Bj, What is your definition of Direct descendants? Who is this direct descendent? I think that almost everyone in your database is a direct descent to someone or another. If it is you, then set you as the Home person, and you will see that flag to you. Thanks, David C Abernathy Email disclaimers ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- This message represents the official view of the voices in my head. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.SchmeckAbernathy.com == All outgoing and incoming mail is scanned by F-Prot Antivirus  == -----Original Message----- From: ftm-tech-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:ftm-tech-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of BJ Sent: Monday, October 24, 2011 4:27 PM To: ftm-tech@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [FTM-TECH] New entries not in date order Thank you for your comment. I agree 100%. In FTM 16 and earlier, I liked to have the direct descendants listed at the top of the children list. I continue that process in FTM 2012 although FTM 2008 implemented a special indicator showing the direct descendant path to the "Home Person". After I have entered the children, I sort them by birth date. I then use the move feature to move the direct descendant to the top slot. I find this lets me navigate to through the direct line much more efficiently than leaving everyone in the birth order. Having the option to "automatically" sort children after adding a new child would not work very well except for those who always want the children in birth order. Consider this. I have rearranged the children list. I enter a new child and the entire list is automatically reordered not just for this family but for all children. This completely destroys my desired order. Just my opinion. BJ On 10/24/2011 4:05 PM, Derk & Lorraine Sherren wrote: > FTM, since the beginning, has not automatically put children in birth order > on the family page. The children are left in the order you enter them, > unless YOU change the order either by using the reorder symbol, or by > manually moving them up or down on the list. This, to me, is actually a good > feature. I might know the names and birth *order* of several children in a > family, BUT do not know their birth dates. I can enter them in the order I > want them on FTM, but at Ancestry (where automatic sorting is in effect) > they are immediately rearranged alphabetically, only because there is no > birth date. I would have to put in fictitious dates to get them in the > proper order, definitely not my preference. If you do want them to sort > chronologically on FTM, it's an easy move to click on the reorder symbol. > Once in a while, I do an Error report (Publish/Person Reports/Data Errors > Report) and select only "Children Out of Order" from Errors to Include, to > pick up any families I may have missed. > ********************************** List information page http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/other/Software/FTM-TECH.html Online Support for Family Tree Maker Version 16 and earlier http://pastftm.custhelp.com/ Version 2008 - 2011 http://ftm.custhelp.com/ ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to FTM-TECH-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Direct descendants - the direct line from the ancestor to the person designated as Home Person. In most data bases the Home Person is set to the file owner. In FTM 16 and earlier there was no Home Person. You are correct, that is the way I have it set and I see the direct descendant pointer (a gold or orange arrow). However, I also want that person at the top of the list of children. That way when I am on another page with only the Mini-nav pedigree tree for navigation, the child at the top of the list is the one shown. I find it easier to use the Mini-nav tree when attempting to navigate the direct descendants. BJ On 10/24/2011 6:54 PM, David C Abernathy wrote: > Bj, > What is your definition of Direct descendants? > Who is this direct descendent? > > I think that almost everyone in your database is a direct descent to someone > or another. > > If it is you, then set you as the Home person, and you will see that flag to > you. >