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paf --> gedcom file inheritance help!

paf --> gedcom file inheritance help!

Posted: 18 Dec 2013 5:24AM GMT
Classification: Query
Hi,
I'm hoping there's someone who can help me. I recently came across my late grandfather's genealogy file, and I would LOVE to be able to open it. He was a wonderful family historian (traced stuff waaaaaaaay back), and it seems an ironic tragedy that all of that knowledge is sitting around lost to outdated software. It's a .paf, burned onto a CD. I'm on a Mac, with no PCs in sight, and my googling abilities suggest that this is a no-go. Does anyone have any suggestions? I would greatly appreciate any help someone can offer.
Thank you!!!!!

Re: paf --> gedcom file inheritance help!

Posted: 18 Dec 2013 12:41PM GMT
Classification: Query
18 Dec. 2013

I work as a volunteer at a Family History Center and the computers there are, of course, set up with PAF. In fact, some of the older versions of PAF are on the computers to allow patrons to "step-up" their .paf files. We also have Legacy on a couple of the machines.

So if you live near an FHC, give them a call to see what's available. You should be able to read in your grandfather's file and export a gedcom that can be imported into whatever software you use. Here's the search page for FHC's:

https://familysearch.org/locations/centerlocator

PAF allows you to export in four different character sets (Unicode, UTF-8, ANSEL, and ANSI), which affects things like umlaut vowels. Check to see what character set is supported by the software that you use on your Mac.

Dave

Re: paf --> gedcom file inheritance help!

Posted: 18 Dec 2013 2:06PM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 18 Dec 2013 2:18PM GMT
18 Dec. 2013

Here's another avenue that you could try if you have a friend with a Windows machine who would be willing to install some software for you.

PAF is no longer available for download, but Ancestral Quest can also read .paf files and export to a gedcom. There's a stripped down version of the program called Ancestral Quest Basics that you can download for free. I think I read somewhere that it has a nag screen trying to get you to buy the full addition, but you'll only need to use it once. Here's a link to AQ Basics:

http://www.ancquest.com/AQBasics.htm

The one problem that could arise is if the .paf file on the CD is from one of the older versions of PAF. AQ may not be able to read it. Then your best hope is a Family History Center that has both the older and newer versions of PAF installed.

Update:

I knew I had a document that explained how to convert older .paf files to a new version, so after finding it I went to the web site where I had downloaded it, the Silicon Valley Computer Genealogy Group, and they have a link to a private site that has PAF available for download, as well as the conversion guide.

http://www.svpafug.org/pages/downloads.html

As always, be very careful about downloading software from an unknown site, but the SVCGG would probably not have a malicious link; but it never hurts to be careful.

Dave
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