How to Create a Family Tree in PowerPoint Using SmartArt or Shapes
Question details
The user wants to create a family tree in PowerPoint but is struggling with default SmartArt hierarchy charts, which are built for single-parent organizational structures rather than multiple parents or lateral relationships.
- Product
- PowerPoint
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Creating an inverse hierarchy chart or a comprehensive family tree to accurately map out complex, multi-parent ancestral relationships.
- Observed behavior
- Default SmartArt hierarchy charts only allow one path through the hierarchy, making it difficult to map out traditional family trees where lateral relationships and multiple parents are necessary.
Evaluate the complexity of the family tree you wish to create. For a simple top-down or bottom-up lineage, SmartArt tools will suffice; for complex diagrams involving multiple parents and siblings, prepare to use individual shapes and connector lines.
Build a Complex Family Tree Using Shapes and Connector Lines
This is the most flexible method, highly recommended for traditional family trees that require multiple parents, marriages, and lateral sibling relationships.
Because SmartArt hierarchy charts restrict elements to a single parental path, using individual shapes gives you complete freedom to map out any type of family connection.
Go to the Insert tab, click Shapes, and select a shape (e.g., Rectangle or Oval). Draw the shape on your slide and type the family member's name inside it. Repeat this for all individuals.
Go back to Insert > Shapes and choose one of the Connector line types (Straight, Elbow, or Curved) under the Lines section.
Hover over a shape to reveal its connection points (usually the corners and middle of each side). Click and drag the connector line from a point on one shape to a point on another shape.
Once connected, you can freely move the shapes around the slide. The connector lines will stretch and remain securely attached to the specific connection points.
Create an Inverse Family Tree Using SmartArt 3-D Rotation
Use this workaround if your family tree only requires a simple, single-path lineage but you want the current family members at the bottom and ancestors at the top.
Easily Create Custom Family Trees with WPS Presentation
WPS Presentation provides intuitive SmartArt diagramming tools, an extensive shape library, and flexible dynamic connector lines to help you design complex family trees with ease. It supports full compatibility with Microsoft PowerPoint files.
- 1. Launch WPS Presentation: Open WPS Office and create a new Blank Presentation to serve as your family tree canvas.
- 2. Add Shapes or SmartArt: Navigate to the Insert tab. Click Shapes to manually construct a multi-parent tree, or click SmartArt for a quick, single-lineage hierarchy.
- 3. Link with Smart Connectors: Use the Connector tools under the Shapes menu to draw dynamic lines between family members that stay attached even when you reorganize the slide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't I link two parents to one child in a SmartArt hierarchy?
SmartArt hierarchy charts are strictly designed for traditional corporate organizational structures, meaning they enforce a single-path, top-down flow. For complex familial structures with multiple parents or marriages, you must use individual shapes connected by lines.
Will my connector lines break if I move the shapes around?
No, as long as you attach the connector line directly to the predefined connection points (which appear as dots on the edges of a shape when you hover over it), the lines will stretch and automatically stay attached to the shapes when they are moved.
How do I make the text stay readable when flipping SmartArt upside down?
Before changing the Y Rotation to 180 degrees, you must expand the 3-D Rotation menu in the Format Object pane and check the 'Keep text flat' option. This ensures the shape flips but the text remains upright and readable.
