Introduction:

Creating a family tree is an excellent way to preserve your family history and track your genealogy. Microsoft Excel is a versatile tool and can help you create an organized and visually appealing family tree with ease. In this article, we will discuss three methods of making a family tree in Excel.

1. Using SmartArt Graphics:

Step 1: Open Microsoft Excel and create a new blank worksheet.

Step 2: Click on the ‘Insert’ tab in the menu bar, then select ‘SmartArt’ from the Illustrations group.

Step 3: In the ‘Choose a SmartArt Graphic’ dialog box, select the ‘Hierarchy’ category to view various family tree templates.

Step 4: Choose a suitable template such as the ‘Organization Chart’ or ‘Horizontal Hierarchy.’ Click ‘OK’ to insert it into your worksheet.

Step 5: Customize your family tree by entering names, adding new shapes for additional members, changing colors, and modifying fonts. To add a new shape, select an existing shape, and use the ‘Add Shape’ button available in the SmartArt Design tab.

2. Creating a Family Tree from Scratch:

Step 1: Open Microsoft Excel and create a new blank worksheet.

Step 2: You can start with manually arranging text boxes in your desired format. To insert text boxes, click on the ‘Insert’ tab, select ‘Text Box,’ and draw it on your worksheet wherever required.

Step 3: Add names of family members to each text box and resize them accordingly.

Step 4: Use the ‘Shapes’ option in the Illustrations group under the Insert tab to draw lines connecting each text box representing relationships within your family tree.

Step 5: Customize fonts, colors, and sizes of text boxes to create a visually appealing representation of your family history.

3. Using Online Templates:

Step 1: Browse the internet and search for free Excel family tree templates that suit your needs. Websites like Vertex42, TemplateLab, or Microsoft Office provide many well-designed templates.

Step 2: Download the selected template and open it in Microsoft Excel.

Step 3: Most templates are pre-formatted with text boxes, shapes, lines, and placeholder names. Customize the template by replacing the placeholder names with your family members’ names.

Step 4: Add or delete shapes as needed to represent the complete structure of your family tree.

Step 5(optional): Customize the fonts, colors, or sizes to add a personal touch to the template.

Conclusion:

Creating a family tree in Excel is a convenient way to display your genealogy visually. Each method described above offers different levels of customization and complexity. Choose the method that works best for you based on your preferences and experience with Excel. Enjoy exploring your family history and presenting it in a beautiful manner using this versatile software.