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Learn how to use StructureGram

How to Create Diagrams

This article explains how to create diagrams so that you can visualise and work with your client's structure.

There are two types of diagrams in StructureGram — Ownership Diagrams and Family Tree Diagrams. See Understanding Diagram Types for a comparison.

Before You Start

Make sure you have an active Group.

Ownership Diagrams

Ownership Diagrams display the entities and relationships in your Group. You can generate one based on stored data, or start with a blank canvas if you haven't recorded any data yet.

Method 1: Generating from Stored Data

  1. In the left-hand navigation, go to Diagrams.
  2. Click Create Ownership.
  3. Give your diagram a name and click Create Diagram. You will be taken straight to your new diagram, which displays all entities and relationships stored for the active Group.

Method 2: Starting with a Blank Canvas

If you haven't recorded any entity or relationship data yet, you can build your diagram directly on the canvas.

  1. In the left-hand navigation, go to Diagrams.
  2. Click Create Ownership.
  3. Give your diagram a name and click Create Diagram. You will be taken to a blank canvas.
  4. In the panel on the left, select New and drag an entity type onto the canvas.
  5. The Inspector panel opens on the right. Complete the form and click Create [Entity Type].
  6. Repeat steps 4–5 until you have at least two entities on the canvas.
  7. To draw a relationship between two entities, click on an entity — four arrows appear around it. Click and drag one of the arrows to the target entity.
  8. The Inspector panel opens. Select a Relationship Type and complete any additional details.

Using Entity Filter Templates

By default, an Ownership Diagram displays all entities and relationships for the active Group. If you want a diagram to show only certain entities, you can apply an Entity Filter Template.

To create a template:

  1. On the Diagrams page, click Create Template.
  2. Give the template a name and click Create template. The template appears under the Entity Filter Templates section.
  3. Click Assign for the template and choose which entities to include.

To apply a template when creating a diagram:

When creating an Ownership Diagram, select an Entity Filter Template from the form before clicking Create Diagram. The diagram will only display the entities included in that template.

To apply a template to an existing diagram:

Click the pen icon for the diagram, select an Entity Filter Template, and save. When you next view the diagram, only the chosen entities will be visible.

Tip: You can create a template with no entities assigned to it (e.g. named "Blank") and apply it when creating a diagram. This takes you to a blank canvas — a handy way to start from scratch whenever you need to.

Family Tree Diagrams

Family Tree Diagrams centre on a chosen individual and display their familial relationships. If you have already recorded familial relationships (such as spouse, parent, and child) in your database, these are displayed automatically when the diagram is generated. You can also add further individuals and relationships directly on the canvas.

Steps

  1. In the left-hand navigation, go to Diagrams.
  2. Click Create Family Tree.
  3. Select a Core Individual — this is the person the family tree will be centred on. You will need at least one existing Individual entity to do this.
  4. Give your diagram a name and click Create Diagram. You will be taken straight to the family tree diagram.

Adding Individuals and Relationships on the Canvas

Once on the Family Tree Diagram, you can add individuals and relationships directly from the canvas. Hover over an individual to reveal three icons:

  • Green downward arrow — click to open a panel on the right to add a child. You can select an existing individual or create a new one.
  • Purple upward arrow — click to open a panel on the right to add a parent. You can select an existing individual or create a new one.
  • Heart icon — click to add a spouse. You can select an existing individual or create a new one.

Once two individuals are in a spouse relationship, a fourth icon appears:

  • Pair of blue downward arrows — click to add a child that will be attributed to both individuals.

Any individuals and relationships created on the Family Tree canvas automatically become structured data in the database, visible on the relevant entity and relationship pages.

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