Personal Ancestral File (PAF) - Family History & Genealogy Message Board

Sorting/Deleting entries by age of subject--Possible?

garaygen — 20 Sep 2008 3:01:21 GMT

Hi--
I have a database that I copied out from a printed, book length genealogy, and am trying to winnow out the individuals whose descendancies I'll want to research further. My first step would be to obtain a list of individuals who didn't live to the age of 17-18 (so I can ignore them for the moment), but I can't find any way of doing this in PAF. I find multiple ways of sorting/limiting by birth or death date, but nothing for age. Since the program obviously calculates age for some of its reports (e.g. "Was not between 16 and 45 when children were born in marriage(s)"), am I just missing something, or is the program really not able to sort/limit by age? Any help is appreciated.

best way to publish PAF data w/ multimedia files?

CameronHess — 25 Jul 2007 3:46:25 GMT

With the help of many family members, I have a moderate amount (hundreds of names) of genealogy information in PAF that I wish to make available to family members (on both my paternal and maternal sides of my family, as well as my wife's family) with the least effort and investment of time as possible.

My major challenge is that I wish to include multi-media files (digital and scanned photos, videos, audio files,
Adobe Acrobat documents, etc) *and* link these files to the appropriate individuals in a family tree format so that names and basic genealogical information can be easily viewed and traversed, with some kind of indication when additional multi-media information is available. If more information is desired about a particular person, the viewer can drill down (so to speak) to read personal histories, view photos, hear funeral talks, watch videos, or see scans of original handwritten documents in Acrobat format, or link to a web page URL related to this person, and then easily return to the family tree view. I started out using Personal Ancestry File (PAF) but discovered that it does not support Acrobat documents or URL links. I am also having problems figuring out how to create a directory structure of PAF data files and linked multi-media files on a hard disk and then transfer all this data onto a CD or DVD and have the linked files still be accessible when the drive letter and possibly the directory structure names change when the files are transferred to CD/DVD. For that matter, I am not sure that CDs/DVDs are the best publishing vehicle. However, the complexity of doing something like this via Internet web pages seems very daunting.

A large amount of extended family genealogical information related to my paternal line has been uploaded and is stored on myfamily.com, but there seems to be no way to associate or link multiple items of information about the same person, other than very coarse categories dedicated for different branches of the family tree. There is also appears to be no family tree structure to traverse from one related family member to another or generation to generation. It is just a big database, with some limited categories. I have not found this website's search engine to be very helpful in finding information.

Another family member has attempted to solve this same publishing dilemna by distributing a CD containing an initial version of a small subset of family members where the family tree format is manually recreated by naming directories and sub-directories after family members, with all related multi-media content contained within the associated directory or folder. While this is relatively easy to do for a two or three generations, it becomes more daunting for each additional generation added, especially when these family relationships already exist in the genealogical software database. Another down side is that the standard genealogical information about each person would have to be manually exported or copied from individual fields within a program like PAF and then pasted into a text file within each directory where it would have to be manually maintained, which violates the fundamental database management rule of not storing the same information in more than one location.

Does anyone have any experience with PhPGedView? Even though the multimedia support seems somewhat limited, it also seems to be expanding. This program seems to have promise as a nice publishing and collaboration tool; however, I'm told that PhPGedView does not support LDS ordinance data, which would preclude it from being a useful collaboration tool for LDS members doing Family History.

Uncertainty as to the best way to publish this information has delayed progress for several years and I am anxious to move forward.

Recommendations, anyone?

PAF for Palm

capstact — 11 Nov 2006 8:21:03 GMT

The PAF for Palm application doesn't seem to be downloadable from the familysearch.org site anymore. Does anyone know where I can download a copy of this software, or willing to share yours? E-mail me privately tim at capstack dot com, thanks!

PAF

tcbiii — 27 Jul 2008 2:02:27 GMT

I get a message that I have a damaged file in Personal Ancestral File (PAF) and it won't open. Does anyone know how I might access it or move it to another program? Thanks.
Karen Rourk
krourk1@prodigy.net

New PAF?

ChasCornell — 24 May 2008 8:49:55 GMT

I've just heard that PAF will be discontinued, to be replaced by an improved version called ________. Just checked and PAF is still being offered at familysearch. Anyone know anyhthing about this?

Loyal Paffer

How to use PAF

DorisWaggoner — 12 Jul 2008 11:21:52 GMT

I've used an old version of PAF on an old PC, with floppies for backup. I know, I can hear you groaning. Now I have access to a much newer PC and want to move my data. I am so grateful that at least the new computer has a floppy drive on it. It will be upgraded to take the floppy drive away and make the computer faster when I get my data on it (this is in a computer lab in a retirement home). But when I try to copy my data to a floppy on my old machine so I can put it on the new machine, it won't let me, saying there isn't enough room. I swear I did a backup a month or so ago, and added one death date and one divorce date! I didn't get this message then. When I got the error message, I put in a new blank floppy so it could add the extra, but got the same error message. I had tested the floppy and it didn't have anything on it. Does anybody have any suggestions? The experts here have helped as much as they can but are as bumfoozled as I am by now. We'd appreciate any help anybody could offer.

Font size in notes

alananne166 — 25 Apr 2006 4:57:34 GMT

I recently moved from a WindowsME to WindowsXP operating system and moved PAF5 across.

Now I find that the size of font used in notes has been restricted.

Has anyone found a way around this or have I caused a problem in the transfer [I used Nero to copy to CD and copied from CD to new system]

Alan

HELP ..... my NOTES are being DELETED from PAF 5.2180 !!!!!

Kathye_Upham — 24 Mar 2008 4:50:07 GMT

I have asked this question for 2-3 years but now I'm at the breaking point and after 30 years of kinfolk hunting, I may have to just quit.

I don't have a clue why this is happening but at least 1 of every 10 persons I pull up in PAF 5.2180 has no notes especially those that were entered before 2005. I am a diligent note maker - in my family you have to be!

In 2001, I worked 8-10 hours per day for almost a year researching my 2 uncles and their 2 sisters who were in Sabine Parish LA when it was formed. In true Anderson tradition their children and grandchildren intermarried for 3-5 generations.
It was a difficult and painstaking task and I spent a lot of money proving who was who but I was able to prove by document every single descendant through 1920 and some to the present.

Four days ago I pulled up Uncle Jeff and all of my notes were GONE !!! Not only for him but all of his descendants - ditto for Uncle Wade.

Hope, hope.... does PAF 5.2180 remove notes and store them some where in the program?
Is there a "size limit" on the amount of notes PAF 5.2180 can store on the notes screen?
Is there a "size limit" on the amount of notes PAF 5.2180 can store in each database?
Does saving my databses as a "zip file" possibly have something to do with the missing notes?

You can imagine my heartache and devastation.......if there is nothing I can do to stop this, I will just have to QUIT because I'll end up just re-researching everyone in my databases and it will never end.

Obviously I am not very computer savvy but I do know how to use PAF as I started with 2.31 back in 1994.
Can anyone explain or tell me why this happening?

Thankyou for anything you can share,
Kathye Upham

Exporting or converting RDF data

greenwolf — 29 Mar 2008 8:56:07 GMT

One of the best features of the old PAF 2.3.1 was the simple, easy-to-use Research Data Filer (RDF) program, a bare-bones DOS application that functioned as handy electronic 3x5 cards, great for taking research notes. Unfortunately I can't get it to run properly with MS Vista; it can't find or create files. So I'm left with 3.5 MB of data in 246 files, gathered over more than a dozen years of research, that I really can't use.
What I would like to do is to export the data in my RDF files to a format (csv or tab) that I could then import to database or spreadsheet programs. I don't know in what language it (RDF) was written, perhaps C+ or a related one.
Any ideas?
Neil Allen Bristow

Report for newsgroups

northwestpioneer — 21 Mar 2008 4:57:54 GMT

Recently someone shared a descendant list in a newsgroup using this format:

1 Alan Cochran 1432 -
........ 2 Robert Cochran 1473 -
.............. +Elizabeth Semple
................... 3 John Cochran 1490 -
......................... +Mary Lindsay
............................. 4 John Cochran 1525 - 1600
........................................ 5 James Cochran

Can I get PAF to give me the same type if indented descendant list?

Thanks

Thinking of switching to PAF

sailortech — 3 Sep 2007 12:59:32 GMT

I'm thinking of switching from Family Tree Maker 2005 to PAF. I'd be using it for GEDCOMS and some chart & report print outs.

At the same time I'd be using ancestry.com's My Ancestry trees and am hand making a website with copies of all source pictures.

I have family that are so computer illiterate that reading a web page that doesn't auto start from a CD is a real challenge. That makes Root Magic's sharable CD a no-go. They also are unable to figure out ancestry.com or even e-mail.

I've heard the recent horror stories about FTM 2008 upgrade, so that upgrade seems to be a no-go on my end.

New version of FTM doesn't do reports except via ancestry press. Ancestry.com trees only seem to print out ancestor charts, not descendent charts.

So, opinions on shelving FTM and shifting to PAF?

HELP Can't print RDF

gingerjake — 30 Jan 2008 1:51:04 GMT

I run PAF 2.3.1 (or something like that) Research Data Filer on my modern (almost) Windows XP machine. My HP5610 printer is hardwired to a USB port. How can I set up PAF to print from RDF. I've tried reconfiguring several times but I don't remember enough DOS to output to USB001 instead of LPT1. I need a clue.

Jake

Line Of Descent

Sandra_Santmyer — 10 Jul 2006 12:52:36 GMT

I find that if a "cousin" contacts me I can easily find the relationship calculator of use in figuring out how we are cousins. The problem is I can only manually type out all the line of descent. Is the a command to get PAF to print it out. I have tried ancestry, descendent, family group and custom reports but they give me all instead of direct line or line of descent.

Accessing PAF 5.2 databases over network

daztrue1 — 8 Dec 2007 5:38:40 GMT

I'm trying to establish whether it's possible to use PAF 5.2 databases over a small home network. I'm running XP Pro SP2 and want to know if PAF has the compatibility for running it's files over a network - and more so, whether it will function in conjunction with the Windows Offline Files feature. Basically, can a PAF file be opened over a network, the network be shutdown, the PC save to Offline Files, and later sync with the network/main copy?

My PAF 3.0 went on the fritz. Where can I get another copy?

shellyinoh — 7 Nov 2007 11:19:55 GMT

I am a diehard PAF 3.0 user (1997). I've tried the more recent versions but they pop up so many different windows making me have to move them all around so I can view other pages. I just don't like them as well.

Yesterday I got some error messages when trying to create a gedcom. I've scanned the disk and corrected the errors, but it still is 'broke'.

I really, REALLY want to keep this PAF. I can use it practically with my eyes closed. I can't seem to find any location where I can download 3.0 anymore. IS there a place? Or is there someone knowledgeable with 3.0 who could help me fix it?

Swedish letters in PAF

bettyinsweden — 25 Nov 2007 9:00:31 GMT

A large portion of my names are Swedish. In the Swedish alphabet there are three extra letters Å Ä Ö. They all are at the end of the alphabet (after z) They print fine in the PAF but they are treated like regular As and Os in the list of names. I switched from Ancestry to PAF because Ancestry just omitted them on printouts. Is this something I just have to live with? I have not yet gotten to my German relatives.
Thanks for any suggestions.

Can't access online help

kreddigan — 9 Nov 2007 3:36:05 GMT

While using PAF5, I try to access "Help" via the question mark or by clicking Help Topics. I get an IE page saying "This program cannot display the webpage". I have reinstalled the PAF5 program, checked Windows Defender for blocking, etc. but unable to determine why I can't reach online help. All other accesses are okay,i.e. lessons, user's guide, getting started guide, etc. I am running windows XP and have two browsers Firefox 2 and Internet Explorer 7. Any suggestions as to what the problem might be would be appreciated.

Custom Reports

JoanK08 — 28 Oct 2007 9:57:37 GMT

1. how do I print a list of individuals or families that are NOT linked to the "home person" or pedigres of the current file? IE, those families which are in my PAF file that I've researched as close possibilities but not yet proven as ancestors/descendentants.

2. how do I print more than the 200 character limit of the NOTES file for use in a custom report without having to export it as a comma-delimited file to a word processing program?

Thank you

PAF file layout

npellett — 24 Oct 2007 5:13:11 GMT

Does anyone have a copy of the file layout for PAF files? I've been working on a program to help input US census information directly to PAF files, but I cant quite get the knack of what data goes where in the PAF file.

in PAF 5.2, can you lose your notes?

Kathye_Upham — 4 Oct 2006 9:35:06 GMT

I keep a lot of information on the notes page for each individual...........
Is there a limit to the amount of space you can use for your notes?
If you exceed that limit, will the program delete them?

Also, I have an uninstalled CD for "PAF Companion" -
does that program have something to do with Notes?

I hope my questions aren't too silly but I'm recovering from a stroke and my brain just doesn't work as well as it used to.

Kathye

Multimedia links export to Family Tree Builder

ballpark_frank — 18 Oct 2007 12:07:18 GMT

Does anyone have any thoughts on exporting PAF/GEDCOM containing many multimedia links into programs such as Family Tree Builder? Ancestral Quest and Heritage Quest seem fine.

Also - Anyone have any experience with the GRAMPS program. I finally got it installed and haven't had much time to experiment with it yet.

Any information is appreciated

Problems viewing attached PDF files in PAF

homelinkca — 14 Mar 2006 12:11:50 GMT

I am running PAF 5.2.18 on Windows 2000 Pro.
I have number of PDF files attached to my sources that I was previously able to open in PAF if I told PAF they were a sound or video clip when I attached them.

Today I upgraded my Adobe reader to version 7.0 and now when I click on the attached image to view it in PDF nothing happens.

Anyone else had this problem and found a work around?

Carol

HELP !!! my PAF 5.2 NOTES are DISAPPEARING !!!!!

Kathye_Upham — 17 Oct 2007 12:56:51 GMT

I keep a lot of nores on individuals and althougn I back up my files daily quite often I find all of the notes on individuals I haven't worked on in awhile have been erased

I have 9 separate PAF files and it happens on all of them.

Is their a limit to the total amounmt of notes PAF 5.2 can store ??

Are the notes moved to some kind of a log or somewhere else? Hope hope........

Because of this I am going to chnage to RootsMagic v3 but if my notes are "hidden" I need to retrieve them before I export my PAF files to the new program..........

What have I been doing wrong?

Kathye

repetitive date entries

phbrown48 — 23 Sep 2007 12:34:24 GMT

I have several identical dates to enter - did a bunch of sealings today. Is there a shortcut in PAF to repeat the same date previously entered?

credit to GEDCOM author

JoanK08 — 1 Sep 2007 2:56:45 GMT

How do I give credit to the author of an imported GEDCOM data into my PAF file for all his/her work, especially when there are 100 or more entries?

Source images

sailortech — 9 Sep 2007 2:05:51 GMT

I'm just starting to try PAF and need some advice on source images.

I'm trying to include images of source documents. In particular the WWII draft records consist of two images. How do I put both images as part of the source? Or do I need to create two sources, with one page / image per source?

5.5 gedcoms into 4.0 ??

lakebay4me — 15 Aug 2007 12:42:19 GMT

I don't particularly like the version 5 format, so I've stuck to version 4, but ...
I'm having trouble downloading 5 files. 4 uses ANSIL, 5 uses UTC. Is there someway to convert from UTC to ANSIL?
The gedcom I receive is unusable because 4 thinks it skipped every other line.
MUST I use 5.0?
Any help is appreciate.

Problem of overwriting notes on different individual

stbfitting — 16 Jul 2007 3:15:25 GMT

I've used PAF for several years now. I am having a problem where the notes I enter for one individual overwrite notes on an unrelated individual. This is happened in at least 2 separate sets of records. Anyone know why this would happen? Anything I can do? I have made a copy of the file and used that copy -- only to have the same problem.

Printing out a booklet to share

rudag1 — 26 May 2007 7:26:01 GMT

I have 2000+ names on 4 families--Each grandparent through 4-5 generations. I would like to print out a booklet to share with family members. I do not want it to be too long as the ahnentafel version would be. Yet just the descendant list is not too easy to follow either. I have both PAF and Family Tree Maker to work with. What report(s) would be best to use?

How do I avoid the duplication that will arise in that the last generation will be listed 4 times--once in each family?

Problem Exporting to PAF 5.5 from Family Tree Maker

dhensgen1 — 25 Jun 2007 3:02:44 GMT

I like the format in Family Tree Maker over the PAF format, but as an LDS member, to take names to the temple I have to export to PAF. FTM version 16 doesn't go directly to PAF so I have to export to GED, then import into PAF to take the names to the church family history center.

Once in PAF format, when we get them to the FHC, they tell us the formatting is off and none of the names come out right and aren't temple ready. Has anyone seen this or found a solution?

Thanks,
Dan

Printing EVERYONE

sullisnyc — 3 Apr 2007 1:26:29 GMT

Is there a way to print EVERYONE in my gedcom file at once? I've downloaded this program and with if I create a bunch of files I might be able to print a real wall chart...

But is there a way to print a chart that has everyone on it? In any software?

Incorrect placement of sources/citation by .paf software

1620girl — 8 Apr 2007 7:59:26 GMT

Not often, but enough to be very irritating, my .paf software will place a source and/or citation under the RIN of the wrong person. I do not usually find this out until I make a gedcom file, export it, and see the error on the web.
Is my software getting old, or just ornery?

Linda

Ancestrial Quest 12

jurnie1999 — 29 Mar 2007 12:24:46 GMT

I have just received my copy of AncestrialQuest 12. I love PAF, but this one kicks. All same features of PAF but with many more advantages.

Ties in with IGI. Automatic search. Definitly worth getting.

On-line vs. Off-line

kylewright_1 — 26 Mar 2007 1:17:25 GMT

I would like to solicit the comments of this group and appreciate your comments (pro's & con's) for this idea I have.

I am a subscribing member of Ancestry.com and have my family tree posted there. This gives me access to census, marriage, land, records, etc. I can also research other family trees. I assume most of you know this.

The Family Tree feature has been steadily improving and it's research capabilties are getting better.

I also use Family Tree Maker 2005. Everyone who uses this program is familiar with it's features and capabilities>

I lastly have the Personal Ancestral File (free). Again, I assume everyone is familiar with it's features (limited).

I have been thinking about upgrading my Family Tree Maker to the 2006 version. But the more that I use Ancestry.com family tree the more that I like it. FTM is not completely compatiable with Ancestry.com, though they are very very similar.

So what I was thinking of is making Ancestry.com as my primary research and data program and utilizing Personal Ancestral File as the back. Therefore, all my data would be on line, with the exception of the backup in PAF. Therefore, I would be giving up FTM.

Bottom line, your thoughts and comments: on-line ancestral data base vs. off-line ancestral data base. Which is better, safer, what about reports, exchanging information, etc., etc., etc.

Sorry to ramble, but just trying to get my point across and get some valuable feedback.

Thanks

Kyle Wright
Stafford, VA

Global update of data

tgduffy78 — 2 Feb 2007 6:00:13 GMT

I have just received over 1,000 PAF records from another researcher and want to add the records to my existing PAF file. To flag the new records, I want to add a key word to the Source field (or any other filed such as Notes) of every new record I'm adding. Global Find/Replace will not work because I am not replacing anything. I can not find a tool to do that and I don't want to open and edit all 1,000 records. Any ideas?

Global Update Notes

brendac26 — 1 Jun 2005 3:50:07 GMT

Is there a way to do a global update to notes without losing any current notes? I would like to append data to the notes.

PAF custom events list

Sandra_Santmyer — 21 Jan 2007 1:07:21 GMT

In the PAF 5.2.18.0 version custom events list there are items that the program will allow you to delete. Then there are the standard items that the program does not give you the option of deleting. Sometimes I am sent a gedcom that I would like to incorporate into my PAF file or let stand alone as is. Every once in a while a gedcom will include birth, death and other information as custom events in addition to listing it under the regular events. I would like to avoid this duplication. Has anyone figure out a way to manually deleting custom events that I do not want to use personally in my file?

Need PAF 3 manual

nHarriett — 21 Feb 2006 9:16:55 GMT

Hi:
We sent our PAF 3 manual to our family in South America years ago. Does anyone have a .pdf file of the manual that they could share with us or sell to us?

My husband is using PAF 3 (I am still loving 2.3.1 with its external files). He needs to clear out his source list. The source list is duplicating the sources so it is miles long with many, many duplications. How can he clean it out and how can he keep from continuing this duplication? He (at the moment) is entering from a family book that has the identical
source for every entry. So, he is using F8 ditto for each source entry. But when he hits F6 a long list of duplications appear for this same source. It seems to think that every Ditto entry is a separate source. The list is so full now that he can't even get F6 to work. He is working on an older computer with 64 K RAM.

Regards
Nan & George Wolf
71532.734 at compuserve.com

Print Reports problem

Greg — 29 Nov 2006 9:18:06 GMT

When I preview my reports in PAF in book form everything looks fine.
But When I print the book, the photos are tiny and apperar next to the names of individuals while a large space where the photo should be is left blank. What am I doing wrong?

Cheers Greg

Sources -- Individual

nrs — 13 Nov 2006 8:22:13 GMT

I need to clean up and standardize the way I am entering sources and cannot decide when to use Individual Sources. Every source for the individual? Only those sources that are not linked to an event? Sources that include more information than the event they are linked to? (I used to use Individual Sources almost exclusively but have been criticized for not having sources linked to events.) Is there a standard practice?

PAF5 to Word document

brenda barraclough — 28 Oct 2006 11:44:33 GMT

Is there a way to convert a PAF 5 file to Microsoft Word?

easier way to search for names?

Kathye_Upham — 4 Oct 2006 9:29:18 GMT

I have a PAF 5.2 file just for researching N540 families.
Since NUNNELEE is also spelled 100 different ways I am scanning through the entire alphabetical list to see if I already have someone listed under a different spelling before I enter them as a new individual...
Is there some way to search through all of the spellings but say just those with the given name John without having to create a focus list?
In the old PAF 2.31 you could search , John and all persons with the given name John would show up -
does PAF 5.2 have something like that ?

My heartfelt thanks for any suggestions for a faster way,
Kathye

Function Key Options

Sandy — 26 May 2006 8:23:53 GMT

Is there a way in PAF to use any of the function keys either alone or with Ctrl or Alt or Shift to save frequently used data that I enter often? An example would be a name that is used quite often in my database such as a first name. That way I could just press a button or two and it would enter that word automatically. If it can be done it would save me a lot of key strokes with long words.

PAF 5 on thumbdrive

Elliott Corbett — 24 Aug 2006 6:18:45 GMT

I have a 1 gig thumbdrive. Can I install the PAF program on it and be able to run it from a computer that does not have PAF. I have tried but when I open the zip file there is no way to select where to install it.
Thanks for all the excellent help
Elliott Corbett

how can I make a COPY of a PAF file onto a DVD ???

Kathye_Upham — 15 Aug 2006 3:08:17 GMT

I am using PAF 5.2180 in Windows XP, 2 ed, Home.

I need to make a DVD with a copy of one of my PAF files for a cousin who also uses PAF 5.2180 so she can create a new PAF file using the "Restore from Backup" feature.

We cannot use a GedCom as this family intermarried over and over and over for 4 generations and the lineages get all mixed up.

The problem is I have no idea how to make a DVD !!
Can anyone tell me what to do and how to do this ??

My heartfelt thanks for any help!
Kathye

PAF 2.2

steve stewart — 1 Aug 2006 11:22:15 GMT

I had PAF 2.2 but it was deleted, I did back up my files but I noticed they are BAK. I was wondering how I can load them into PAF 5.2 which is a free download

Internet Genealogy Search From Within PAF

reborrell — 24 Jul 2006 3:46:49 GMT

I run PAF 5.2.18 on a desktop and laptop.

On my laptop, within PAF, I can highlight a person, then go to SEARCH and have the option of "On Family Search", "Ancestry.com", "Genealogy.com:", "Rootsweb.com".

However on my desktop unit, I only have the first search option.

Can anyone advise how to correct and have all items available on my desktop computer.

I am running Windows 2000 Pro on the desktop and XP Home on the laptop.

Is this something that might be saved in a configuration file that I could copy from my laptop to my desktop; or, is thing something in the registry.

What options do others have?

PAF to Excel

BruceGagnard — 28 Mar 2006 3:45:14 GMT

Does anyone know how to convert a PAF file to Excel?
Thanks
Bruce

add an illegimate child

Elliott Corbett — 16 Jul 2006 7:51:14 GMT

The mother was not married and her child's father is unknown. I know without naming the father the program will list him as unknown. There is no place I can find on the marriage form to indicate that unknown and the mother were never married.
Thanks in advance for your help

Deleting a "branch"

spmassjr — 2 Aug 2006 1:00:43 GMT

I am running PAF 5.2 and would like to send a "partial GEDCOM" to a family member. He, however, is not at all interested in my wife's family.

Is there a way I can remove the branch containing all of her ancestors, etc., before exporting the GEDCOM?

I would assume I'd have to unlink her from her parents, but what would I need to do next?

Thanks so much!

Old Version PAF Files

Michael — 26 Jun 2006 5:45:08 GMT

I have some PAF files that have not been updated since May 1998. I am afraid to think what version that was! Is there any way to convert these old versions into a newer version of PAF or is this data pretty much useless to me now? Thanks for any suggestions!

Images in PAF

Mickey — 26 Jun 2006 7:43:50 GMT

How can I make all my images Primary so they show up in reports. I imported my TMG database as a gedcom and the photos are there, but none are labled "Primary". Do I have to do each one individually?
Thanks...Mickey

Too big a database for PAF to handle?

rlcww — 23 May 2006 2:03:59 GMT

I have almost 15,000 names in my database from doing one-name studies and all-names-in-town studies. A couple of months ago I tried to export a certain group of names and my export ended up just being a duplicate of my original database, not my selected names. (I did select the correct parameters and export correctly, and tried it several times just in case.) I didn't get a response from the PAF answer group on FamilySearch.org about why this happened. Last night I was adding names to my database using one source and noticed that even though I had updated the page number and clicked the Memorize Citation button, the old page number kept coming up. Checkfix says I have no problems in my database. So now I'm wondering if I have too many names, too big of a database for PAF to handle.

Transfer info files from Mac. to PC

carlos albuerne — 13 Dec 2004 9:25:24 GMT

I have family's records on Mac. I will like to transfer it to PC. How it can be done??

Language

Moris Suzanne — 25 Apr 2006 4:10:08 GMT

Is this programme already in the Dutch language availeble?

Editing an individual in PAF

Pat Voyles — 11 Apr 2006 11:08:43 GMT

This sounds like a newbie question...but I have been using PAF for 6 years...so here goes

I am trying to add an individual, and when I double click the name of the father or mother it doesn't take me to the right screen...the display flicks one time and the only way I can proceed is to hit the escape key...

I imagine the problem is that I have hit a wrong key somewhere but I don't know which one...

I hope this makes sense to any helpful person...thanks

Pat V

Downloaded new (2nd) PAF from website

brenda barraclough — 25 Apr 2006 4:09:34 GMT

Here I am with a new problem, hoping someone can help.
I have a paf file full of information and thought I could download a new (2nd) program and use it to start a new file for a completely different family line. I downloaded and renamed it ("PAF5 New Download"). I opened the new program and selected to"run" it. Now when I open it, I see ALL the info from my first file is in the new file. Is there no way to download a completely new EMPTY program to keep for future use? Also, if I delete the new (2nd) download, will I lose all the information in my original file?
I now see that if I select "run", it gives me 3 options: 1) MODIFY - to select new components to add or select currently installed components to remove, 2) REPAIR - to re-install all program components installed by previous setup, and 3) REMOVE - to remove all installed components
Now the question is - how can I get rid of the 2nd file without losing all the information in the original file? I don't want to be taking up all this space on my computer!
In my original file, I actually did 2 different family lines which are in separate folders in "My Documents" and also on my hard drive, which I did save to CD.

How can I save a PAF file to disc

brenda barraclough — 25 Apr 2006 4:18:00 GMT

I hope someone can help me - I've tried several times using several different cd's, and the program will not let me save to disc. I'm trying to put it on CD-RW. What am I doing wrong - or not doing right ????

PAF Companion

bcwinfrance — 15 Jan 2006 8:48:28 GMT

I use PAF and have just discovered Companion, which I'd like to register. Unfortunately being in Europe I can't call the telephone number indicated on the lds site. Does nayone know if it's possible to register online, or does anyone have any other suggestions?

Thanks

Barry

Problem printing ahnentafel report

Teddy — 25 Apr 2006 4:19:25 GMT

When I tried to print the report it listed an ancestor with his wife and children twice. Report lists # 76, his name then "see # 78" his notes and then his children. # 78 lists his name then "see # 76" his notes and then his children again. I have matched and merged with PAF Insight and with PAF5. This family is only listed once. There is no problem on any other printed reports. Can someone please tell me what I have done wrong. TIA

back up to CD read only

teddymark — 29 Nov 2005 3:07:04 GMT

I know this has addressed recently and I saved "how to not get a read only cd" when I back up but now I can't find it. Would some kind person please repeat how to change from read only. I have 5.15 PAF and windows xp. many thanks!! Teddy

Source - Actual Text?

mlpapineau — 30 Nov 2005 2:29:11 GMT

I've been typing the actual text for my sources, such as newspaper obituaries, biographies from county histories, etc. These can be quite lengthy.

Now, when I print reports, I'd like this text to appear within the report with the ancestor it's describing, not way back in the sources at the end of the document. Is there any way to accomplish this? If this text was in the Notes, it would then show with the ancestor. I do think it should be with the source though. What do you do about this? It seems like a waste of time, file space, etc. to copy and store it in both places. Please advise me, I need you help on this!

cavefolk@hotmail.com

Ahnentafel numbers as Custom ID

montz24 — 7 Nov 2006 6:48:46 GMT

As I recall the old PAF version 2.3 included an option to generate Ahnentafel numbers as the custom ID number which could optionally be displayed on screen. I can't locate that capability in PAF 5. Am I out of luck?

Merging Identical Source Entries

Sandra_Santmyer — 12 Aug 2005 8:32:35 GMT

I have always had the preference unchecked to merge source entries when merging individual entries. Because of a PC glitch I had to reboot my PC. After downloading PAF I forgot to uncheck that preference and later discovered that I had a merged individual with Citation 1 & Citation 2 that were identical, not similiar. Is there a way to do a search to see if there are any other individuals or marriages that have Citation 1 and Citation 2 that are indentical? Any help would be appreciated.

Help? Don't know how to make a PAF genealogy GEDCOM file

AntoinnetteMaize — 6 Oct 2005 9:44:27 GMT

Even my O'Reilly Windows XP book doesn't have this how to. Tried locating info in Fam search but no how to instructions. Can someone tell me how to make my PAF genealogy files into a GEDCOM??? May I add as a post script that I'm an old lady computer dummy? Thanks, Toni Maize

Dividing data files

Kenneth Lewis — 21 Jul 2005 7:47:57 GMT

I want to find software that I can use with my paf files to divide the data by branches of the family so that I can share only the data from the branch of the family they are intersted in.

SEE 2 different PAF files on the monitor at the same time?

Kathye_Upham — 3 Oct 2005 7:06:29 GMT

I am currently running Windows 98 2nd edition but I have bought a new computer with Windows XP Home edition I will set up soon.......
My question : Is there some way you can have two different PAF files showing on the monitor at the same time?
My mother's ancestry is a mire of cousin to cousin marriages for several generations and it would be such a time saver if I cous\ld have 2 files open at one time.
Thankyou,
Kathye

Converting books to PDF

Chesbus — 1 Oct 2005 12:13:15 GMT

Is there a way of converting a book (modifed register) created in PAF5 to a PDF file without losing the book format?

Creating Ancestry report and including ALL related

mariahfbrazil — 2 Oct 2005 11:59:51 GMT

I'm trying to create an Ancestry Report using the "BOOK" feature, but I want to include ALL RELATED. Even though I choose the option for ALL RELATED, when I preview the book, it doesn't include the sisters, brothers, who they married or who their children were/are. Surely there's a way to do this that I'm overlooking. Can anyone help me? Thanks in advance!
Mariah

gedcom

Dwight Vidito — 30 Sep 2005 3:42:01 GMT

I have PAF 5.2...........I have 37130 indiv. on my program. Recently I made a gedcom and accidently imported it onto this program and now I have 74.260 indiv. each one is duplicated with a different RIN . I could merge each one to correct this but I don't think I will live that long. IS THERE SOME WAY TO DELETE THIS SECOND LIST OF INDIV. ?

Best to to add backed up PAF files to a different PC ???

Kathye_Upham — 25 Apr 2006 4:51:41 GMT

I use PAF 5.2 and Win98 2edition and not too PC "savvy"..
After a hard drive crash I recently installed the PAF 5.2 disk and created one new PAF file on a new PC........
I have several different 5.2 PAF family files backed up on floppies but they are NOT installed on this PC yet.
(1) I'm concerned that if I install these other files on this PC they may change because they were created using a different Template and I might lose information that was on these backed uo files or that is on the one new file that is already on this PC..........???
(2) what is the best to to add these backed up PAF to this PC --- create a new file and then choose restore?
I am so afraid I am going to lose more family information - is there someone who can help this Grandma save her PAF records?

Flash Drives

Ruth Filbert — 12 Sep 2005 1:49:31 GMT

I purchased a Flash drive with PAF 5 installed on it.
I plug it into my USB 2 port.
How do I get my PAF 5 information transferred to the flash drive?
Instructions "step by step" please.

Identify Sources by Person/RIN

brendac26 — 1 Jun 2005 3:59:54 GMT

As I look at my source table, I know there are some sources I could clean up, but the merging sources does not work--because of some differences in what was typed in as the source.

I re-use sources now for multiple Person/RINs and add unique information after I have selected the "general" source name. But I did not start out this way--so I have some older source names I would like to clean up but don't know out of the over 11,000 names in my database which source is used for which person.

Is there a way I can run a report that shows which source is used for which Person/RIN? That way I could go to the Person/RIN and clean up/fine tune my list of sources.

Empty Marriages

brendac26 — 1 Jun 2005 3:51:22 GMT

Is there an easy way to find Empty Marriages--so that you can delete them?

When I run the marriage report, several show and I know what they are but they are not listed by name but rather by MRIN.

Synchronizing PAF files

phbrown48 — 25 Apr 2006 4:54:16 GMT

I'm having difficulty keeping my PAF files synchronized. I keep one "master" file, but also do work on a secondary computer. I keep the files synchronized by exporting a .GED file that contains individuals with a "last changed date" since the last time I synchronized from my secondary computer.

I then import the .GED file and merge duplicates.

Problem: unless I've modified data on both spouses in a marriage, my .GED file only includes one spouse's data. Marriage data is not exported, and I am left with RINs without links to my master data.

How can I improve my synchronization so I don't lose marriage information?

Scanning Pictures

lizbiz444 — 10 Oct 2003 11:07:22 GMT

I just acquired a Microtek scanner, with the program Scan Wizard 5, so that I can include some old photos in my PAF 5.2 program. However, I have spent hours trying to get this accomplished, but to no avail. Is there anyone out there who could give me step by step instructions? And, if so, would you know if I can just select one or two people from a group or must the entire photo be included? Thanks for whatever help you can offer. I am new to PAF, also, so am a bit clumbsy with the mechanics of that program as well as the scanner.
Liz

PAF 5.2 "Search" Option

DearMYRTLE — 19 Aug 2004 1:35:51 GMT

Printing Marriage Places on Reports

Sandra_Santmyer — 12 Aug 2005 9:04:42 GMT

Is there a way to have the marriage PLACE show up when printing out reports. It also does not show on the FAMILY screen of PAF.

Errors when importing gedcom file into PAF

rrtsantmyer — 13 Jul 2006 3:05:14 GMT

I received a gedcom file from someone researching my family line. When I uploaded this person's file, I received 14 'Warnings' , all variations on a similar theme: WARNING: Custom Event 'LAST ADDRESS' added; edit this event to add missing fields.
What should I do to fix this?

Thanks in advance.

New File

teddy — 25 Apr 2006 4:56:51 GMT

having made a big mess trying to match and merge I opened a new file and have started to add my genealogy again using export import. However when I open 5.2 companion the new file names are not listed. Just the names I am importing from. In other words 5.2 companion is only being a companion to the file I do not want to use and not a companion to the file I do want to use. I hope someone can understand what I am trying to say, I am new at computers as well as genealogy. I appreciate any help! TIA

Transporting files

Harris — 13 May 2005 12:13:54 GMT

I use PAF 5 on Windows XP desktop. I would like to be able to create a file of my database in such a way so that when I travel I can just copy the file in it's entirety(including attached photos) and update my laptop file. Then when I return I can copy and transfer the file back to the desktop thus overwriting the file with changes. The problem is the photos. If I understand the process right, when you attach a photo to an individual, PAF establishes a link between where the photo is stored on the computer and then relies on that link to display the photo. Thus unless the same "link" is maintained the program following the transfer can't find the photo. I suppose I could build the file with photos on a secondary storage device, e.g. flash disc if I had a large enough one and then just access it from either computer. Does anybody have any better ideas?

Double surnames for individuals

RichardADaley — 8 May 2005 11:33:53 GMT

How can I list two surnames for the same individual - that is, two versions of the same name - so that they are both indexed? I have noticed that some people have managed to do that in their files. I use PAF 5 - is it some other program that allows you to do that?

GEDCOM Duplicate RINs

sffrankk1 — 11 Mar 2005 2:49:23 GMT

somehow I duplicated lines in my GEDCOM file

I have 4 or 5 identical instances of every person, each person
has the exact information and each person is only different
because of different RIN per person.

any suggestions on how to remove the duplicate instances
of each person is appreciated

thank you
frank

Lose photos in creating web page using GEDPAGE

myfamilypride — 19 Mar 2006 6:04:52 GMT

Hi,

I hope someone can help with how to add photos to my webpage using GEDPAGE to create the HTML flile?

I check the appropriate box when exporting from PAF 5.1 to my web folder,but,the photos are not exported. In the GEDPAGE file ,it only shows the files,but,no pictures.

Thank you for any help,
Glenna

Merging files

Welch723 — 25 Apr 2006 5:00:25 GMT

My brother and I are both using the latest version of PAF. He is researching one side and I the other, but we both started with a common file that has both sides. When we got together and merged files, it was a long, time consuming process. He thought maybe we could each maintain a file with only the family we are researching. Any suggestions on how to create such a new file by importing the data from the current file? I'd hate to have to retype all the current data.

Caryl Welch

Printing new sources

stephenwillmer — 2 Feb 2005 7:17:01 GMT

How come when I create a new source it will appear in the 'book' print' but it will not indicated to the person. If I print indidvidual/family records everything is fine.

Nagging 'Place' messages

ds0706 — 15 Apr 2005 8:36:16 GMT

If there is a PAF programmer reading this, can we please have a way to throttle the 'Numbers & punctuation are not typically typed as part of a place' nag every time an address is typed in and event place field... I don't know about where you live, but places here in the UK usually have house numbers if they are to be of any use. No, I do not want to add it to the Comments on the next screen because after 5 or 6 Census entries its a pain to track where a person has been moving to. It would be far better to be taken straight into the Source screen after the first <Enter>.
Please, please, please let us type what we want without nannying us.
TIA
Doreen

Last Changed Date

Sandra_Santmyer — 24 Feb 2005 10:24:38 GMT

In my PAF program it automatically shows the Last Changed Date. I would prefer that not to show. If this is not possible is it possible for this not to be entered into the GEDCOM that I download. The reason I ask this is because when I try to create a book under FTM it shows this as a More About Entry. This consumes additional lines that I would prefer not to have. Could I change this in FTM if not under PAF. Any help is appreciated.

Source Question - very confused!

Lauriann — 16 Jan 2005 7:54:44 GMT

I think I've got a major source problem going on here.
Would it be considered right to have 12 source entries referring to one person?
I've got 4 different sources for this person. A Family Bible, web site, and two different books.
Now, I've entered these four sources under the person's Individual Source with "actual text". The family bible refers to birth and death and occupation (I just entered the occupation's actual text), web site refers to birth, death, burial and occupation, book 1 to birth, baptism, death and occupation with "actual text" and book 2 to residence with "actual text".
Now, in the individual's screen I've entered 3 sources for the birth, 1 source that refers to the baptism, 3 to the death and 1 that refers to the burial. Am I doing this right? Or should I just write a comment note at the bottom of the citation in the Individual's sources that the this specific source refers to the birth, death, and occupation, and etc. with the other sources. Omitting completely the sources under birth, death, baptism and burial.

Gee, I hope somebody understand this! Thanks for any help you can give me. I've already purchased the book from Silicon Valley, but it doesn't mention much about the question I've asked.

Czech special characters do not display in Companion

marylevesque256 — 26 Jan 2005 11:46:09 GMT

I am able to add Czech special characters in PAF, but in Companion the only ones that show up correctly are the ones like those in French, such as é. For example, the r and s with the little mark above them, ( ř and š ) do not show, as well as several others. They have been replaced with an upside down question mark. I only have the evaluation version. While it is not expensive to get the full version, I'm reluctant to proceed if it means I must change all the correct spellings in PAF just so the charts will print in Companion. Does anyone know if the full version has the ability to change the character set?

Thanks.

Corrupted PAF

flynxpip — 19 Mar 2006 6:06:13 GMT

My PAF became corrupted, causing the alpha button to be inoperative. Plus the 8.50mb of info. in the file would only gedcom 167kb. Downloading PAF 5.2 only restored six names in the alpha file.
In the original file data from RIN 28-38 was either lost or corrupted, with the RIN still present but with either no name/notes or with birth/death/burial boxes filled with non data info.
The file was restored in Salt Lake City, but the resultant file contained faulty info. In the restored file, RIN 28 was the same, RIN 29-34 was shown as "<Living>" and they were now linked by MRIN to individuals they had no actual relationship too. RIN 35 through 6,300+ were now moved up three numbers from the original uncorrupted file and their MRIN relationships were totally not in sinc and they were all linked by MRIN to persons they had no actual relationship to at all. So now I have three files, the original corrupted file, the new restored uncorrupted file and an older uncorrupted file. The original corrupted file contains 6300+ individuals with about 8.51mb of info. mostly correct but with no alpha button and about eleven names that are "messed up". The new repaired file of about 6300+ names that are totally "messed up" with different RIN and MRIN links from 1 to 6300+ and a third file of about 5800+ names that is not corrupted and has the correct RIN & MRIN.
Now, what I want to know is, is it possible to take the 500 or so names from the original corrupted file by some means and transmit/transfer them to the third file of 5800+ names in the uncorrupted file, without fear of transferring the corruption with the names?

Exporting problem

Sheila Behan — 28 Oct 2004 4:07:22 GMT

I am trying to Export a Paf 5 fill to some one with Family tree maker. When I try to create the Ged com file it doesn't seem to want to save.

Zip

Brenda — 14 Oct 2004 11:36:14 GMT

I have been backing up my files to CD regularly and I burned to CD my programs before I moved to a new computer.Yesterday when I opened my Family Search folder things weren't as I left them. So, I've been trying to import/restore from my backups and some of them worked to a certain extent, some barely. On the partial ones, Family and Pedigree are there but no Individual files. On the restores, I see then note when it finsihes that 24 individual and 8 marriages were done but they don't show up. Please help me get my info back and TIA.
Brenda

Files from v.2 to v.5

Ken Gruber — 10 Oct 2004 6:51:33 GMT

I would like to transfer ansestory information from PAF v.2.3.1 to PAF v.5.2.18.0. Does anyone have any tips on how to do this?

Thanks, Ken Gruber
kengruber@att.net

Unable to print descendancy chart

bhkemp — 19 Mar 2006 6:07:45 GMT

Without LIVING persons......beginning w/ my gr gr grandfather

Generations minimum is 4 but that doesn't solve the problem.

I do not want a wall chart, just list w/indents. I can find no way to exclude the living. Using PAF 5.2.18

Do not have Insight yet. Help appreciated.

Betsy Hare Kemp

PAF Companion V5.1.5 Print Preview Error

eastoho — 19 May 2005 11:22:33 GMT

When I select print preview or publish (possible other options too) I get an error message in a dialogue box "Could not find PDF-Exchange Driver".

Why? What's the solution?

I have Adobe Reader v6 installed

All running on Windows XP Home edition.

Look forward to hearing from you soon.

How to set indentations on page using "Book"

Pam — 28 Aug 2004 4:50:54 GMT

I have 5.2 and love the ease and look of the "Book" I can generate with one exception; the indentation set for the next generation is way too big. By the time I get to the progenitors grandchildren, the indentations are nearly to the 1/2 page mark. It eats up the paper and has too little information on a page. I have 15 generations with many notes and sources.
How can I make them smaller? I found margins, but can't find anything about tab stops.
Thanks,

Too many errors importing FTM to PAF

Steve — 17 Apr 2004 6:45:58 GMT

Long time FTM user, I'm trying to convert to PAF, v.5.2. When I import the Gedcom to PAF, I get over 8000 errors in the listing file, most of which are one of the following :

1. "Couldn't save note '@NI0006@' in the temporary note file".
2. "Unexpected tag".
3. "PAF cannot store more than one name per individual."

I've no idea what it's complaining about in the Notes file as the FTM Notes seem to all be there, but apparently something's being left out.

The tag from FTM is "Military Service", which PAF seems to have a built-in tag for, but it's not copying over from one to the other. Is there some way to instruct PAF to import a certain Gedcom tag into a certain PAF field?

On the individual name error, I need to tell PAF to transfer FTM's alternate names into PAF's "Also Known As" or "Nickname" field.
Thanks.

HELP/create Gedcom file to export to Fam Search site??

ToniMaize — 11 Mar 2005 1:57:06 GMT

I would like help creating Gedcom file to export to Fam Search on line. Useing PAF 5.2 program in my computer. Went into help for instructions, wrote everything down, Got to "Export" where help told me I would then go onto "Export To", I'm sorry to say I never located this. Can somone give me help with insturctions on how to do this??? I am a total computer dummy and after reading some of the entries in this forum felt even more so. Will someone please help this old lady dummy??? Thanks, Toni Maize in Nevada

back up copies

ValerieMoore92 — 15 Jul 2005 12:20:07 GMT

How do I make back up copies on floppy discs when I get the message my disc is full and can not back up my files? Is there a way to use two discs? I am very new to genealogy, computers, etc. Thank you, Valerie val@cdsinet.net