Difference between revisions of "DescendantsLines"

Latest revision as of 01:38, 11 February 2013

Lines of descendants chart

DescendantsLines, Left-aligned text style, example Gramps data, inc_marriages and inc_places.

Shakespeare family tree, DescendantsLines, inc_marriages

Shakespeare family tree, DescendantsLines, Left-aligned text style, including event places

DescendantsLines is an in-development addon for Gramps which generates a graphical descendants tree using orthogonal edges and routing ("square edges").

[edit] Characteristics

DescendantsLines presents an orthogonal family tree, currently in vertical mode only. In DescendantsLines, vertical mode, children in a family are ordered from left to right following the Gramps child order; and families are ordered right to left, top to bottom, following the Gramps family order.

[edit] History

2007: Adam Sampson has written a standalone python script for parsing data.gramps (Gramps XML). [1]

2010: this script needs some updates for avoiding minor issues.

A modified script is available on the addons repository. [2]

[edit] Libraries

The program DescendantsLines, as the script in which it is based, is written in Python, using PyCairo and the Python XML library. Many Gramps modules are also used.

[edit] Current limitations

1. Partial quoting of xml-syntax-like data. Data which resembles xml syntax (tags, etc) may cause error.
2. Script ignores role on event (was added in 2007)
3. Script ignores localized date handlers (using ISO date format, date quality in english)
4. Memory limitation with a large database (DOM parsing)
5. The last pixel column of each secondary line of each entry is wrong coloured (red instead black)
6. The addon DescendantsLines does not use the Gramps document interface. (perhaps the Gramps document interface options should be hidden)
7. DestinationOption does not have the usual error handling and user checking (e.g. for overwriting files)
8. Size limit: Cairo surface size limit. (32767 for height and 32767 for width [3])
9. Some PDF output size limit (currently crossing this limit will result in an empty PDF file)

[edit] Installation

[edit] Gramps 3.3 version

The Gramps 3.3 version of DescendantsLines can be installed through the Gramps Plugin Manager.

[edit] Gramps 3.4 version

To use the Gramps 3.4 version of DescendantsLines, on Gramps Trunk, now gramps34:

1. Create the directory $GRAMPSHOME/gramps/gramps34/plugins/DescendantsLines/ .
2. Copy the files DescendantsLines.py and DescendantsLines.gpr.py from Gramps-addons trunk svn to the directory $GRAMPSHOME/gramps/gramps34/plugins/DescendantsLines/ .

[edit] Usage

1. Open Gramps and generate the report -- Reports -> Graphical Reports -> Descendants Lines. Choose the output path on "Destination" (default $GRAMPSHOME/DescendantsLines.png). The "Filename" option will contain an empty file after the report is run.
2. The script currently runs in "debug mode" so it generates copious terminal output such as "Unknown event type: ..." or "Unknown spouse: ...". These warnings are harmless.

[edit] Options

The options for the addon DescendantsLines are:

• S_DOWN - The length of the vertical edges from descendant to spouse-bar
• S_UP - The length of the vertical edges from spouse-bar to spouse
• S_VPAD - Length of vertical padding spacing between spouse and spouse-bar (?)
• FL_PAD - Length of padding spacing between S_UP edges (vertical edges from spouse-bar to spouse) and O_DOWN edges (vertical edges from spouse-bar to child-bar)
• OL_PAD -
• O_DOWN - The length of the vertical edges from spouse-bar to child-bar
• C_PAD - Length of padding spacing between children
• F_PAD - Length of padding spacing between families (?)
• C_UP - The length of the vertical edges from child to child-bar
• SP_PAD - Length of padding spacing between spouses
• MIN_C_WIDTH - Minimal width of child cells
• TEXT_PAD - Length of text padding
• TEXT_LINE_PAD - Length of text line padding
• output_fmt - The output format (PNG, SVG, PDF or PS)
• output_fn - The output filename
• max_gen - Maximum number of generations to include. (0 for unlimited)
• use_colors - Whether to use colored names indicating person gender in the output.
• name_format - The name format
• inc_places - Whether to include event places in the output
• inc_marriages - Whether to include marriage information in the output
• inc_dnum - Whether to use d'Aboville descendant numbering system
• style - The predefined output style

There are option and tree combinations which may generate overlapping edges and nodes. If using the inc_marriages option the S_DOWN - S_UP difference may need to be increased by 5-15 units depending on the tree.

[edit] Examples

• File:DescendantsLines-m-ep.pdf -- DescendantsLines, example Gramps data, inc_marriages and inc_places, PDF output.
• File:DescendantsLines-left.pdf -- DescendantsLines, Left-aligned text style, example Gramps data, use_colors, inc_marriages and inc_places, PDF output.
• File:Charlemagne-DescendantsLines.pdf -- DescendantsLines addon, inc_marriages and inc_places, PDF output, presenting a family tree of Charlemagne starting from Chloderic King of Cologne.
• File:PepinOfHerstal-DescendantsLines-left-dnum.pdf --DescendantsLines Gramps addon, Left-aligned text style, d'Aboville numbering (inc_dnum), descendants of Pepin of Herstal or Pepin II, PDF output. Data from http://www.genealogyforum.com/gedcom/gedr1434.htm.

[edit] Tree compression and or modification

SVG format trees can be compressed and or modified manually using the program Inkscape, using the select and path tools; or using other SVG manipulating program. PNG format trees can be compressed manually by manipulating the image.

[edit] Development

There is an in-development migration of this Gtk/cairo code to a draw plugin working into Gramps (font, style, path, canvas, output formats). This migration, DescendantsLines, does not use the Document interface of Gramps.

Draft version is available on Addons repository. [4]

The idea is keeping Gramps XML parsing, but with a copy of the active database and use of current report environment (output formats, style, path).

[edit] Ideas

• Add option to include event places. (done in Gramps-addons)
• Add option to include marriage information. (done in Gramps-addons)
• Using the library get_event_or_fallback() methods from gen.utils. (done in Gramps-addons)
• Add optional generation limit. (done in Gramps-addons)
• Make the XML export smaller. Use filter. (done in Gramps-addons)
• Add option for output format. (PNG, SVG, PDF or PS) (done in Gramps-addons)
• Add boolean option use_colors. (done in Gramps-addons)
• Use gen.display.name.displayer. (done in Gramps-addons)
• Add option for name display format. (done in Gramps-addons trunk)
• Add style variables and option, ref. text alignment, etc. (done in Gramps-addons)
• Use Gramps family order. (done in Gramps-addons)
• Add option to use d'Aboville descendants numbering system. (done in Gramps-addons trunk)
• Think of optional tree compression algorithms.
• Add option to include divorces.
• Add option to include spouse parents.
• Add option to include spouse ancestries.
  • Add option to include arbitrary spouse ancestries.
• Add option to include arbitrary ancestries.
• Add option to include notes.
• Add option to include sources.
• Add option to include images.
• Add horizontal mode.
• Add optional text wrap width.
• Add optional text width with use of ellipses.
• Cairo provides hyperlink support. Names could be hyperlinks to html complete individual reports or to web report pages.
• This addon may with time become a general orthogonal family tree drawing resource for Gramps, for a View, etc., and outside Gramps as well. The PyCairo code can be connected to a view.

The hardcoded number option limits can be altered by users, by altering the code.

[edit] Needs

[edit] Pass 1: generate a tmp XML with only data needed for the report, to load it as input

1. Enable Person selection (Gramps ID) - done
2. Generate a temp Gramps XML database matching 'IsDescendantFamilyOf' filter rule - done
3. Input path - done (need to set @prefix@: path_to_SVN/src on const.py)
4. Clean-up - done

• simple Gramps XML template with events, persons, families objects (only export primary event role reference).
• 'localized' dates (does not follow last DTD, which uses english and ISO format).

FINISHED - it works fine!

[edit] Pass 2: use draw report environment

1. Generate a plugins/docgen/PNGDrawDoc.py file [5]
2. Move Gtk code to draw report (if possible)
3. Move cairo code to draw report (if possible)
4. Output path
5. Clean-up, pylint, etc ...

[edit] Pass 2 (Alternate): use of user-defined (mega)-widgets

1. Have a look at mega-widget request and implementation [6]
2. Output path through mega-widget
3. Clean-up, pylint, etc ...

[edit] Pass 2 (Alternate): use a DestinationOption

1. Use a DestinationOption
2. Ignore standard Filename option [7]

[edit] Command Line Interface

Gramps provides a cli support for running reports and tools Gramps 3.4 Wiki Manual - Command Line.

• 4114: Would like to use stdin and stdout for command line import/export.

Feel free to contribute or improve it.

[edit] See also

• Addon:Family Tree - generates horizontal orthogonal graphical trees.
• Addon:TimelinePedigreeView - displays horizontal orthogonal graphical trees.