Updated Chromosome Browser

[khuebner]

Exactly. I use GenomeMate to track matches, so I'm downloading both csv files somewhat regularly for my kits. I know a lot of people use DNAGedcom for this, but I started out downloading direct from FTDNA, and DNAGedcom creates duplicates, which I don't have time to merge for the number of kits I deal with.

[KATM]

And the link to download segments of all matches should have been something that FTDNA retained in the new version of the Chromosome Browser, as they had it in the last version (whether or not you were comparing matches). Why do these things get overlooked? Such features should be retained; the website designers should take care to retain each existing function with updates.

The full list of our matches with matching segments is an important feature for those who want it. It provides completely different information than the "Download Matches" on the "Family Finder - Matches" page, which essentially gives you a list of your matches with much of the information you see on your matches page. I hadn't downloaded my matches' segment list since October, but I do try to download it and the complete Matches List once a quarter, for each kit that I manage.

[khuebner]

Thanks! I had always gone to the Chromosome Browser by selecting five people, not directly there. I guess it's time to change my procedure.

[KATM]

There doesn't seem to be directions to download a complete list of all matches shown in the Learning Center page for the updated Chromosome Browser (or maybe I just missed it).

But, from what I've found:

1. if you access the Chromosome Browser from your home page when you log in (button for Chromosome Browser under the Family Finder section there),
2. and before adding any of your matches,
3. then you will see a link at the upper right of the DNA Matches section to "Download All Segments."

The result seems to be a .cvs file showing all segments for all of your matches.

[khuebner]

Something no one has mentioned, and which I don't recall being the case when the new chromosome browser first came out, is that now I see no way of downloading a csv file of all the matches. The download on the page now only downloads data for the several matches one has been comparing. Where has the Download All gone?

[danielosasp]

Muito bom Saber Disso.

[Carpathian]

Please do not put words in my mouth.

Words, indeed. Including this one:
"perhaps"

[KATM]

I agree with loobster that the light gray background for each match on each chromosome is useful, and it would be harder to visualize which match's segments were on a particular chromosome without them. Both MyHeritage and 23andMe also use the same gray bars to illustrate the chromosomes. FTDNA previously used a very dark blue or black background for the base color for each chromosome. It would seem that the three companies see the need to have a background for chromosomes, perhaps determined through design testing.

[loobster]

The grey bar lines are those as I described them. I didn't initially understand why they are being displayed in this new feature, perhaps no more than you did - because when they contain no information in most of ose chromosomes, seeing these empty grey bars is useless.

Please do not put words in my mouth.
Without the grey lines in the pictured chromosomes, it was truly horrible, and I hope they never disappear again!!

[Carpathian]

You are correct - I should have said "Matches" not "Profiles"

One can go directly to Chromosome Browser - I was not referring to that.

I was referring to where one first goes to "Matches" and chooses / selects some Matches, then clicks "Chromosome Browser" from the Matches page.
When one does that, then it is now automatcally comparing those selected, and one sees "Update Selected Matches" in upper right.
And in that case, ie coming from Matches to Chromosome Browser, one now does not see the list of matches (starting with "most prominent", as you put it) unless/until one clicks on "Update Selected Matches"

I followed all the steps you described and I got the same result. Since I have virtually no use for this supposedly 'new and improved' feature nor complaint about it, I can only say that the new format imposed is an insignificant issue (at least for me).

"Since I currently see the grey lines I was talking about - either it was due to using a different Browser, or they are back.
(Am currently using a different computer in a different facility)"

The grey bar lines are those as I described them. I didn't initially understand why they are being displayed in this new feature, perhaps no more than you did - because when they contain no information in most of those chromosomes, seeing these empty grey bars is useless.

[loobster]

You are correct - I should have said "Matches" not "Profiles"

One can go directly to Chromosome Browser - I was not referring to that.

I was referring to where one first goes to "Matches" and chooses / selects some Matches, then clicks "Chromosome Browser" from the Matches page.
When one does that, then it is now automatcally comparing those selected, and one sees "Update Selected Matches" in upper right.
And in that case, ie coming from Matches to Chromosome Browser, one now does not see the list of matches (starting with "most prominent", as you put it) unless/until one clicks on "Update Selected Matches"

Since I currently see the grey lines I was talking about - either it was due to using a different Browser, or they are back.
(Am currently using a different computer in a different facility)

[Carpathian]

Last time I looked, they had changed it so if you had clicked / checked profiles and then chose Chromosome Browser, it automatically compared those matches on the Chromosome Browser - no need to click "Compare" and no list showing until/unless you clicked "Update Selected Matches". I thought that change was fine.

Now I see they have made yet another change -- this one I dislike intensely - the grey lines have disappeared -- now you cannot count down to see which line it is -- AND it is not easy to see which Chromosome it is because no clear separation there either. Since which color changes when you update - this makes it very hard to trace who is who and how they compare on each chromosome. I do not like the appearance now at all.

What do others feel about these two changes?

I'm very confused by what you are asking - or perhaps it is by the terms you are using that are not specific enough for me to understand the problem.

...so if you had clicked / checked profiles and then chose Chromosome Browser...

There are no profiles, Here they are called "matches". If you choose Chromosome Browser it essentially brings up your most prominent matches. I don't see anything regarding "Update Selected Matches", at this point, so you may be correct if that was changed. <?>

The feature invites you to compare up to 7 matches, then click "compare". Then we see all the colorful bar graphs, and another tab that invites "Update Selected Matches". That just brings you back to the page where you initially selected those that you did.

Now I see they have made yet another change -- this one I dislike intensely - the grey lines have disappeared -- now you cannot count down to see which line it is -- AND it is not easy to see which Chromosome it is because no clear separation there either. Since which color changes when you update - this makes it very hard to trace who is who and how they compare on each chromosome. I do not like the appearance now at all.

I'm totally confused by your commentary. Here is what I see: Many numbered grey bars, the first 7 of which I have chosen as the maximum limit of available choices. They contain data expressed by color bars. These bars are numbered as the 23 found in the genome. The ones that remain blank indicate that you have no matches on these particular chromosomes with those matches that you have selected to compare.

It's all 'window dressing', meant to be impressive and attractive, perhaps a distraction, maybe even considered to be an attractive nuisance. The data remains the same. It's a novelty. The colors are pretty. How impressive, how nice. <yawn>

[loobster]

Last time I looked, they had changed it so if you had clicked / checked profiles and then chose Chromosome Browser, it automatically compared those matches on the Chromosome Browser - no need to click "Compare" and no list showing until/unless you clicked "Update Selected Matches". I thought that change was fine.

Now I see they have made yet another change -- this one I dislike intensely - the grey lines have disappeared -- now you cannot count down to see which line it is -- AND it is not easy to see which Chromosome it is because no clear separation there either. Since which color changes when you update - this makes it very hard to trace who is who and how they compare on each chromosome. I do not like the appearance now at all.

What do others feel about these two changes?

[Carpathian]

I would like to see chromosome painting added to this chromosome browsing. I also don't think the colors contrast enough and the rectangles are too small I also would like to see an in common with feature that scanned through my 1,000 + matches selecting for matches with the segment that I'm working with. Manually going through all of those matches 7 at it time eats up too much time.

Window dressing (chromosome painting) might be nice. Information (or merchandise) provided might be considered more important than window dressing.

This ia always the case with whatever drives retail marketing, both in the product and the window dressing. It's whatever sells the most.

[mabrams]

isn't the number of segments shown on the DNA Update screen?

3rd column - Shared Segments