# A Curious difference in Family display **URL:** \ **Category:** RootsMagic\ **Tags:** question, rootsmagic\ **Created:** [May 16, 2026, 4:03pm UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/a-curious-difference-in-family-display/15781 "2026-05-16T16:03:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dkightley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@dkightley](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/dkightley)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2026, 4:03pm UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/a-curious-difference-in-family-display/15781/1 "2026-05-16T16:03:33Z")
I have a curious difference in how blank spouces are displayed, and I wonder if anyone can explain why. Most blank spouse boxes have “+ Add Spouse”, but some have a ghost male icon before the “+ Add Spouse”. This displays randomly and is not affected by data in the child entry. ![Screenshot 2026-05-16 165542](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/rootsmagic/original/2X/b/ba0206ae21590fba364e0fc9c3e90f32c6618f00.png) Any ideas? Or is this a cosmetic bug? RM11 on Windows btw ---
**Author:** ![kbens0n](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.rootsmagic.com/kbens0n/32/80_2.png) [@kbens0n](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/kbens0n)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2026, 6:22pm UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/a-curious-difference-in-family-display/15781/2 "2026-05-16T18:22:28Z")
> [@dkightley](#): > > Any ideas? Typically, they all would have that grayed-out icon. Does closing the program and restarting still show the same when revisited? ---
**Author:** ![dkightley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@dkightley](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/dkightley)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2026, 6:45pm UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/a-curious-difference-in-family-display/15781/3 "2026-05-16T18:45:46Z")
It pops up in a seemingly random order each time I start the program…but it looks as if the pattern is maintained when moving between families. And if I open multiple databases, each exhibits the same pattern… Very strange…but nowhere near being a showstopper. I’m just curious as to what is going on. ---
**Author:** ![kbens0n](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.rootsmagic.com/kbens0n/32/80_2.png) [@kbens0n](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/kbens0n)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2026, 7:27pm UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/a-curious-difference-in-family-display/15781/4 "2026-05-16T19:27:58Z")
> [@dkightley](#): > > in a seemingly random order each time I start the program Definitely strange. Thinking it might be larger families at play or something… I did a search for all families w/more than nine children and examined a bunch with none missing an icon. But, I’ve been upgrading my versions for as long as the program is in existence, whereas this might be different for a recent purchaser or something. I even created a dummy family to no avail in reproducing: ![Screenshot 2026-05-16 150548](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/rootsmagic/original/2X/2/29d29a116ad47a0987b3d744f59a4404a8449b3f.jpeg) Are your settings for where the databases are stored OUTSIDE the Documents folder of Windows (which has some quirks)? Only things that come to mind are re-checking after each of the following: 1)Run Tools\>Database Tools\>(Compact database and down thru to Remove phantom records). Close RM 2) Using Ctrl-Shift-U keyboard sequence to reset Program configuration file info 3) Trying to “temporarily” disable hardware acceleration in Windows 11: navigate to **Settings \> System \> Display \> Graphics \> Change default graphics settings** and toggle off “Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling”. A system restart is required to apply changes. 4) Reinstall the latest version ---
**Author:** ![MadDog](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.rootsmagic.com/maddog/32/313_2.png) [@MadDog](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/MadDog)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2026, 8:19pm UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/a-curious-difference-in-family-display/15781/5 "2026-05-16T20:19:25Z")
Settings\>Display\>Show Avatars … uncheck and see if that fixes. Never seen it before. ---
**Author:** ![dkightley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@dkightley](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/dkightley)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2026, 8:51pm UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/a-curious-difference-in-family-display/15781/6 "2026-05-16T20:51:08Z")
Ken - thx for the suggestions but I’m not keen on making significant changes to my settings/data files simply for a cosmetic issue. After further tests it looks a if the issue is a data issue. I’ve looked at all six of my current databases and the issue happens only on two of them - one a year ago (from a GEDCOM downloaded from Ancestry) and the other 2 days ago (also from a GEDCOM, but this time from MyHeritage). All other databases (created 1 or 2 years ago) display how I would expect…a ghost icon for when icons set on, and no ghost icon for when set off. The two that have the issue show random icons/no icons irrespective which way the icon display is set. Note that I don’t use icons at all… Logically, this must point to a software/data issue…but as I said before, I don’t consider it at all serious and do not intend spending any more time worrying about it. ---
**Author:** ![Steambuff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/839c29/32.png) [@Steambuff](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/Steambuff)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2026, 9:35pm UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/a-curious-difference-in-family-display/15781/7 "2026-05-16T21:35:55Z")
Quick point, have you specified the sex of the person? ---
**Author:** ![kevync1985](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3be4f8/32.png) [@kevync1985](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/kevync1985)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2026, 11:49pm UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/a-curious-difference-in-family-display/15781/8 "2026-05-16T23:49:36Z")
For#10 & #11 – I do not recall seeing that issue – I have seen weird spacing on right side when no spouse. Do ether of those two have “unknown spouse”? ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/rootsmagic/original/2X/7/70a26de76cf7cd787db1136b3e1709171f02d598.png) ---
**Author:** ![dkightley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@dkightley](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/dkightley)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2026, 6:38am UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/a-curious-difference-in-family-display/15781/9 "2026-05-17T06:38:27Z")
All data is correct…unspecified gender would be flagged as an error as in image in Ken’s reply. And in answer to Kev’s question…neither (and in fact many others) have an unspecified spouse. ---
**Author:** ![kevync1985](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3be4f8/32.png) [@kevync1985](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/kevync1985)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2026, 1:21pm UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/a-curious-difference-in-family-display/15781/10 "2026-05-17T13:21:22Z")
is it only that family? and if other families is it only the last one or two? ---
**Author:** ![kevync1985](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3be4f8/32.png) [@kevync1985](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/kevync1985)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2026, 1:24pm UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/a-curious-difference-in-family-display/15781/11 "2026-05-17T13:24:41Z")
> [@dkightley](#): > > Logically, this must point to a software/data issue…but as I said before, I don’t consider it at all serious and do not intend spending any more time worrying about it. agreed – I would say more likely a combination there of – the avatar is interesting – unless it possible has to do with the family that was viewed immediately before? (and it not clearing out ?🤷‍♂️ ) ---
**Author:** ![nkess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b3f665/32.png) [@nkess](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/nkess)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2026, 11:40pm UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/a-curious-difference-in-family-display/15781/12 "2026-05-17T23:40:17Z")
This issue was brought up a while ago–here is Renee’s response and the whole thread > [@Family view inconsistent head profile image for spouse?](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/family-view-inconsistent-head-profile-image-for-spouse/12419/5): > > This issue has been reported. It was something along the lines, if the Family last viewed had a child’s spouse with a thumbnail, then the gray avatar will show up in that same position on the next family displayed, if that child doesn’t have a spouse. For those people who are bothered by it, you can turn off both show avatars and pics in settings-- and yes @kevync1985 had it right, it because the last person/ family member had a media item attached and when you go to the next one the child in the same spot with no spouse will show them On this one I had all the avatars and pics unchecked– ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/rootsmagic/original/2X/0/0cabe96e4c3e3c3596ac7d19a928f2806488b4d0.png) then turned just pics back on and went to a couple who had pics ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/rootsmagic/original/2X/5/58acc28311f3c1ace180228b5d2bd22dfc9b0efc.png) and then back to 1st couple who now have the ghost icons for their parents ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/rootsmagic/original/2X/8/84cf4ab84bcbcf21c89e1e11b096d76f4fc1f318.png) ---
**Author:** ![kevync1985](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3be4f8/32.png) [@kevync1985](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/kevync1985)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2026, 10:27am UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/a-curious-difference-in-family-display/15781/13 "2026-05-18T10:27:34Z")
> [@nkess](#): > > had it right, it because the last person/ family member had a media item attached and when you go to the next one the child in the same spot with no spouse will show them thanks for the info (and credit) - it seem like a refresh issue of sorts so that makes sense – I was not sure of the exact trigger/root cause. ---
**Author:** ![dkightley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@dkightley](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/dkightley)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2026, 11:26am UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/a-curious-difference-in-family-display/15781/14 "2026-05-18T11:26:49Z")
Hmmm. I’m not convinced that the theory here may be correct. One of the databases I have the issue with has no pictures, avatars or any images attached to anyone. The other has no pictures or avatars…but does have a handful of media files that have possibly been dragged down from Ancestry without my knowledge (as far as I am aware)…which I intend to purge out of the data as they’re all images of source documents that have no interest to me. If this exercise has an effect on my reported display issue, I’ll report back here. ---
**Author:** ![nkess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b3f665/32.png) [@nkess](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/nkess)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2026, 3:50am UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/a-curious-difference-in-family-display/15781/15 "2026-05-19T03:50:01Z")
> [@dkightley](#): > > Hmmm. I’m not convinced that the theory here may be correct. > > One of the databases I have the issue with has no pictures, avatars or any images attached to anyone. Played around with this and I found that my older files in RM that we’re created in other programs or earlier versions of RM and imported in RM 11 and have been there for a while will NOT have any ghosts on the spouses of the kids IF I uncheck pics and avatars.. BUT @rzamor1 any new database that i create, some that I import from a previous RM version or download from Ancestry have the avatars-- none of these file have any media attached to them… This is almost the whole file that I made tonight and there are avatars for every spot EXCEPT Red Rover’s parents-- RED Rover was the 1st person entered.. ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/rootsmagic/original/2X/1/1803efb453e628e561f94c39a3c30b92c676d47e.png) So yes @dkightley I have to agree that the answer in the other post just covers part of the problem ---
**Author:** ![kevync1985](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3be4f8/32.png) [@kevync1985](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/kevync1985)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2026, 12:00pm UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/a-curious-difference-in-family-display/15781/16 "2026-05-19T12:00:02Z")
> [@nkess](#): > > any new database that i create, some that I import from a previous RM version or download from Ancestry have the avatars-- none of these file have any media attached to them… hmm - do they have the primary photo/media tag or maybe an orphan media tag? (this might be mostly hidden from the RM UI) Kevin ---
**Author:** ![nkess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b3f665/32.png) [@nkess](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/nkess)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2026, 8:36pm UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/a-curious-difference-in-family-display/15781/17 "2026-05-19T20:36:41Z")
@kevync1985 absolutely no media at all–I don’t add media to any of my RM databases EXCEPT for my test database ---
**Author:** ![dkightley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@dkightley](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/dkightley)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2026, 9:10pm UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/a-curious-difference-in-family-display/15781/18 "2026-05-19T21:10:13Z")
Same for me. Its one of these “My car only breaks down when I don’t use it…and every time I want to use it, it’s fine.” Things seem to go wrong when the code is meant to decide whether to display the “ghost” avatar or not…and the logic of the test goes horribly wrong. Probably too many things being checked and in the wrong way. A common programmer’s error…I learned the hard way how not to fall into such a trap! And it can be hard to see exactly what the mistake is! ---
**Author:** ![kevync1985](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3be4f8/32.png) [@kevync1985](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/kevync1985)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 10:59am UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/a-curious-difference-in-family-display/15781/19 "2026-05-20T10:59:01Z")
> [@nkess](#): > > absolutely no media at all–I don’t add media to any of my RM databases EXCEPT for my test database yes – I guess you are not understand what I am getting at. If the database every had media at any time in the past. If you have in current db it would show here ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/rootsmagic/original/2X/9/90f3bba254ebce0dcdde2d21eb73f244a4b93b38.png) in sqlite `—- find next autoincrement value` `SELECT COALESCE(MAX(MediaID), 0) + 1 AS NextMediaID` `FROM MultimediaTable;` to find people that have primary set (from memory) `SELECT` `p.PersonID,` `m.MediaID,` `m.MediaFile MediaName,` `m.Caption` `FROM MediaLinkTable ml` `JOIN PersonTable p ON ml.OwnerID = p.PersonID` `JOIN MultimediaTable m ON ml.MediaID = m.MediaID` `WHERE ml.OwnerType = 0 – 0 restricts the link to a Person` `AND ml.IsPrimary = 1 – 1 filters for the primary photo` ---
**Author:** ![nkess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b3f665/32.png) [@nkess](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/nkess)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2026, 2:26am UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/a-curious-difference-in-family-display/15781/20 "2026-05-21T02:26:10Z")
I don’t do sqlite-- and SORRY I guess you are not understanding what I am saying–I do NOT have any media attached to any database EXCEPT for my test database-- the database posted above had just been made and you are basically seeing the whole database in that screen shot-- Basically I will download a document-- transcribe it-- and then either get rid of it or if I want to save it, then I have an free site where I upload those documents to… when I got my 1st computer a very long long time ago, hubby’s cousin was telling me that they crashed their computer BECAUSE they had save too many pics and documents-- of course that was long ago when overall space on computers was much smaller BUT I just never got into the habit… [Next page](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/a-curious-difference-in-family-display/15781.md?page=2)