# What do/did you find to be the most complicated parts of Gramps?

**URL:** https://gramps.discourse.group/t/what-do-did-you-find-to-be-the-most-complicated-parts-of-gramps/9392
**Category:** Development
**Tags:** novice, gui
**Created:** [April 26, 2026, 1:41am UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/what-do-did-you-find-to-be-the-most-complicated-parts-of-gramps/9392 "2026-04-26T01:41:34Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Showing post:** 51

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### 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: [May 1, 2026, 4:56pm UTC](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/what-do-did-you-find-to-be-the-most-complicated-parts-of-gramps/9392/51 "2026-05-01T16:56:14Z")

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There are a variety of minor tweaks that would make Gramps more friendly. Things that (probably) do not require significant code. Where do they fit in this discussion?

## Dashboard

1. replace the TopSurnames default dashboard gramplets
2. Three column layout instead of 2 column. (With an empty center column to whet curiosity about why it is empty and invite a place to add a gramplet.)

## Geography:

1. Rename view modes so that more than 3 labeled ones will fit on the Toolbar. (Probably needs consensus about verbiage.) Possible options:

2. During install, add a [Gramps User Directory](https://www.gramps-project.org/wiki/index.php/Gramps_Glossary#user_directory) `maps/fallback` set of custom map tiles (for levels 1-4 only, approx. 2mb) and set the _(existing but underdocumented)_ [custom tiles provider](https://github.com/gramps-project/gramps/pull/976/changes/44302ac1cebed3d97c6784bae762d3d57e196529) to use them.  
This would eliminate the Internet connection dependence for the initial content in the view. And we could evolve the tiles to have ‘hints’ about making a Place with Coordinates and an Event.

3. swap in the new [(more meanful) map pins](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/geographic-view/951/22) by @bjpcorp  
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/gramps/original/2X/d/d0d0d0d97ab2abc39aeed707587240cd2d1b1db8.png)

## Charts

1. either: hide the Category’s empty sidebar and bottombar by default; or, add a default gramplet for each (maybe “Pedigree”, “Relatives” for the sidebar. And “What’s Next?” for bottombar)

## Navigator sidebar

1. select a primary sidebar and demote the other 2 built-ins to being addon “sidebar” plugins. This eliminates the (overly large) mode selector by default.
  - Category current _default_
  - Drop-down   
(my preferred. It requires the least screen width while having fully labeled view modes in the menus. Good for both power users and newbies)
  - Expander

## Feedback

1. reword the [Error Processing Arguments](https://gramps-project.org/wiki/index.php/Gramps_6.0_Wiki_Manual_-_Manage_Family_Trees#Break_the_lock_on_the_.22Family_Tree_name.22_database.3F_dialog) error message about a locked database on the post-crash restart.

## More intuitive file locations during install

1. install the sample data in user writable space instead of write-protected core directories. (Including the `gramps/example/csv`, `gramps/example/gedcom`, `gramps/example/gramps` `data/tips.xml`) to a `example` folder in the `USER_PLUGINS` folder. (Allows revising these files with the [Addon Manager](https://gramps-project.org/wiki/index.php/Gramps_Glossary#addon).)
2. set an application-specific **Gtk File Chooser** [Shortcut](https://gramps.discourse.group/t/need-suggestions-for-documenting-the-gtk-file-chooser/1820/9) button to the examples folder path. (addresses [#11623](https://gramps-project.org/bugs/view.php?id=11623))
3. The use of the `USER_CSS` directory is unclear. Add a dummy `gramps_user.css` (or whatever filename will be the topmost CSS layer above `data/gramps.css`) to that folder during installation.

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