Constructing a Genogram, Ecomap, or Sociogram

on Microsoft Word or Excel

Microsoft Word is a simple way to construct your Genogram, Ecomap, or Sociogram on the computer. If you have Microsoft Excel, you may find this helpful since you can use the grids of the spreadsheet to keep your diagram level. When you are ready to print in Excel, you can select to print without the gridlines.

You may find it easiest to type text (at lest everyone’s names) on the page first before adding symbols. Place the text roughly where the symbols will be, then you can position the symbols to match and fill in additional text in relationship to the symbol.

When ready to add symbols, right clicking the mouse anywhere on the menu bar at the top (e.g. on File). A drop down menu appears allowing you to left click on “Drawing”, a Toolbar will appear at bottom of page beginning with the word Draw on the left followed by various lines, arrows, a paintbrush, etc. across the “Toolbar.”

To create a Square (male symbol) and a Circle (female symbol):

Left click the rectangle in the toolbar once, then left click again in the body of your document.

(Hint: if you double click on the rectangle (or any symbol), you can create numerous squares (or whatever symbol you chose) by continuing to left click in various parts of the document).

Complete the same process on the oval to create a circle (female). If your toolbar does not show the rectangle or oval, left click on AutoShapes, hold the mouse over the shape you want and drag the shape into the body of your document.

Note: when you place the symbol over the text, the text disappears: left click to select, got to “Draw”, select “Order”, then select “Send behind text”.

(Hint: If you hold the shift key down while sizing the circle or square, it will remain symmetrical).

To resize a figure:

Left click on the square or circle, then hold down the left side of the mouse and move the curser towards the middle of the figure (smaller) or outward (larger). Lift your finger from the mouse when you are satisfied with the size of the symbol.

To create Symbol Connecting Lines:

Left click the line symbol (or double click to create successive lines) next to “AutoShapes”. (You can also select the line symbol.) Then left click in your document, holding down your finger while moving the mouse, and a line will appear: release your finger when the line is the desired length. To change a line length, click and drag on the end of the line to shorten or lengthen.

To create Relationship (symbolic) Lines:

Use the same format described above to create lines. To make your line dashed (representing “distant”), select the line by left-clicking on it, then go to “Dash Style” (on the right side of the Tool bar with a series of line dash styles) and select the style you prefer. To represent conflict, left click twice on the “Line” symbol in the tool bar, then make a series of short, connecting, diagonal lines to create a zig zag. Hold “shift” as you select each segment (short diagonal line) until they are all selected (highlighted), then go to “Draw” in the toolbar and select “Group”. Now you can move the entire zig zag together as a unit. You can copy and past it multiple times rather than create a new one each time. To change the angle of the zig zag, select (highlight) it, click and hold the green “Rotate” circle just above the zig zag and move it right or left to obtain the angle you want.

Close very close distant conflictual

Remember to save your work often to reduce the risk of loosing it!!!