How to create a genogram in word

How to Make a Genogram in Word

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Create a family genogram using the drawing tools in Microsoft Word.

family tree image by Judy Ben Joud from Fotolia.com

image2.pngA genogram is an advanced version of a family tree. It not only displays names of family members, dates of birth and death and blood relationships, but can also show social and emotional relationships, hereditary illnesses and behaviors. Genograms often are used is fields of medicine, psychology and genetics to interpret family patterns and history. If you want to make your own family genogram, you can create it using the computer drawing tools in Microsoft Word.

Instructions

Things You'll Need: Family data

Draw on a piece of paper exactly what you want the genogram to look like and what information you want to include, such as the types of relationships between family members you want to highlight and other data pertinent to certain family members.

Open a blank document in Microsoft Word.

Create a text box for each person you want to include in the genogram. To add the first text box, click the “Insert” tab. In the “Text” group, click “Text Box.” Select “Draw Text Box.” Click in the document where you want to position the first name in the genogram. Click and drag to draw the text box, then type inside of it with the name of the person.

Add a text box for each labeled person in the genogram. Position the text boxes in the approximate location you want for each person, using your paper drawing as a guide. You can always go back and reposition things later.

Create shapes to use to represent each person. For instance, use squares for males and circles for females. To draw a shape for each person underneath his name, click the “Insert” tab. In the “Illustrations” group, click “Shapes.” Select the shape you want to insert, click a position on the document and drag to draw the shape. Press down “Shift” while you do this to draw a perfect circle or square. Repeat this for each person in the genogram. If one person has multiple relationships or details you want to include, make the shape larger.

Draw lines to represent the connections between people. You should first draw lines showing the blood relationships between spouses, then parents and children. Click the “Insert” tab. In the “Illustrations” group, click “Shapes.” In the “Lines” group, right-click a line or elbow connector, then click “Lock Drawing Mode.” This will allow you to draw multiple lines at once. Click a position on the document, then move your cursor to another position and click again. Press “Shift” to draw a straight line. Double-click when you’ve finished drawing one line.

Draw new lines, creating additional relationships, such as abuse, neglect or intimate relationships, if necessary. Choose the type of line you want and then manually draw it on the page. Press “Esc” to exit the drawing mode when you’ve drawn all the lines.

Select a line to format it, so you can distinguish between different relationships. With the line selected, click the “Format” tab. Change the shape style and stroke color as needed.

Create additional text boxes for important details next to each person, such as birth date and death date or to signify a relationship type, such as first marriage or adoptive parents. Continue formatting the document until the genogram is complete.

Create a key in one corner of the document to show which different shapes, lines and colors signify certain types of relationships. Use the "Shapes" command to create small lines and shapes as you did in the above steps, making sure to include each type you used in the genogram. Next to each shape or color, type what it signifies. For example, next to a small circle, type "female." This will help others easily read and interpret your genogram.

Click the “File” tab, then “Save as” to save the genogram

By Amy Dombrower, eHow Contributor updated: July 17, 2010

Read more: How to Make a Genogram in Word | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_6741775_make-genogram-word.html#ixzz12aWKrP3C

Constructing a Genogram on Word or Excel
Microsoft Word is a simple way to construct your Genogram on the computer. If you have Microsoft Excel you may find this easier, as you can use the grids of the spreadsheet to keep your Genogram level. Then when you are ready to print in Excel you can print without the gridlines.

Begin by Right clicking the mouse anywhere on the menu bar at the top (e.g. on File). A drop down menu appears allowing you to Left click on Drawing and a Toolbar will appear beginning with the word Draw on the left and various lines, arrows, a paintbrush, etc. across the Toolbar.

To create a Square (male) and a Circle (female):

Left click the rectangle in the toolbar once, then left click again in the body of your document.

(Hint: if you double click on the rectangle (or any symbol), you can create numerous squares (or whatever symbol you chose) by continuing to left click in various parts of the document).

Complete the same process on the oval to create a circle (female). If your toolbar does not show the rectangle or oval, left click on AutoShapes, hold the mouse over the shape you want and drag the shape into the body of your document.

To resize a figure:

Left click on the square or circle, then hold down the left side of the mouse and move the curser towards the middle of the figure. Lift your finger from the mouse when you are satisfied with the size of the symbol.

To create lines:

Left click the line symbol (or double click to create successive lines) next to the AutoShapes. (You also can hold down the left side of the mouse on AutoShapes, hold over Lines, then release on the line symbol). Then left click in your document, holding down your finger while moving the mouse. A line should appear. Release your finger when you are satisfied with the line you have created.

To put an arrow in for birth or death date:

Left click the arrow symbol on the Toolbar (once to paste one time and double-click for pasting multiple times. Then put the curser where you want an arrow and hold the left side of the mouse down while you move the curser to the destination in your document where you want the arrow to appear. Release the mouse.

To insert numbers signifying significant dates on Genogram:

Use your Enter, Tab, and Spacebar keys to move the curser to the point you want the number. Then type in the number.

1968 1971

m 1997

To create Relationship Symbols or Boundary Symbols:

Use the same format to create lines. Remember these symbols need to be in color, so after each line you create choose the Line Color icon in the toolbar to select the color of your line.

Or Or

Remember to save your work often.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION~

RETRIEVED FROM http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word-help/draw-or-delete-a-line-connector-or-freeform-shape-HA010355850.aspx on 10/17/2010

Draw or delete a line, connector, or freeform shape

Applies to: Microsoft Excel 2010, PowerPoint 2010, Word 2010

You can add lines to connect two shapes, to point to a piece of information, to create a blank signature line, or to separate text.

What are lines, connectors, and freeform shapes?

A connector is a line that has connection points at the ends of the line and stays connected to the shapes that you attach it to. The three types of connectors are straight, elbow (angled), and curved.

After you choose a connector in Microsoft Excel 2010 and Microsoft PowerPoint 2010, red dots appear on the shape outline. These dots indicate where you can attach a connector.

When you rearrange shapes that are joined with connectors, the connectors remain attached to and move with the shapes. If you move either end of a connector, that end detaches from the shape, and you can then attach it to another connection site on the same shape or attach it to another shape. After the connector attaches to a connection site, the connector stays connected to the shapes no matter how you move each shape.

After you rearrange connected shapes, you may need to reroute some connectors to make the most direct connections and keep connectors from crossing shapes.

If you want a shape that has both curved and straight segments, you can draw a draw a freeform shape. You can also draw a shape that looks like it was drawn with a pen or pencil.

What do you want to do?

· Draw a line or connector

· Draw multiple lines or connectors

· Add an arrowhead to a line

· Draw a freeform shape

· Edit points in a shape

· Delete lines, connectors, or a freeform shape

· Delete an arrowhead

Draw a line or connector

DRAW A LINE WITH CONNECTION POINTS

1. On the Insert tab, in the Illustrations group, click Shapes. image4.jpg

2. Under Lines, click the line or connector that you want to add.

3. To draw a line connecting shapes, on the first shape, point to where you want to attach the connector, click the first connection site, point to the other shape, and then click the second connection site.

· In Word 2010, you need to insert a drawing canvas before you can draw shapes and add connectors to those shapes. To insert a drawing canvas, on the Insert tab, in the Illustrations group, click Shapes, and then clickNew Drawing Canvas.

· Attached connection points on the line appear as red circles.

· To draw a straight line, click Line image5.png, and then drag to draw the line.

DRAW A LINE WITHOUT CONNECTION POINTS

1. On the Insert tab, in the Illustrations group, click Shapes. image6.jpg

2. Under Lines, click Freeformimage7.png .

3. Click one location in the document, move your pointer to a different location, and then click again.

4. Double-click when you are finished drawing the line.

Draw multiple lines or connectors

1. On the Insert tab, in the Illustrations group, click Shapes. image8.jpg

2. Under Lines, right-click the line or connector that you want to add, and then click Lock Drawing Mode.

3. Click anywhere in the document, and then do one of the following:

· For each line that you want to add, click one location in the document, move your pointer to a different location, and then click again. Double-click when are you finished drawing the line.

· To add connectors to multiple shapes, on the first shape, point to where you want to attach the connector, click the first connection site that you want, point to the other shape, and then click the second connection site. Repeat this procedure for each connector that you want to add. Connection sites and connectors appear as red circles as you move the pointer over a shape.

4. When you finish adding all of the lines or connectors, press ESC.

Add an arrowhead to a line

1. Select the line that you want to add an arrowhead to. If you want to add arrowheads to multiple lines, select the first line, and then press and hold CTRL while you select the other lines.

2. Under Drawing Tools, on the Format tab, in the Shape Styles group, click the arrow next to Shape Outline. image9.jpg If you do not see Drawing Tools or the Format tab, make sure that you selected a line. You might have to double-click the line to open the Formattab.

3. Point to Arrows, and then click the arrow style that you want. To create a custom arrow style, click More Arrows, and then choose the options that you want.

Draw a freeform shape

1. On the Insert tab, in the Illustrations group, click Shapes. image10.jpg

2. Under Lines, do one of the following:

· To draw a shape that has both curved and straight segments, clickFreeformimage11.png .

· To draw a shape that looks like it was drawn with a pen by hand, or to create smooth curves, click Scribble image12.png.

3. Click anywhere in the document, and then drag to draw. To draw a straight segment, click one location, move your pointer to a different location, and then click again.

4. To finish drawing the shape, do one of the following:

· To leave the shape open, double-click at any time.

· To close the shape, click near its starting point.

NOTES

· To convert any shape to a freeform shape, see Convert a shape to a freeform shape.

· To edit the points of a shape, see Edit points in a shape.

· To make it easier to draw details, increase the magnification to 200 percent. On the View tab, in the Zoom group, click Zoom, and then click200%.

Edit points in a shape

You can edit the points of most shapes.

1. Select the shape that you want to edit.

2. Under Drawing Tools, on the Format tab, in the Insert Shapes group, clickEdit Shapeimage13.png , and then click Edit Points. image14.jpg

3. Drag one of the vertexes that outline the shape. A vertex is the point, indicated by a black dot, where a curve ends or the point where two line segments meet in a freeform shape.

Keyboard shortcuts for editing points.

NOTE To make it easier to draw details, increase the magnification to 200 percent. On the View tab, in the Zoom group, click Zoom, and then click 200%.

Delete lines, connectors, or a freeform shape

· Click the line or connector that you want to delete, and then press DELETE. If you want to delete multiple lines or connectors, select the first line, press and hold CTRL while you select the other lines, and then press DELETE.

Delete an arrowhead

1. Select the line that you want to remove arrowheads from. If you want to remove arrowheads from multiple lines, select the first line, and then press and hold CTRL while you select the other lines.

2. Under Drawing Tools, on the Format tab, in the Shape Styles group, click the arrow next to Shape Outline. image16.jpg

3. Point to Arrows, and then click Arrow Style 1 (no arrowheads).