Print Narrative Report for Specific Generations

#1 · 2026-03-28, 4:24 am

I have a need to print narrative reports of specific descendant generations, or a range of descendant generations. I cannot figure out any way to do this without starting with my root ancestor and creating a narrative report of all descendants through the generation I need and then manually deleting the unwanted early generations and the associated endnotes. I was thinking it might be possible to create a script to weed out the generation(s) I need by utilizing Color Code by Consanguinity Degree #colorcoding #relationships, but of course I have no idea how to do this. Can anyone help?

Thanks in advance 🙂

kevync has reacted to this post.

#2 · 2026-03-29, 8:30 pm

I have a script I slightly tweaked on consanguinity -- based on one Jerry wrote awhile back. Does about to 15 degree then colors every person beyond that the same there after --
Essentially the darker the close the lighter the further away

Jaime Teas has reacted to this post.

#3 · 2026-03-29, 9:22 pm

@jlodge

As I understand it, you want a narrative report covering the (m)th to the (n)th generation descendants of a given person. You asked whether color coding might be a means to that end.

I can think of no way to produce such a report from RootsMagic short of what you are doing: the full descendency from someone to the (n)th generation and then, in MS Word, inspecting and deleting everyone above the (m)th generation.

Color coding could help with the inspection. For example, clear color coding for everyone and then color code red the descendants of the reference person down to the (m-1)th generation. Then generate the report and delete all the narratives of people whose names are red.

However, I expect you will have issues with pagination, ToC, Indexes.

What might be an alternative?

Find a program that produces such a report and can either read the RM database file or import the GED file from RM satisfactorily.
Would a batch of Individual Summary reports for that range of descendants serve your purpose? I think you could create a Group of the m to n generations descendants and print all the IS reports for that Group in one go.
Submit your n-generations narrative PDF from RM to a pro-level AI system and instruct it to recast the content the way you want. I don't know if that would work but there are others deeply involved with applying AI services to assist with family tree research, analysis and reporting who might. There are many forums on the topic of Genealogy and Artificial Intelligence - look up a few.
I think it highly unlikely that anyone in this forum would volunteer to write a program that could produce such a report from a RM database.

#4 · 2026-03-29, 9:48 pm

The only other thing I can think of is to use FBC with FTM (Family Book Creator) add in with Family Tree Maker -- than would cost about $150 with both unless promo available.

#5 · 2026-04-12, 3:27 am

Quote from Jaime Teas on 2026-04-12, 3:27 am
Quote from Tom Holden on 2026-03-29, 9:22 pm
@jlodge
As I understand it, you want a narrative report covering the (m)th to the (n)th generation descendants of a given person. You asked whether color coding might be a means to that end.
I can think of no way to produce such a report from RootsMagic short of what you are doing: the full descendency from someone to the (n)th generation and then, in MS Word, inspecting and deleting everyone above the (m)th generation.
Color coding could help with the inspection. For example, clear color coding for everyone and then color code red the descendants of the reference person down to the (m-1)th generation. Then generate the report and delete all the narratives of people whose names are red. Yes that is what I have been doing using the consang. color coding.
However, I expect you will have issues with pagination, ToC, Indexes. I don't have to worry about that because I am sending my portions of narratives to someone else to collate. I would be pulling my hair out if I had to do that!
What might be an alternative?
Find a program that produces such a report and can either read the RM database file or import the GED file from RM satisfactorily.
Would a batch of Individual Summary reports for that range of descendants serve your purpose? I think you could create a Group of the m to n generations descendants and print all the IS reports for that Group in one go. Hmmm... that sounds like a good idea, but I need the narrative reports. Of course they still need a lot of editing, but that is better than than the alternative.
Submit your n-generations narrative PDF from RM to a pro-level AI system and instruct it to recast the content the way you want. I don't know if that would work but there are others deeply involved with applying AI services to assist with family tree research, analysis and reporting who might. There are many forums on the topic of Genealogy and Artificial Intelligence - look up a few. I will look this up. I have not gotten into AI yet and don't know that I have the time to learn a lot as the book I'm working on is already way past the Dec 2025 deadline we set for ourselves.
I think it highly unlikely that anyone in this forum would volunteer to write a program that could produce such a report from a RM database. Totally understand ... I might send it to RM as a suggestion. I think a lot of people would like to be able to do this if they could.
THANKS FOR YOUR THOUGHTFUL REPLY AND SUGGESTIONS!

Quote from Tom Holden on 2026-03-29, 9:22 pm
@jlodge
As I understand it, you want a narrative report covering the (m)th to the (n)th generation descendants of a given person. You asked whether color coding might be a means to that end.
I can think of no way to produce such a report from RootsMagic short of what you are doing: the full descendency from someone to the (n)th generation and then, in MS Word, inspecting and deleting everyone above the (m)th generation.
Color coding could help with the inspection. For example, clear color coding for everyone and then color code red the descendants of the reference person down to the (m-1)th generation. Then generate the report and delete all the narratives of people whose names are red. Yes that is what I have been doing using the consang. color coding.
However, I expect you will have issues with pagination, ToC, Indexes. I don't have to worry about that because I am sending my portions of narratives to someone else to collate. I would be pulling my hair out if I had to do that!
What might be an alternative?
Find a program that produces such a report and can either read the RM database file or import the GED file from RM satisfactorily.
Would a batch of Individual Summary reports for that range of descendants serve your purpose? I think you could create a Group of the m to n generations descendants and print all the IS reports for that Group in one go. Hmmm... that sounds like a good idea, but I need the narrative reports. Of course they still need a lot of editing, but that is better than than the alternative.
Submit your n-generations narrative PDF from RM to a pro-level AI system and instruct it to recast the content the way you want. I don't know if that would work but there are others deeply involved with applying AI services to assist with family tree research, analysis and reporting who might. There are many forums on the topic of Genealogy and Artificial Intelligence - look up a few. I will look this up. I have not gotten into AI yet and don't know that I have the time to learn a lot as the book I'm working on is already way past the Dec 2025 deadline we set for ourselves.
I think it highly unlikely that anyone in this forum would volunteer to write a program that could produce such a report from a RM database. Totally understand ... I might send it to RM as a suggestion. I think a lot of people would like to be able to do this if they could.
THANKS FOR YOUR THOUGHTFUL REPLY AND SUGGESTIONS!

#6 · 2026-04-12, 3:41 am

Quote from kevync on 2026-03-29, 9:48 pm
The only other thing I can think of is to use FBC with FTM (Family Book Creator) add in with Family Tree Maker -- than would cost about $150 with both unless promo available. Thanks, I will check it out. I already have FTM, but don't know if it is worth adding FBC since I am only contributing portions of the book. Appreciate your suggestions!