How to Create Genealogy Charts
Pursuing genealogy as a hobby allows you to explore your family's roots and history. Software programs and online tools allow you to create and share genealogy charts. Many of these are free. Once your family tree is in progress, save as a GEDCOM file to share it easily between different programs and with others working on their own family trees.
Instructions
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Choose a software or online application for your genealogy charts. If you do not expect to share your family tree, you can opt for an easy-to-fill-out form that can be opened in a word-processing application or create your own in any word processing program or database program. Genealogy software offers user-friendly interfaces and can integrate a variety of information, including photos and videos into your family tree.
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Gather your records or notes. Birth, death and marriage certificates, family photos and family bibles can all be useful. Also include old letters, newspaper clippings or other information you may have available.
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Sort and organize your files. You may wish to sort records by individual and family group. Consider including notes to cross reference information stored in other files if relevant. A basic file box and acid-free file folders works well; however, do make sure that you keep original and irreplaceable documents away from modern photocopies. You can also opt to scan documents and organize them virtually as image files or in your genealogy software.
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Input your family tree information, starting with your own generation and working backwards. Typically, your information will become spottier and less accurate as you move further back in your family history, so starting in the present for your genealogy chart and working backwards can be helpful.
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Compare your research and genealogy charts to those available online. You may find that you can expand the information you have by relying upon work others have done. Easy-to-use search interfaces at many genealogy sites, including FamilySearch.org. can allow you to learn more about your ancestors.
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Save your work in the file format you prefer. If you wish to share your family tree online with others interested in genealogy, save it as a GEDCOM file using software designed for this purpose (see Resources). GEDCOM, or Genealogical Data Communication files, allow genealogists to share information easily. If you are simply sharing your family tree with others in your family, you might consider converting your data to a PDF file.
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Several services offer genealogy chart printing in a large format quite suitable for framing (see Resources). Your local copy shop may also be able to print a large format genealogy chart. If you would like to add your chart to photo albums or share in printed form, you can print out your genealogy chart over several pages.
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