Each record in the Records Window can be expanded by clicking on the little expansion box (a white box with a plus in it), to the left of the record name. The plus then becomes minus. Figure 1 above shows Jean Clare Anderson's record. Details of her death have been further expanded.

In this example, not much data is stored for Jean Clare Anderson. The record only includes 2 events, for example: birth and death. There is no limit to the number of event fields that can be stored about her, however. She could even have as many birth events as you like - one for each theory about when she was born. Equally, she could have an unlimited number of spouses, parents, multimedia and so on. The Records Window style of layout makes it easy to see all the information you have about a person at a glance.

As well as data such as dates and places, records also contain links to other records. The example shows that the source of the information about Jean Clare's death was "Email from Michael Peabody 12/1/2000". This is a separate source record. Where one record is linked to another, the linked record is shown in the right column with a little white box and an icon next to it. The icon represents the record type (a little yellow parchment for source records). We can view the details of the linked record as if it were part of Jean Clare's own record, by clicking in the record's little white box, as shown in Figure 2 below.

Figure 2 - Jean Clare's record expanded with a link to another record also showing

Source record fields are shown in red. Fields belonging to Jean Clare's own record are shown in blue.

Jean Clare's marriage to Cameron Peabody is represented by a link to a family record (see the line that says "Spouse family" in the left column and "...with Cameron PEABODY" in the right column). To view details of this marriage we need only click on the white box next to "...with Cameon PEABODY". The results are shown in Figure 3 below.

Figure 3 - Jean Clare's record expanded, with links to 2 other records also showing

Family record fields are shown in brown.

There is no limit to this process. You could go on to expand the link to Cameron Peabody's own record if you wished to, or Daniel Peabody's record (child of Jean Clare and Cameron).

As well as being used for browsing and exploring records, you can also use the Records Window for 'low-level' editing. You can add, edit or delete fields in the Records Window if you wish to. This is an advanced. Most users prefer to use the Property Dialog for entering data (possibly in combination with the Diagram Window to drag-add relatives).

Almost everything that you can do in the Records Window can also be done in the 'All' tab of the Property Dialog.