# Quickest and easiest way to start a Tree **URL:** \ **Category:** Help\ **Tags:** novice\ **Created:** [February 27, 2025, 8:28pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/quickest-and-easiest-way-to-start-a-tree/7123 "2025-02-27T20:28:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![PeterPower](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/gramps.discourse.group/peterpower/32/2591_2.png) [@PeterPower](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/PeterPower)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2025, 8:49pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/quickest-and-easiest-way-to-start-a-tree/7123/21 "2025-03-02T20:49:53Z")
You can add a gramplet to Dashboard and drag it to float. Select, it is Graphview or Combined view…Then open the second one in Gramps’ Main window. Then you have virtual desktop of both. ---
**Author:** ![emyoulation](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/gramps.discourse.group/emyoulation/32/67_2.png) [@emyoulation](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/emyoulation)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2025, 9:20pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/quickest-and-easiest-way-to-start-a-tree/7123/22 "2025-03-02T21:20:48Z")
I am a bit confused by this. Are not the experimental CardViews the only “views” that allow a clone of themselves to be floated? # undocking gramplets In the Dashboard, you only have to click the icon in the upper left to detach. Dragging is to reorganize the layout in the columns. Closing a Gramplet redocks it. Gramps remembers Undocked Dashboard gramplets for the next session in Gramps. They are restored when the Dashboard view is made active. Undocking/detaching gramplets from the Sidebar or Bottombar of other views is also a feature. It is a bit more fussy… drag the Gramplet’s tab up to the Toolbar, menubar titlebar. Dragging to the center (main view) or Navigator sidebar does nothing. Dragging to the other splitbar re-docks the Gramplet there. Closing a Gramplet redocks it. ---
**Author:** ![bjc49](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/gramps.discourse.group/bjc49/32/316_2.png) [@bjc49](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/bjc49)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2025, 6:15am UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/quickest-and-easiest-way-to-start-a-tree/7123/23 "2025-03-03T06:15:55Z")
> [@emyoulation](#): > > I am a bit confused by this. Are not the experimental CardViews the only “views” that allow a clone of themselves to be floated? I’m not sure I understood everything … But what PeterPower recommends is not applicable because it is not Gramplet that is involved but Views Only Cardview allows it … Are there any tutorials that describe the interest of having such a detachable window Thanks ---
**Author:** ![hartenthaler](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/gramps.discourse.group/hartenthaler/32/3404_2.png) [@hartenthaler](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/hartenthaler)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2025, 7:58am UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/quickest-and-easiest-way-to-start-a-tree/7123/24 "2025-03-03T07:58:25Z")
> [@chtiland](#): > > About GEDCOM : Too much Genealogical software uses this protocol as a Datamodel and don’t add functionalities that are not described in **GEDCOM which is only a protocol** (As Webtrees, ancestris…) First: your remark is a bit off-topic. As an user of webtrees and an addicted GEDCOM fan, I would say: Too much Genealogical software does not support GEDCOM standard features (as Gramps, …) ---
**Author:** ![chtiland](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/gramps.discourse.group/chtiland/32/878_2.png) [@chtiland](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/chtiland)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2025, 4:51pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/quickest-and-easiest-way-to-start-a-tree/7123/25 "2025-03-03T16:51:48Z")
> [@emyoulation](#): > > Undocking/detaching gramplets from the Sidebar or Bottombar of other views is also a feature. It is a bit more fussy… drag the Gramplet’s tab up to the Toolbar, menubar titlebar. Dragging to the center (main view) or Navigator sidebar does nothing. Dragging to the other splitbar re-docks the Gramplet there. Closing a Gramplet redocks it. Didn’t remember this feature, may-be I never have to use it, or may be now I known this should be a good trick 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![chtiland](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/gramps.discourse.group/chtiland/32/878_2.png) [@chtiland](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/chtiland)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2025, 5:32pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/quickest-and-easiest-way-to-start-a-tree/7123/26 "2025-03-03T17:32:45Z")
> [@hartenthaler](#): > > First: your remark is a bit off-topic. As an user of webtrees and an addicted GEDCOM fan, I would say: Too much Genealogical software does not support GEDCOM standard features (as Gramps, …) I agree, bit off-topic. But I consider and i’ll consider GEDCOM as a “exchange protocol”. Considering it as a data-model was probably a good idea in 1990’s but yet I don’t think so. Also not upgrading an application with legitimate functions (features) just because “Not in GEDCOM” makes me crazy. Sometimes the GEDCOM standard is not precise enough and software interpretations differ (e.g. in Gramps there are 3, or even 4, GEDCOM export formats). Do you know someone who manage to migrate it’s data from one software to another with a simple GEDCOM file and didn’t lost information or didn’t have to do anything in the new software ? Sure GEDCOM is better than nothing, but the best way I found when exporting / importing for migrating from 2 software, is to use an intermediate (a third one so) and not always the same (Ancestris, Gramps, ELI6) and sometimes I simply use JEdit with some macros. But we should closed this “off-topic” there’s too much to tell about this, it’s a subject for long winter evenings over a cup of hot coffee (or any other hot drink). ---
**Author:** ![PeterPower](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/gramps.discourse.group/peterpower/32/2591_2.png) [@PeterPower](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/PeterPower)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2025, 8:35pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/quickest-and-easiest-way-to-start-a-tree/7123/27 "2025-03-03T20:35:55Z")
Here a picture after I undocked Fan Chart from Bottombar. My simple question is: why similar is not possible with Graph View? It locates in same Chart category as Fan Chart. Picture of parallel Combined and Fan Chart ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/gramps/original/2X/7/778b7eeaefa6a0a3ca156266f61085953dcc1faa.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![emyoulation](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/gramps.discourse.group/emyoulation/32/67_2.png) [@emyoulation](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/emyoulation)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2025, 8:44pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/quickest-and-easiest-way-to-start-a-tree/7123/28 "2025-03-03T20:44:12Z")
Ah… I see where we went sideways. The item that you undocked was a Gramplet, not a view. Although both labeled **Fan Chart** , the code and interface controls are not connected. They don’t even share settings with one another. Undocking gramplets is a built-in Gramps feature. Undocking a view is not offered. (CardView’s [pinned view](https://github.com/cdhorn/CardView#pinned-views) is a unique custom feature for views.) It is a shame… there is a lot of redundant Fan diagramming code being maintained and enhancements do not flow from one implementation to the others. - Gramplets: - Charts category view modes: - Reports : Graphical reports: ---
**Author:** ![PeterPower](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/gramps.discourse.group/peterpower/32/2591_2.png) [@PeterPower](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/PeterPower)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2025, 8:04am UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/quickest-and-easiest-way-to-start-a-tree/7123/29 "2025-03-04T08:04:30Z")
Brian, Your review showed two reasons why Gramps (which a’m in love) is difficult for beginners as user and developer. Overlapping namings but different coding solutions. Maybe after 6.0 sun shines more clear… ---
**Author:** ![bjc49](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/gramps.discourse.group/bjc49/32/316_2.png) [@bjc49](https://gramps.discourse.group/u/bjc49)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2025, 7:29am UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/quickest-and-easiest-way-to-start-a-tree/7123/30 "2025-03-12T07:29:58Z")
> [@emyoulation](#): > > I am a bit confused by this. Are not the experimental CardViews the only “views” that allow a clone of themselves to be floated? If this solution is impossible, isn’t there another solution? For example, access via a new entry in the Graphview context menu that would point to the Events tab of the Combined view. But this may be impossible from a programming perspective. Perhaps a keyboard shortcut? [Previous page](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/quickest-and-easiest-way-to-start-a-tree/7123.md?page=1)