I occasionally get mail from someone who is unfamiliar with the format I use for the descent charts.   I hope this explanation will make it understandable.  There is often a good bit of information with each entry (dates and places of birth, marriage and death, Census data, etc.);  it is the "generation" number beside the name that indicates relationships.  I've also used color coding to make the system clearer.
Abbreviations used: b (born), d (died), m (married), bur (buried), bef (before), aft (after), c (circa).

The progenitor is number 1 (black, bold).  Individuals who are number 2's (turquoise, bold) are the children of number 1. 

1  John Smith
    2  William Smith
    2  Mary Smith
    2  James Smith

Individuals who are number 3's (maroon, bold) are the children of number 2's.

1  John Smith
    2  William Smith
        3  Sarah Smith
        3  Timothy Smith
    2  Mary Smith, m Robert Jones
        3  Robert Jones, Jr.
        3  Ann Jones
    2  James Smith

Each successive generation is given the next number, in regular black print.  Census data is in purple, bold, italics.

1  John Smith
    2  William Smith
        3  Sarah Smith
        3  Timothy Smith
            4  Elizabeth Smith, m Raymond Miller
                5  David Miller
    2  Mary Smith, m Robert Jones
        1880 Coffee County, Alabama Census (Clintonville) shows Robert Jones 30 (farmer), Mary 27, Robert Jr. 5,
        Ann 2.
        3  Robert Jones, Jr.
        3  Ann Jones, m Daniel Hill
            4  Jane Hill
            4  Richard Hill
    2  James Smith

The above chart shows that John Smith had three children (William, Mary, and James); four grandchildren (Sarah and Timothy Smith, Robert Jr. and Ann Jones); three great-grandchildren (Elizabeth Smith, Jane and Richard Hill); and one great-great-grandchild (David Miller).