Family Tree

Does anyone know of a guide to the best way to create a family tree showing individuals data - bmd, cenuses, family, relationships, etc. - in Excel 2003, or should I create a database instead of a spreadsheet? If the latter, is there a guide to creating a database?
Thanks in advance,
Allan.

Originally Posted by Spencer101

Hi Allan,

I'm not sure Excel is the best option for family trees, although it very much depends on what kind of family tree you want.

There are programs out there created especially for this purpose and the few I've used do a great job.

What exactly is it you need your family tree to do that pointed you toward Excel?

I'm a budding genealogist myself and an extensive user of Excel, but have never thought of combining the two...

S.

I use Personal Ancestral File (PAF) for creating my family tree.

Sometimes it is difficult to find all of the data I need to resolve a relationship query for example or checking for duplicated records.

I've started creating a spreadsheet, therefore, with one line per individual.

I have columns headed RIN(an individual's unique identity number), SURNAME, FORENAMES, BORN, BAPTISED, FATHER, MOTHER, SPOUSE, MARRIAGE, DEATH, BURIAL, CENSUS YEARS (with an indication as to whether or not I have that particular census record), & COMMENTS.

This involves a lot of typing so I posted my query before I went any further,

Allan.