Updated Chromosome Browser

[phje]

Although I am pleased to see that the chromosome browser has been updated, I am also disappointed that we can compare only seven matches at a time. I had hoped that when the chromosome browser was finally updated we could compare more than the old five matches at a time, but not just two more!

[barryrsmith]

Its introduction *broke* its other functionality -- inexcusable. Some extremely basic QA testing would have caught this. Does FTDNA employ QA testers?

The issue: you can no longer select a match from your matches list, select chromosome browser, and instantly see a visualization of where you match. That *might* be okay, if it took you to the new chromosome browser match selection window and had the match you selected already pre-selected and ready to go. Instead, it takes you to the main chromosome browser window and you have to search for the match you selected all over again (if you're lucky, you'll remember how to spell their name!).

Yet again, FTDNA shows that they place much more importance on their genetic infrastructure than on their front-end user experience, with issues running from buggy software to features that aren't "plug-and-play".

[MoberlyDrake]

It works fine for me. Select person as usual. Click Chromosome browser button and a page opens with the selected person on the left. But there's one extra step. You have to click the compare button.

A bit of a disappointment compared to the browser introduced by myHeritage, which shows when there is triangulation.

[KATM]

I made up my own spreadsheet for features, based on chart in Roberta Estes' post "Family Tree DNA's New Chromosome Browser," and adding a few that were in the previous Chromosome Browser (CB) version. I added a column to compare the former version of the Chromosome Browser with the Match Page and the Updated Chromosome Browser. Doing that helped me to see where many features had been moved or graphically displayed in a new way, but many remain the same other than that. I had saved some screenshots of the former CB version, which helped in this comparison.

The new improvements that I see are:

1. New capabilities by having the added "intermediate" page before you get to the CB page, which is a big part of what people seem to be regarding as more intuitive (to update selected matches, ability to use ICW and NICW from there, ability to view relationship range, shared cM total, longest block; all vs. going back to the Family Finder match list)
2. Adding 7cM to the cM display selection
3. The ability to view profile of matches on the CB page

The features that did NOT change, other than position and new graphics:

• Name/Photo w/ segment color assignment (just moved it from left column list to a row at top)
• Ability to download all matches, or selected matches segments
• Ability to view and download each match's segment information (was in a pop-up table, now shows all or selected matches under one tab)
• Full name search (was a choice in the filtered match list dropdown menu in former CB version, now a separate field)
• Viewing individual segment information (in both versions, by hovering over a segment)

Features that were in the former version, but not always in the actual updated CB page:

• "Number of shared segments" used to be in the selected matches list, shown with each match, vs. the estimated relationship shown in the updated version (now on the "intermediate" page)
• More choices in the "Filter Matches by" dropdown menu ("confirmed relatives," "common surname," "New since last login," "Name," "Name (Last, First)*," "X matches," and "All matches")
• Ability to "Hide 3rd Party Matches" (was a checkbox below the match list names in the former CB)
• Reset Defaults
• Clear Compare list

The latter two in the last list are probably not needed.
*Name search in updated CB is a separate field, not in the dropdown menu, which is probably better.

Nitpicking: if you've already assigned a linked or known relationship (such as father, son, 1st cousin, etc.), this does not seem to carry through to either the DNA Matches page in the CB, or the estimated relationship shown on each selected match on the actual CB page.

Overall, it's an improvement, but much of it is simply moving existing features around, and having a new graphic display. I hope Roberta Estes is right, and this update is setting the Chromosome Browser up for the introduction of new features, such as the ability to compare even more matches, triangulation tool, etc.

I'm sure if enough people miss the few things that used to be in the former version (and/or want more new features), and enough of them let FTDNA know, the updated CB can add them in.

[loobster]

[QUOTE=KATM;n322861][/LIST]Features that were in the former version, but not always in the actual updated CB page:[LIST][*]"Number of shared segments" used to be in the selected matches list, shown with each match, vs. the estimated relationship shown in the updated version (now on the "intermediate" page)
[QUOTE]

Not sure what you are referring to as 'the "intermediate" page'. In the past, could see estimated relationship when looked at Profile in Chromosome Browser - But now, do not see see that.
See number of shared segments in the selection page on CB, and see Relationship Range on selection page and under the profile selected list (but not always the same as on the Matches list), but cannot see Estimated Relationship = Predicted Relationship = Suggested Relationship anywhere on CB. Are you actually seeing it somewhere - and if so, where??
I do see, for one where Matches page shows "1st Cousin, Aunt/Niece" that CB shows "Aunt/Niece" - but everyone else is range or multiple choices, for those I have looked at - not estimated relationship.

[jimbirk]

It appears that FTDNA copied the look of the MyHeritage chromosome browser.

The MyHeritage chromosome browser has a limit of 7 matches.

FTDNA and MyHeritage need to raise the number of selected matches to at least 20.

More than 100 matches can be put into the GEDmatch chromosome browser. The GEDmatch chromosome browser makes pileups clearly stand out. Can't get a true pileup look with only 7 matches.

[susan_dakin]

I HATE, HATE, HATE the new chromosome browser!!! I use it several times a week when updating my spreadsheet with all matches for me and my three brothers, and the extra clicking and scrolling needed to capture the information for each new match are extremely annoying! It's also visually much less effective than the old version (less contrast between colors, and much smaller visuals of the chromosomes), and the pop-up window with the detailed information has tiny text that is barely readable. Some users may feel the need to compare more matches at one time (I don't!), but what they need to consider is the tradeoff in other aspects of usability. It used to be possible to view ALL the chromosomes at once in one window, without scrolling, which gave a great snapshot of comparisons among matches. I often took screenshots of this view (and sent them to people to illustrate various points). Now this is impossible, as it necessary to scroll in order to see all the chromosomes. IMHO, a wonderful tool has been RUINED in order to accommodate the misguided wish to add more simultaneous comparisons. FTDNA is trying to make this tool be all things to all people, which of course means pleasing no one!

[susan_dakin]

jimbirk, If you want a look at pileups, go to dnagedcom.com. Much more effective for that purpose than GEDmatch (or any other regular chromosome browser, which is the wrong tool to be using for this purpose).

[KATM]

Not sure what you are referring to as 'the "intermediate" page'. In the past, could see estimated relationship when looked at Profile in Chromosome Browser - But now, do not see see that.
See number of shared segments in the selection page on CB, and see Relationship Range on selection page and under the profile selected list (but not always the same as on the Matches list), but cannot see Estimated Relationship = Predicted Relationship = Suggested Relationship anywhere on CB. Are you actually seeing it somewhere - and if so, where??
I do see, for one where Matches page shows "1st Cousin, Aunt/Niece" that CB shows "Aunt/Niece" - but everyone else is range or multiple choices, for those I have looked at - not estimated relationship.

Since the former version of the Chromosome Browser went right to the page with the chromosome graphics (comparison page) displayed, the page that you first see in the updated version seemed to me to be "intermediate," since you need another click to get to the actual comparison page. You call it the "selection page," which seems like a much better way to describe it. I should refrain from posting late at night!

Yes, I see where the "DNA Matches" selection page in the CB shows both the shared segments and relationship range. I mistakenly referred to "relationship range" as "estimated relationship," probably using a term from another service. The terminology does get confusing when you've tested at various companies.

I agree that the CB comparison page relationships don't always match the description under "Relationship Range" on the Family Finder Matches page. The relationship range for my father's full sister is shown as "Full Sister, Half Sister, Grandmother/ Granddaughter" in both his FF Matches page and the CB "DNA Matches" selection page, but is truncated as "Half Sister, Grandmother/ Granddaughter" at the top of the comparison page. A small but important difference which could be fixed, one hopes. For the longer descriptions of relationship on the comparison page, hovering over the relationship shows the full text.

[MoberlyDrake]

susan-dakin

Try this: select up to 7 of your new matches (none of my family members ever get that many!) and click the chromosome button, click compare, then click "Detailed segment Data" . On my computer the tab that opens isn't a pop-up and doesn't have small print. The only minor annoyance is that you have to scroll instead of clicking a separate page for each person. You can then copy and paste segments of interest into your spreadsheet.

I agree about not being able to get a screenshot. That was useful! Especially when you wanted to email it to someone or post it here when you had a question.

[KATM]

I HATE, HATE, HATE the new chromosome browser!!! I use it several times a week when updating my spreadsheet with all matches for me and my three brothers, and the extra clicking and scrolling needed to capture the information for each new match are extremely annoying! It's also visually much less effective than the old version (less contrast between colors, and much smaller visuals of the chromosomes), and the pop-up window with the detailed information has tiny text that is barely readable. Some users may feel the need to compare more matches at one time (I don't!), but what they need to consider is the tradeoff in other aspects of usability. It used to be possible to view ALL the chromosomes at once in one window, without scrolling, which gave a great snapshot of comparisons among matches. I often took screenshots of this view (and sent them to people to illustrate various points). Now this is impossible, as it necessary to scroll in order to see all the chromosomes. IMHO, a wonderful tool has been RUINED in order to accommodate the misguided wish to add more simultaneous comparisons. FTDNA is trying to make this tool be all things to all people, which of course means pleasing no one!

Your browser should have a "View" choice in its menu, so you could try zooming out to see all the chromosomes. I suppose the more matches we can use in the Chromosome Browser, though, the longer and harder to make out visually that comparison page will be, unfortunately.

[Biblioteque]

KATM - Thank you for taking your time to do the summary. It will be helpful to many of us.

[clintonslayton76]

I would have been happier if the old CB had simply added more comparisons, the trend of adding more and more clicks just to get a "pretty" graphic has nothing to do with preserving the simple functionality. I agree with Susan Dakin. I feel the same way about this "new" forum, a lot of wasted space.

[prairielad]

....
It used to be possible to view ALL the chromosomes at once in one window, without scrolling, which gave a great snapshot of comparisons among matches. I often took screenshots of this view (and sent them to people to illustrate various points). Now this is impossible, as it necessary to scroll in order to see all the chromosomes. IMHO, a wonderful tool has been RUINED in order to accommodate the misguided wish to add more simultaneous comparisons. FTDNA is trying to make this tool be all things to all people, which of course means pleasing no one!

If using a PC, hold down the Ctrl button and scoll down with wheel on mouse, this will shrink page
but as mentioned due to size of graphics, shrinking does make it even harder to read

[phje]

It appears that FTDNA copied the look of the MyHeritage chromosome browser.

Yes, it does. I hope they will introduce a triangulated segments feature like the one at MyHeritage. That would be helpful.