What to use for fictitious family trees

**Husar** · 11-23-2007, 17:32

I think the beta of Word 2007 had a nice tool to make trees. I would try a beta or demo before buying it though if there is one. It's not really cheap and probably too expensive for what you want?

**Omanes Alexandrapolites** · 11-23-2007, 17:59

Fortunately, this can be done in Office 2003. Quite simply find the section labelled "Flowchart" on the "Autoshapes" tool bar. Once you have used the function to create a box, you can use the supplied connectors under the same section to wire additional boxes together. This should allow you to easily create a hierarchy type diagram.

Although Word 2003/2007's flow chart feature can be used for this, although OpenOffice Draw is probably the more ideal solution if one doesn't already have office installed. This is primarily due to its price tag - completly free!

**Mouzafphaerre** · 11-24-2007, 08:48

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Thanks Omanes.

Word's flowchart is nigh useless due to the resizing problems. It won't enlarge the chart automatically and text eventually becomes hidden.

How do I do it in Open Office Draw? I've been using that program for years in order to produce presentable music scores from my favourite program's EMF output but couldn't find the flowchart function.
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**Omanes Alexandrapolites** · 11-24-2007, 15:17

In OpenOffice Draw 2.3, the button can be found on the lower bar - the one with all the wide variety of shapes in it. By default its the thirteenth button from the left side of the bar. The connectors, which are activated using the eight button from the left, can be used to join the boxes together.

Sadly though, this feature is exactly the same as Word 2003's, and doesn't seem to auto resize from my experiences. Unfortunately Office 2007's "smart art" function is the only system which is does exactly what you want it to do. The only problem is its painfully hefty price tag.