How to make a family tree in Excel
You can watch a video tutorial here.
Excel is a versatile application and can be used for many types of documents, not just for its spreadsheet capabilities. To create a family tree in Excel, you can explore using a template from Microsoft Office or you can create your own using the SmartArt suite of tools.
Option 1 – Use a template
Step 1 – Open the new file options
![](https://spreadcheaters.com/wp-content/uploads/Option-1-Step-1-–-How-to-make-a-family-tree-in-Excel-1024x211.png)
- Open the File menu
- Click on More templates
Step 2 – Search for the template
![](https://spreadcheaters.com/wp-content/uploads/Option-1-Step-2-–-How-to-make-a-family-tree-in-Excel-1024x477.png)
- In the search box, type ‘family tree’
- Press Enter
Step 3 – Select the template
![](https://spreadcheaters.com/wp-content/uploads/Option-1-Step-3-–-How-to-make-a-family-tree-in-Excel-1024x545.png)
- Click on the ‘Family tree generator’ template
Step 4 – Create a new file
![](https://spreadcheaters.com/wp-content/uploads/Option-1-Step-4-–-How-to-make-a-family-tree-in-Excel-1024x549.png)
- Click Create Family Tree
Step 5 – Enter the values
![](https://spreadcheaters.com/wp-content/uploads/Option-1-Step-5-–-How-to-make-a-family-tree-in-Excel-1024x510.png)
- Follow the instructions to enter the data for the family tree
Step 6 – Check the result
![](https://spreadcheaters.com/wp-content/uploads/Option-1-Step-6-–-How-to-make-a-family-tree-in-Excel.png)
- The family tree is created
Option 2 – Use SmartArt
Step 1 – Open the Choose a SmartArt graphic dialog box
![](https://spreadcheaters.com/wp-content/uploads/Option-2-Step-1-–-How-to-make-a-family-tree-in-Excel-1024x681.png)
- Go to Insert > Illustrations
- Click the SmartArt button
Step 2 – Select a hierarchy
![](https://spreadcheaters.com/wp-content/uploads/Option-2-Step-2-–-How-to-make-a-family-tree-in-Excel-1024x581.png)
- Go to Hierarchy
- Pick any one of the options displayed
- Click OK
Step 3 – Open the text pane
![](https://spreadcheaters.com/wp-content/uploads/Option-2-Step-3-–-How-to-make-a-family-tree-in-Excel-1024x622.png)
- In the chart that is inserted into the worksheet, click on the arrow on the left border
- This opens the text pane
Step 4 – Enter the names
![](https://spreadcheaters.com/wp-content/uploads/Option-2-Step-4-–-How-to-make-a-family-tree-in-Excel-1024x473.png)
- In the text pane, add the names of people, starting with the first generation
- Press TAB to indent to the next level of the hierarchy
- Press ENTER to enter names in the same level of the hierarchy
- To bring a name to the previous level (unindent) press SHIFT+TAB
Step 5 – Check and format the result
![](https://spreadcheaters.com/wp-content/uploads/Option-2-Step-5-–-How-to-make-a-family-tree-in-Excel-1024x733.png)
- Format the family tree using one of the preset designs under SmartArt Design or customize the chart using the Format options