7 Organization Tips for Your DNA Color Cluster Chart
Our DNA Color Cluster charts can be more powerful when they are organized. Here are seven organization tips. If you have any other suggestions, please let me know!
1. Sequence Numbers
When you first enter your list of 2nd & 3rd cousins using the Leeds Method, add a column for “sequence number” so you can always “unsort” your chart and get your matches back in their original order when needed.
2. Black vs Red Font (Known vs Unknown)
Name in BLACK font? These are the people whose relationship is known.
Name in RED font? These are the people with an unknown relationship.
3. Number of Centimorgans (cM)
Centimorgans, or cM, is how we measure how much DNA we share with our DNA relatives. You can put this number in a separate column, as in this example, or write the number on the colored cells.
4. Relationship
If the relationship is known, make sure the number of centimorgans makes sense. Then, write the relationship in shorthand: “C” for cousin; “R” for removed. If the relationship is unknown, use a question mark.
5. Hide Columns
If your chart gets too “busy” looking, hide any columns you do not currently need.
6. Name Your Columns
When working with 2nd and 3rd cousins, you can label your columns by both your “4 GRANDS” (4 grandparents) and “8 GREATS” (8 great grandparents).
7. Sort Your Chart Cells
First, you can put your color clusters in traditional order of a genealogy tree: dad’s dad, dad’s mom, mom’s dad, and mom’s mom. Then, use Excel’s “SORT” feature – located under the “Data” tab – to sort your chart by cell COLOR!!!
Click on “Data,” then “Sort.”
Sort by “Column” (the first column you have colored cells in), cell color, the color, and then “On Top.”
Select “Add Level,” then continue sorting by each column that has colored cells.
Click “OK” – and your chart is sorted!
This chart was created using Excel. If you are new to the Leeds Method, start with this post first: DNA Color Clustering: The Leeds Method for Easily Visualizing DNA Matches.
Special thanks to Janet Miller for suggesting the sequence numbers and black vs red font!
A suggestion – Where a match has a tree, I write the number of people in the tree over the colour block/s and show P for “private tree” or * where the tree is not linked to the DNA results.
Thanks, Christine. When I was first using this with adoptees, I would print them out and mark directly on the colored cells whether there was a tree or no tree. Great suggestion!
I know I will want to kick myself as soon as you provide the answer – I’m sure it should be obvious – but, for the life of me . . . where is the “sequence number” found or derived?
Hi, Tracy. Great question and one I need to go back and clarify!!! When you originally write down your list of 2nd & 3rd cousins, you can add an additional column called “sequence number.” Then you number these people 1, 2, 3,… After you do any type of sort, you can always go back to the original order by sorting by the sequence number.
Hope that helps!!
Dana
a duh/ am I dense question/comment – I love the idea and utility of adding in sequence numbers, especially with sorting by cell color, but what about when you go back and add in newly emerging “blue dot” cousins? I assume you have to go back and re-sort by sequence number, add in new cousins, then redo the sequence numbering?
Great point! Looking back at it, I think I would just use the # of cM to sequence the chart.
I have completed a leeds chart for myself. I would like to do one for my Aunt. Would I use the same colors I used for my chart in my Aunt’s chart?
Hi, Karen. Yes, you can use the same colors! I do recommend you do a separate chart for your aunt. It *might* confuse you if you use the same colors, unless you are realizing it is the same part of the family and choosing the colors on purpose.
Just getting into using your method, and I know this was a 2018 post, but why only 4 colors instead of 8, corresponding to the 8 great grandparents? Did you go back after determining which column corresponded to each of the greats, and then reduce to the 4 colors?
Hi, Bob. Let’s imagine a scenario where you had many 1st, 2nd, and 3rd cousins who tested. If we could then sort all of our matches based on if they matched your 1st cousins (1C) on your mom’s vs dad’s side, you’d get two groups. If we used our 2nd cousins instead, we’d get 4 groups. And, if we used our 3rd cousins, we’d get 8 groups. Using the range of 400 down to 90 cM, we are hoping to include 2nd & 3rd cousins, but hoping to avoid 1st cousins. So, since we are starting with hopefully 2nd cousins, we *hope* to get 4 groups. However, most people don’t have enough 2nd cousins representing each of those 4 grandparents, so we end up with different numbers of groups.
The biggest point to remember, though, is no matter how many groups YOU end up with, your next step is to identify what those groups/clusters mean.
Hope this helps!
Dana
One thing that I’ve been doing ….
Additional columns in my spreadsheet.
## I’m using matches from 4 sources, so there’s a source column.
## I also have a “placed” column (i.e., have I added this person into the tree at the correct place)
## A “real name” column because AntMan42 just doesn’t say too much.
## A MRCA column. An extra added benefit to go with the colors.
I really, REALLY like the Red Ink for “got no clue!” Yes, they share 205 cM, and they have a full 6gen in their tree (as do I), but there’s no overlap **anywhere!** … not even a Smith or a Jones!
And this is the Best. Tool. Ever for helping to find Birth Parents!!!0!
Hi, TrilliumLady. Thanks for making my day!!! I’m glad you’re finding the tool helpful. 🙂 And I do like your additional columns! I use additional columns sometimes, too, but I try to keep it simplified for teaching purposes. I love your “red ink” idea!
Dana
I am currently trying to figure out my Aunt’s Birth Father… so I’m hoping I can figure out how to now read the results after color coding it all.
Hi, Kari. I am happy to provide some quick feedback if you email me your chart to drleeds@sbcglobal.net Please include the # of cM shared with the matches.
Dana
Now that Ancestry attempts to divide your matches into Parent 1 and Parent 1, another useful column is “Parent”. This is especially useful when Ancestry indicates a match is “Both” (i.e., related to both your maternal and paternal lines). Then, when creating the chart, if the next match in line (i.e., the starting match for developing a new color cluster, what I refer to as the “base match” for that color) is a “Both”, you’ll want to skip that person and use the next match in line as your next “base match”. Otherwise, you will end up with a color cluster that contains matches on both parents’ sides, which just adds confusion you don’t need.
Roger, That’s a great point!!! Thanks for pointing that out!
Dana