programs starts one of the pictures is randomly selected. The same picture selected will also appear on the About page.
Select Startup Picture Page: This page shows all nine pictures. It allows you to enable, disable and add new pictures. To open this page first click on the Options button in the main menu. Then in the Options page click on the Select button in the Start Window Picture section.
Add New Picture: Click on one of the Put New Picture Here buttons to select a place for your new picture. If there is already a picture in that place, it will be copied over by the new picture. Then click the Add Picture button. This opens the Cut Out Picture window and you select the part of the picture you want to use.
Enable or Disable Picture: You can select which of the nine pictures on the Select Startup Picture page the startup window should use or ignore. Put a check mark in each Show This Picture box only for each picture you want to show on the startup screen.
Screen resolution determines the number of pixels displayed on the screen. At higher resolutions items appear smaller, so more items fit on the screen. At lower resolutions, fewer items fit on the screen, but they are larger and easier to see. These instructions increase the text size by changing to a lower screen resolution.
Windows XP:
1. Right click on an open area of the Desktop and select Properties.
2. In the Display Properties window, click the Settings tab.
3. Drag the screen resolution slider to the left to decrease the resolution of your monitor. This makes text and pictures appear larger.
Windows Vista and 7:
1. Right click on an open area of the Desktop and select Personalize.
2. Click on the Display found at the bottom left.
3. Click on Adjust Resolution in the left panel.
4. Drag the screen resolution slider to the left to decrease the resolution of your monitor. This makes text and pictures appear larger.
Some resolutions may show everything stretched wide or too narrow. These are resolutions with incorrect proportions for your monitor and you should try another resolution.
If you change to a screen resolution that your monitor does not support, the screen will go black for a few seconds while the monitor reverts back to the original resolution.
Information Errors: These are inconsistencies or discrepancies in the information entered for individuals. This includes such mistakes as birth after mother's death, still living after 120 years, child born before its parent and formatting errors such as a missing space after a comma. These errors can be found by using the Verifier procedure.
Linking Errors: These are errors created by some genealogical software programs. This includes such mistakes as reference to a removed source and a missing return link from a family. These errors are checked by the Links Checker automatically each time Vista Family Tree opens a new family tree.
This procedure can quickly find inconsistencies and potential problems in your family tree. These include formatting errors like a missing space after a comma and potential entry problems such as date of death before date of birth. It also checks for unlinked trees and isolated records. These are small groups of individuals not connected to the main tree by a family relationship.
First check the boxes to indicate what types of problems you want to search for. Next, select Complete to check all records including those you marked as Skip during a previous use of this procedure. Or select Partial to check only the records not marked as Skip then click the Verify button.
A few seconds later a summary of potential problems appears. Close the Verifier window and the details list of potential problems appears. You can leave that list open while you make changes and corrections. At this time you are also able to indicate which records you want to Skip the next time the procedure is run.
This list contains the inconsistencies and potential problems in your family tree by the Verifier procedure. These include formatting errors like a missing space after a comma and potential entry problems such as date of death before date of birth. It also includes unlinked trees and isolated records. These are small groups of individuals not connected to the main tree by a family relationship.
The center column shows the I.D. Number of the individual where this potential problem was found. The next column show the Event associated with this problem. The last two columns show the problem Code number and the Description of the potential problem.
Double click a line in the Potential Problems List to change the display of the main program to the I.D. Number of the record containing the problem. Leave the problem list window open while you make changes and corrections.
You are also able to indicate which records you want to Skip the next time the procedure is run. Click the first column to mark a record to Skip. If a record contains more than one problem, then the additional lines containing the same I.D. Number will also be checked and marked to skip.
The To Do window provides twelve different types of to do lists you can create. The first list is the My To Do List. This list contains the text that you can enter in the To Do field in the Family Page on the main window.
The other eleven lists each contain a Create New List button. An Update List button. A Remove button. Some also contain a Find button.
First, set the specifications for your new list in the area just below the Create New List button. This is different for each type of list. Next, click the Create New List button. This remove the list shown and replaces it with a new list.
You can also add to a list without removing anything. First, set your new specifications then click the Update List button.
Individuals no longer needed in a list can be removed with the Remove button. Individuals removed from a list are ignored and not added if the Update List button is clicked again. However, they are added if the Create New List button is used to remove the list and create a new list.
The To Do window can be left open while you make changes in the main program window. Double click on an individual's name to change the display in the main program.
After the task for in individual is completed, put a check mark next to their name or remove them from the list.
The Links Checker runs each time a family tree, gedcom, file is read. Because Vista Family Tree adds and removes links automatically there is normally no error found. Errors usually come from hand editing the gedcom file and when opening gedcom files created with other family tree programs.
This verifies the internal structure of the gedcom file. It checks for links to non-existent records. These could be individuals or families that were removed but the link was not deleted. It also checks for missing links. If an error is found the display will tell what link is defective and give options to fix the problem.
Nothing is written to the system registry and no installation or removal programs are needed. Draw and drop program files and folder for program setup and removal.
Visual Family Tree Maker and Vista Family Tree Maker are two different, but nearly identical family tree maker programs.
Same Files: Both have the same look and feel and use the same family tree data files. Family trees written in one can be read with the other.
Same Folders: Both can be setup using the Visual Family Tree folder or the Vista Family Tree folder. Both program can be setup and used the same folder at the same time.
Computer Platform: The Visual program is for Windows only. The Vista program can run on Macintosh, Linux or Windows if Java is installed.
Language Support: The Visual program display is English only. The Vista program allows the used to select the language for displaying the program. Spanish, French, German and 22 others are supported.
Accented Letters: The Visual program supports most European accented characters. The Vista program supports all characters in all languages including Russian, Japanese, Arabic, etc.
The Vista Family Tree program does not write anything to the Registry and it can be run from a flash drive. If a flash drive has both the program and data files you can view and update your family tree from any compatible computer.
Drag and Drop Method: Open the destination folder and the folder containing the Vista Family Tree folder. Click on the Vista Family Tree folder and hold the button down. Move the mouse cursor to the destination folder and release the mouse button.
Save Tree Method: Select Save in the main menu. This uses the "Copy Family Tree to Another Folder" procedure. First select what to copy. This can be everything or only the currently open family tree. Next select the destination folder of drive. Then click the Copy Now button. See Save in this manual for additional details.
When running the program from a flash (or other removable) drive do not remove the drive until the program is closed.
No entry is made to computer registry. For complete program removal drag and drop the Vista Family Tree folder in My Documents,the C:/Program Files/Vista Family Tree folder (if it exists), the startup menu items and icons to the Recycle Bin.
GEDCOM is an acronym for Genealogical Data Communication. It provides a flexible, uniform format for exchanging computerized genealogical data. Vista Family Tree is able to read data from applications that exports a lineage-linked GEDCOM file. Some GEDCOM tags may not be supported.
The GEDCOM file consists of a set of lines written in plain text. Each line starts with a number and a tag. The tag describes the type of information on that line. The number indicated the tag level. Level zero tags start new records. The information on lines with higher tag numbers is part of the information for the line above with a lower tag number.
For example: The "0 INDI" is the beginning of a new record for some individual. All tags under this start with a 1 or a 2. The "1 BIRT" tag below it indicates the birth of this person. The "2 DATE" and "2 PLAC" tags below this line indicate the date and place of birth.
Use the Tags tab page to view your unformatted GEDCOM file. This screen will be blank until you click one of the buttons at the bottom of the page. It will then show the unformatted contents of your family tree file.
INDI: This button shows the contents of the Individual records. Each record contains the details that apply to one person only. These contain topics such as: Birth, Baptism, Death, Burial, Occupation and Confirmation.
FAM: This button shows the contents of the Family records. These contain details that apply to more than one person. They contain topics such as: Husband, Wife, Child, Married, Divorced and Annulment.
SOUR: This button shows the contents of the Source records. These contain details that apply to then sources of your research. They contain topics such as: Title, Author, Publication, Quality, and Media.
Each line starts with a number and a tag. The numbers are in outline format. The tags represent the type of information on that line. For example if the first line of a record is:
"1 BIRT" this records a birth and the next lines could be:
"2 DATE 23 Jan 1878" for a date of birth and
"2 PLAC London, England" for a place of birth.
A few of the other tags are:
"1 CHR"   for Christened
"1 DEAT" for Death
"1 BURI"  for Buried
"1 MARR" for Married
"1 CHIL"  for Child
"1 SOUR" for Source
The search tool can quickly find a word or phrase. For example: To find someone born in London. First, click the INDI button to load the Individual records. Then enter London in the box and click Search until the correct person is found.
 Lev 1  Level 2 Tags  Description
 NAME  NOTE SOUR  Name of Person
 TITL    Title or Name Suffix
 ALIA*  NOTE SOUR  Other Name
 SEX    Gender
 AFN    Ancestral File Number
 FAMC  PEDI*   Parent's Family
 FAMS    Family With Spouse
 BIRT  DATE PLAC NOTE SOUR  Birth
 BAPM  DATE PLAC NOTE SOUR  Baptism
 BAPL  DATE PLAC NOTE SOUR  LDS Baptism
 CHR  DATE PLAC NOTE SOUR  Christening
 ADOP  DATE PLAC NOTE SOUR  Adoption
 DEAT  DATE PLAC NOTE SOUR  Death
 BURI  DATE PLAC NOTE SOUR  Burial
 CREM  DATE PLAC NOTE SOUR  Cremation
 OCCU  NOTE SOUR  Occupation
 RESI  DATE PLAC NOTE SOUR  Residence
 EMIG  DATE PLAC NOTE SOUR  Emigration
 IMMI  DATE PLAC NOTE SOUR  Immigration
 NATI  NOTE SOUR  National Origin
 PROP  NOTE SOUR  Property
 SSN  NOTE SOUR  Social Sec. Number
 PHON    Telephone Number
 FACE*    Telephone Number
 MAIL*    E-Mail Address
 RELI  NOTE SOUR  Religion Affiliation
 CHRA  DATE PLAC NOTE SOUR  Adult Christening
 FCOM  DATE PLAC NOTE SOUR  First Communion
 CONF  DATE PLAC NOTE SOUR  Confirmation
 CONL  DATE PLAC NOTE SOUR  LDS Confirmation
 SLGC  DATE PLAC NOTE SOUR  Sealing of Child
 BARM  DATE PLAC NOTE SOUR  Bar Mitzvah
 BASM  DATE PLAC NOTE SOUR  Bas Mitzvah
 ENDL  DATE PLAC NOTE SOUR  Endowment
 ORDN  DATE PLAC NOTE SOUR  Ordination
 ORDL  DATE PLAC NOTE SOUR  LSD Ordination
 OBJE    Picture of Person
 NATU  DATE PLAC NOTE SOUR  Naturalization
 EDUC  NOTE SOUR  Education
 GRAD  DATE PLAC NOTE SOUR  Graduation
 RETI  DATE PLAC NOTE SOUR  Retirement
 WILL  DATE PLAC NOTE SOUR  Will
 NOTE  CONC CONT  Note Record
 SOUR  PAGE QUAY* NOTE  Source Record
 CHAN  DATE TIME  Time Last Changed
* Non-Standard GEDCOM format.
 Level 1  Level 2 Tags  Description
 HUSB    Husband
 WIFE    Wife
 CHIL    Child
 ENGA  DATE PLAC NOTE SOUR  Engagement
 MARC  DATE PLAC NOTE SOUR  Marriage Contract
 MARL  DATE PLAC NOTE SOUR  Marriage License
 MARR  DATE PLAC NOTE SOUR  Marriage
 SLGS  DATE PLAC NOTE SOUR  Sealing of Spouse
 ANUL  DATE PLAC NOTE SOUR  Annulment
 DIVF  DATE PLAC NOTE SOUR  Divorce Filed
 DIV  DATE PLAC NOTE SOUR  Divorced
 NOTE  CONC CONT  Note Record
 SOUR  PAGE QUAY NOTE  Source Record
 CHAN  DATE TIME  Time Last Changed
 Tags Level 1  Level 2 Tags  Description
 TITL     Title of Source
 AUTH    Author
 PUBL    Publication Name
 MEDI    Publication Media
 TEXT  CONC CONT  Description
 CHAN  DATE TIME  Time Last Changed