When you first create a project, the only chart available is the dynamic chart. This follows the currently selected person and their immediate family. It is shown on the Charts tab and updates automatically as you navigate between people. You cannot edit the dynamic chart directly.
To create a chart to your own specification, click New Chart on the Charts tab. A menu lets you choose the chart type — for simple examples, start with "Descendant Chart". You will be prompted to select the starting person.
The chart is created in editing mode. While editing, the Chart Properties panel is displayed, letting you change settings. Many operations can also be performed directly on the chart by clicking the small grey buttons around the active person, or by right-clicking on a person.
When finished editing, click OK to apply changes, or Cancel to discard them. Use Edit Chart on the Charts tab to return to editing mode later.
A family chart’s default layout is often quite wide. Pedigree Forge provides many tools to make your chart fit a particular paper size. If you are happy with a wide chart, leave the page size set to "Auto".
The inspiration for chart arrangement comes from two recommended references:
A mind map is a one-page research summary of a single person: their family, their life events, and — its particular value — the records you would expect to exist but have not found yet, so the gaps in the research are obvious at a glance.
To create one, select the person and choose New Chart, then pick Mind Map as the chart type. It sizes itself to a single A4 sheet, so there is nothing to lay out.