Names shortened when displayed

[Howard Metcalfe]

Q: Why are people and place names sometimes incompletely displayed?

A: Long names are shortened for display purposes only, say to fit on one line in a button in the main (navigation) window, the pedigree window, etc. I use my own algorithm to do this.

The complete name is always kept on file and will appear in all reports.

Generally, the shortening algorithm for person names works like this, testing after each step to see if the name fits:

1. Delete any nickname.
2. Abbreviate each middle name to an initial, from the last middle name to the first.
3. Delete each middle initial, from the last to the first.
4. Delete any postnominal, e.g. Jr.
5. Delete any title, e.g. Capt.
6. Abbreviate the first name to an initial.
7. Delete the first name initial.
8. Abbreviate the last name to an initial.

[roger]

In the buttons for Descent etc names are often abbreviated to a single letter so Mary Ann Trott shows in full but brother William Joseph Trott becomes "W" (followed by dates), and Louisa Elizabeth Trott becomes "L". This is a stopper when following through a family line - "who is W!". I appreciate it is a matter of fit, but is there any way the algorithm could retain some of the name?

Thanks

Roger

[Howard Metcalfe]

roger said:

In the buttons for Descent etc names are often abbreviated to a single letter so Mary Ann Trott shows in full but brother William Joseph Trott becomes "W" (followed by dates), and Louisa Elizabeth Trott becomes "L". This is a stopper when following through a family line - "who is W!". I appreciate it is a matter of fit, but is there any way the algorithm could retain some of the name?

Hi Roger,

I can't seem to replicate this particular problem. Can you email me your file as an attachment so I can try to track this down?

Best,
Howard
[e-mail]

[Howard Metcalfe]

Hi Roger,

Got your file. Now I see the problem. It occurs when the combination of the name and the date text is too long to fit in a child button in the descent window.

Here's my solution: Before abbreviating or deleting the first name (and then abbreviating the last name if necessary), I will elide the date text as (...). Works nicely with your file and should solve the problem in other cases.

Of course, when you click on the child button, you will see the birth date as the child moves to the main button.

I'll fix this in the next version.

Best,
Howard

[roger]

Thanks, Howard, the new version works fine.