PAF5 to Ancestral Quest and how to transfer that data base to my laptop
Hoping someone can help. I am pretty much computer-stupid! How can I transfer my paf5 files to ancestral quest? Also, after I do that, how do I transfer or copy the entire file from my desktop (windows XP) to my laptop which has windows7?
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Re: PAF5 to Ancestral Quest and how to transfer that data base to my laptop
28 Mar. 2014
If you want to be able to use Ancestral Quest (AQ) on both computers, you'll need to install it on both. If you only intend to use AQ on your laptop, just install it there.
Assuming that you're moving from PAF on your desktop to AQ on your laptop, open up PAF on the desktop and note the name of the .paf file that appears across the top of the program display window in the blue bar. What's displayed is the full path to the file that you're currently using. Go to the directory where the file is stored and copy it to a flash drive (thumb drive, memory stick, whatever you call it).
Use the flash drive to transfer the file to your laptop just as you would any other file and store it in a folder of your choice.
Then open up AQ on your laptop and follow the instructions for opening an existing file and that should do it. (Just reverse this whole process if you're starting from your laptop.)
You can keep your data in the .paf file format and it will remain compatible with both programs. AQ says that there are some advantages to converting your .paf formatted file to their own format, and that may be true for some things like picture linking, etc. But I keep mine in the .paf format which allows me to continue to use the latest version of PAF Companion for generating reports and you can work on the file with either program.
I hope this does the trick for you.
Dave
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Re: PAF5 to Ancestral Quest and how to transfer that data base to my laptop
Dave: Thanks so much; worked like a charm. One question - when you say "paf format", did you mean the layout grid in all views looks like the old paf program? Mine has the AQ appearance. Is there a way to have it look like the paf file looks? thanks again, Brenda
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Re: PAF5 to Ancestral Quest and how to transfer that data base to my laptop
4 Apr. 2014
When I say .paf format, I'm talking about the way the program stores the data - .paf is the file extension. If I remember correctly .aq is the Ancestral Quest file extension,
AQ made a change that allows it to work directly with .paf type files, without the need to convert the file to the .aq format. AQ states that there are some advantages to using their file format, but if you leave your data in a .paf type file, you can work on it with either program, and that's what I do.
Eventually when I get more familiar with AQ I may make the file conversion, but for now it's handy to be able to use either program with the same database.
Dave
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Re: PAF5 to Ancestral Quest and how to transfer that data base to my laptop
Thank you Dave. That's what I thought you meant. That is what I am doing too for now. I've had PAF5 for so long, and really like it. Am not ready for a change yet. Thanks again for the help. My problem was trying to get my files transferred to my laptop, and you helped me do that. I didn't find out that PAF5 had been discontinued until after I bought the laptop.
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Re: PAF5 to Ancestral Quest and how to transfer that data base to my laptop
4 Apr. 2014
I volunteer at a Family History Center and that FHC has PAF 5 burned to a CD for patrons to load, so if you have an FHC nearby, you might check with them to see if they have PAF on a CD. You could then load it on your laptop, or even better, make a copy of the CD to have at home.
Dave
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Re: PAF5 to Ancestral Quest and how to transfer that data base to my laptop
thanks, I'll check into that.
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