Creating reports with FTM

[Hugo]

Will someone please provide me with an idiots guide to creating reports. I cannot get to the appropriate screen for starting to create reports. The FTM tutorial and Help do not give me the understanding required.

Hugo

[Elaine ..Spain]

Which version of FTM are you using Hugo?

[TrevorFranklin]

There is a Youtube video that shows all the settings and what they do for FTM 11, that may help you
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KRTU3mzlH0

[Hugo]

Greetings Elaine,

I am using FTM 2012 Platinum.

Hugo

[Elaine ..Spain]

First thing you need to do is click on PUBLISH at the top of the screen.
Then on the left select what you want to do, e.g. report, chart.
In the middle section select the type, e.g. ahnentafel or descendant report - then click create report on the right.

Once you have got the basis of the report showing you then use the icons (top of the right hand section) to customise your report.

There are some instructions here which might help with that last bit

http://ftm.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5373/kw/charts/related/1

If you get stuck, then tell me how far you get and I'll try to do some screenshots for you.

[Hugo]

Thanks Elaine. I know I can get to PUBLISH. So I will go and have another try.

Hugo

[Elaine ..Spain]

Shout if you get stuck!

[Hugo]

Am back in my tree and have reached the PUBLISH screen. LHS shows a selection of posters.

I want to produce a list of people with birth, marriage, and death dates and locations. Don't see any way to do this.

Hugo

[Elaine ..Spain]

Just putting some instructions together for you Hugo - back in a mo!

[Elaine ..Spain]

Right, what you need is a CUSTOM report.

PUBLISH - PERSON REPORT - select CUSTOM REPORT (in centre)
CREATE REPORT

Presume you want all individuals - there is a button to select ALL INDIVIDUALS on right hand side.

You need to say what you want on the report.
At the right of the screen there are 7 icons under CUSTOM REPORT ICONS
Click on the 1st icon which is ITEMS TO INCLUDE

Not sure what you will see in the pop up box because mine is already set up - but basically what you want to show are NAME / BIRTH / MARRIAGE / DEATH



If these aren't showing then click on the + button and select them from the listing.

Probably best to untick - Include person notes - Include fact notes (I forgot to do that before taking the screenshot!)

Once you've got that sorted, click OK and it takes you back to the custom report.

Your report will show in text format - something like this





You may find the name format is not what you want, e.g. in alphabetic order on first names rather than surname. When you are looking at the ITEMS to INCLUDE section (first screen shot) you can choose the name format you want. Click on NAME in your chosen listings, and then on NAME OPTIONS -> select format.

You can either use the data as displayed in the above report by using the print icon. However, if you prefer it in an EXCEL type format, where you can manipulate it - then at the top right of your screen you will see a SHARE option. Click on that and export to cvs format (with an option for either column or row format).

Phew ... hope that is what you wanted and you can follow the instructions.

[Hugo]

Have you no bed to go to? It can wait till morning!

Hugo

[Hugo]

I will look at it in the morning. Goodnight.

Hugo

[Hugo]

I should have asked for a COMPLETE Idiots Guide!

I cannot get to a screen which gives me the option
PUBLISH - PERSON REPORT - select CUSTOM REPORT (in centre).

All the PUBLISH options I have offer Book, Poster, or Calendar.

[Elaine ..Spain]

Probably bad instructions on my part!
Does this help?

1. Publish at top of page
2. Person Reports (left hand column)
3. Custom report (centre)

[TrevorFranklin]

This is a short recorded video of what Elaine is trying to show you

http://youtu.be/F9FWfFLk4ng

This was created using my work screen capture software, but if you want your own copy so you can do the same, then use Camstudio Portable.
It even runs off a USB memory stick
http://portableapps.com/apps/utiliti...tudio_portable

[Hugo]

Partial success!

If I start a new tree with manually inputing the data then I can use PUBLISH to get to the report generation screen.

BUT, if I use an existing tree from the Ancestry Web Dashboard, which I normally do, then use PUBLISH I can only generate books, posters, or calendars.

However, I am a lot happier, now being able to generate reports.

My thank to Elaine and to trevor.

Hugo

[Elaine ..Spain]

I don't use the Ancestry Web dashboard - but I've just had a look at it and can see that it displays your trees on Ancestry.
If you "sync" that tree with Family Tree Maker, thus bringing it down on to your computer and held within FTM, would you be able to use the Publish option in the way I have described?

[Hugo]

One of my trees `Donnachies of Galston`is also listed in the Ancestry Web Dashboard. The one in the dashboard is linked to the web and has an extra person in it!

How do I sync my new/trial tree with FTM?

Hugo

[Elaine ..Spain]

Personally I don't use the Sync option so it's probably easier if you look in the Companion Guide on FTM which explains it in detail.
Open Family Tree Maker - click on HELP - select COMPANION GUIDE which opens a pdf file - tree syncing seems to be explained from page 269 onwards.

In case you haven't noticed the Companion Guide before (and many people don't realise it is there) I would highly recommend that you save the pdf file to your computer. It covers most aspects of FTM and is a handy reference tool when you get stuck - not that I or others mind answering any questions on here!

If you do get stuck on the syncing, then I am sure there are members on here who use it and who will be able to help!

[Hugo]

Oops! I did not think of the Companion Guide.

Again, many thanks.

Hugo