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The current release formats my notes attached to media in a very skinny column. Am I able to select the type of formatting and increase the column width? I have attached a screen shot as example or you can view a page here : http://tree.potts.net.au/individual.php?pid=I582&ged=Potts

My tree

Pottsy wrote:

The current release formats my notes attached to media in a very skinny column. Am I able to select the type of formatting and increase the column width?

Actually nothing to do with the latest release. The kiwitrees theme has always had that “feature”. Other themes present media objects on the facts & Events tab differently. Try temporarily switching to the webtrees theme to see what I mean (just add “&theme=webtrees” on the end of the page URL).

I designed it that way to avoid the elongated look of multiple images stacked vertically one above the other. Your example page doesn’t have any examples of multiple images attached to a single event, so I agree yours does look ‘odd’. I will investigate how practical it might be to allow for more flexibility in the use of the available space depending on how many images there are to show. But that will take a release or more before I can include a change like that (if at all – it might be too complex to be worthwhile).

In the meantime you ahve lots of choices. Here are some:

1 – Consider how you structure your page. I designed the kiwitrees theme pretty much around my own personal preferences, and they are quite different in a number of respects to yours. That’s not to say there is anything wrong with yours, but considering alternatives is one possible solution. Take a look at this page: http://www.our-families.info/individual.php?pid=I6165&ged=Osborne.ged

Then try it with this URL: http://www.our-families.info/individual.php?pid=I6165&ged=Osborne.ged&theme=webtrees

In each case focus on his military records (two separate events) and compare the media display.

Apart from the theme and vert vs horiz display of images my differences are:
a) – generally shorter notes The GEDCOM spec is clear they should be brief additional info. (not much longer than a “tweet”).
b) – I rarely attach separate notes to media when linked to an event, but when I do all my notes and sources are ‘closed’ by default. This reduces scrolling and general screen “clutter”, IMHO.
c) – I have “events of closed relatives” (and historical dates”) also closed by default for the same reasons. I believe (happy to be wrong) that most visitors want to view a quick snapshot of events. and only see everything else when they choose to.

2 – Switch to a theme that displays your notes differently. From memory I think that’s all of them except kiwitrees.

3 – Modify the CSS for your install of the kiwitrees theme so media is displayed there in the same way the webtrees theme does it. I’m going to guess this will be your preferred solution 🙂 Its very easy if you just do two things:
a) – Read and follow the “Customising themes” FAQ here if you haven’t already done so: http://kiwitrees.net/faqs/customisation/customising-themes/
b) – Modify the relevant css in your personal kiwitrees theme “mystyle.css” file. Exactly how you want it is up to you, but it involves changing “float” properties and widths. This should get you started, then experiment from there:

.media-display {
    width: auto;
    float: none;
}

For experimenting with css use your browser’s “developer tools” / firebug (F12 key on most systems)

4 – Wait for a possible improvement to the display as mentioned above.

Nigel
My personal kiwitrees site is www.our-families.info

lol. Thanks Nigel. You have a much better eye for design than me so I’ll be going with your recommendation of closing off notes and sources. I do prefer the layout of your pages. Thanks again.

My tree

Back again … I have some notes that won’t retract and I can’t work out the logic as to why. Would you mind having a quick look to see if it is obvious? A good example is this page: http://tree.potts.net.au/individual.php?pid=I1273&ged=Potts

My tree

No need to look, I have the same issue. Its easy to fix, something I’ve been plodding through for months (or longer 🙁 )

In order to be able to contract / expand the system must recognise a “title” for the note, which by default is the first line. If there is only one line there is nothing to contract.

In GEDCOM terms a “line” is defined by the use of “CONT” and / or “CONC” sub-tags. You / we have some notes that do not use these, so they appear to the system as being on a single line.
Examples:
The system sees this a a ‘single line’ note (can not be contracted)

1 NOTE There was a child born to Ernest and Annie Waghorn in 1921 (William Frank Waghorn) who died in 1926. At the time of this photo he would have been 2 years old. We therefore believe he was the “scratched out” child in the back row (centre).

This is the multi-line version (will be contracted to the first line)

1 NOTE There was a child born to Ernest and Annie Waghorn in 1921
2 CONT (William Frank Waghorn) who died in 1926. At the time of this photo he would have been 2 years old.
2 CONT We therefore believe he was the “scratched out” child in the back row (centre).

To correct / change existing notes edit each one and put a carriage-return in where you want the first line to end, and any more you think will improve presentation. Only the first one is necessary though.

Just for information, I am also looking at a way to add an ellipsis (“…”) at the end of the first line when contracted, as a “read more” type indicator. The challenge is to ensure it works in a way that is OK for all languages (esp. RTR ones) and is removed when the note is expanded.

Nigel
My personal kiwitrees site is www.our-families.info