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Unable to expand Birth, Death or Sex Columns

Unable to expand Birth, Death or Sex Columns

Posted: 15 Nov 2014 6:34PM GMT
Classification: Query
Hi

Just installed Family Tree Maker V3 for Mac, after using the windows version of 2014 and previous versions for years.

I am trying to expand the columns out, and for some reason you can only move whatever column is the far right one!? and it seems to be locked on the left hand side!

Its very annoying because there is loads of room on the left, and it wont let you move it, so you cant see the birth and death date without clicking on the person!

Any ideas what is happening?

Thanks,

Matt

Re: Unable to expand Birth, Death or Sex Columns

Posted: 16 Nov 2014 12:20AM GMT
Classification: Query
It would help if you posted a screen shot to enable others to understand exactly what kind of page you're on and having this issue.

Re: Unable to expand Birth, Death or Sex Columns

Posted: 16 Nov 2014 11:52AM GMT
Classification: Query
I suspect that the problem is being experienced in Family View.
So in FTM 3 Version 22.2.3.76, the version tweaked to comply with Apples rules for sale in the App Store, and the latest build of Yosemite 10.10.1. and a 15" MacBookpro Retina I see the following columns, centre bottom.
Go
Sex
Birth
Death
Children
The birth column is very narrow. In the family I am looking at all that can be displayed is 1841 in, and where there is a full date 03 Feb. By contrast the name column is wide enough to contain the name of the children several times over. I would want therefore to increase the width of the Birth column at the expense of the Children column.
If I hover over the right boundary of the Death column heading, I can drag in either direction to reduce/increase as I wish. I cannot do this with any of the other columns, although really I cannot see that you would wish to increase either Go or Sex



Re: Unable to expand Birth, Death or Sex Columns

Posted: 16 Nov 2014 12:04PM GMT
Classification: Query
Hi

Thanks to both of you for your replies.

Yes you have described the issue perfectly !

I have moved the go "arrow" column to the far left as it is in the windows version. which leaves Sex, Birth Date and Death date on the right hand side. Sex is fine as that is 1 letter, however you can only expand either birth or death, not both! so its a little pointless quite frankly. Such a simple thing to move and it wont let you do it! very frustrating.

See attached a screenshot of the issue.

Attachments:

Re: Unable to expand Birth, Death or Sex Columns

Posted: 17 Nov 2014 3:14AM GMT
Classification: Query
These columns, with the exception of the *Death* were never customizable, either in title or size.

You need to place the Death column on the far right in order to custom the size.

As you've discovered, the columns can be moved.

I have more expanded view of the birth column than what you show,

There are many options on this page, it's has endless combos of data that can be viewed. This can make the actual Family View portion condense, it all depends on what you've selected to have expanded on the page.


Re: Unable to expand Birth, Death or Sex Columns

Posted: 17 Nov 2014 7:46AM GMT
Classification: Query
So I tried it on my 27" iMac, older hardware, but same version of OS X and of course a large screen.
Set to full screen, the problem with the birth column is solved, but the death column can only be expanded by first moving it away from the extreme right and then moving it bac, although it will reduce.
I will look at the MacBookPro later when I am in multiple screens research mode

Re: Unable to expand Birth, Death or Sex Columns

Posted: 17 Nov 2014 9:01AM GMT
Classification: Query
I didn't say that unlike the MacBookPro, all the column were not scrunched up in the extreme right, but displayed normally.
Meanwhile back on the MacBookPro Retina, no manner of playing around will change matters.
Plugged into the laptop there are two 27" monitors each with 2560 x 1440 resolution (apple Thunderbolt and a Dell) . Dragging the program to either of these and expanding it to full screen will remove the problem, and reducing it again does not affect the display of the birth information. It does however transfer the problem to the children column, the first cild in the family I am looking at displaying as Hest...
Revisiting the iMac shows the same thing happens.
I know from another thread that daciodan has the non App Store version, so Sharron where did you buy yours, and what hardware are you using?
I have a non Retina MacBookPro as well, but have not spent the time needed to install and test on that. I did not notice anything untoward when I was sorting out a problem for a friend the other day, who has a MacBook Air and the App Store version.

Re: Unable to expand Birth, Death or Sex Columns

Posted: 17 Nov 2014 9:17AM GMT
Classification: Query
Hi tony,

Thanks for doing some testing!

I'm really confused why it's like this! It can't be by design, such functionality of changing column widths is standard!

I have an Oct 2013 MacBook Pro with retina display the 13" model and I bought my copy of family tree maker v3 from the App Store. I have been using the windows version of 2011, 2012 and 2014 for years with no issues at all.

But just bought myself a Mac and wanted to try and use it for everything I could instead of using my windows work laptop!

Is this something I can submit to the software people to fix?

Thanks

Re: Unable to expand Birth, Death or Sex Columns

Posted: 18 Nov 2014 5:18AM GMT
Classification: Query
I purchased FTM Mac 3 (download) from the Ancestry.com (US) site. It auto-redirects to Nova Development's site for purchase and download (Avanquest North America).


Re: Unable to expand Birth, Death or Sex Columns

Posted: 18 Nov 2014 9:02AM GMT
Classification: Query
So Sharron, you and I are using the App Store version, the only difference, apart from hardware being I was using the Yosemite 10.10.1 beta, which was replaced last night by the final release.
You are going to have to conatct Ancestry about this. Under the Help menu you find Online Help Center, from the page it takes you too you will find a number and a link to others if like me you do not live in the US.
I mentioned that a friend had a problem. I didn't go further as it seemed to have no relevance, and I solved it, but without understanding what had gone wrong.
Using a MacBook Air which was still running Mavericks he had converted his FTMM 2010 file into FTM 3 and had lost about 10% of the individuals and some data apparently in the conversion process. I had watched him do it, and he had followed the correct procedure. I repeated the process on my machine with his file and had no problems. I now suspect that where data appeared to have been lost, as opposed to individuals disappearing altogether. it might simply have been out of sight.

So we have a problem that :-

1) Seems to be limited to the App Store version currently at Version 22.2.3.762, otherwise it could have been expected to have come to light earlier, despite

2) Although it does not seem to hard to duplicate, to some extent it seems to be random, and have other results beyond those you found.
3) It is separate from the point that you raised initially. The ability to resize all the columns to suit personal preferences is something that is appropriate to a future wishlist.
4) The program should as default draw the screen in the same way (subject to any remaining differences between the two platforms) as you will see it in the Windows versions. I have it running now and as I said before, when it is on the 27" screen to either my left or right it is fine. Resize it to fit on the laptop screen and it is messed up, worse to a great extent than you found originally.

Tony
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