FAQs about P A F

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How do I add names and special events to my PAF file without adding them to my notes?

What is the difference between The Master Genealogist and PAF?

When I print a 'Book' to an RTF file to save on my computer, the index of persons is not produced.  Is that feature only available if you print to the printer?

Is there any method by which I can share my PAF file with someone other than printing or saving a report?

How can I change the printer setting in PAF so that I can specify a printer other than my default printer?

Does PAF allow one to record more than one source for an event - such as a source for the date and a different source for the place?

Can PAF produce the HTML code for a website from the data in the program? Can the code be edited using a standard HTML editor?

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PAF supports many many user-defined features.  With the method I am about to describe, special individuals and events will be added directly to the individual's record and not to the notes.  Furthermore, once a user-defined person or event is created and added to an individual or marriage record, you will be able to create a custom search around the special person or event.

Here's how to do it:

1.  Make sure that the person for whom you wish to add a special event is in the primary position - the top block of the Family screen.

2.  Double click on the person to call up the "Edit Individual" window.

3.  Click on "Options" and then on the new menu that displays, the "New Event/Attribute" choice.

4.  Scroll through the options in the left-hand window.  If the special person or event is not available then you can create that event by continuing with step number 5, below.  Do not close the window that is open.

5.  Click on the "New" button in the right-hand side of the same window.

6.  You will get another new window, this time titled "Define Custom Event".

7.  Type in a title.  There are four check boxes to the right of the Title box.  Make sure that ALL of those boxes are checked.  Type in an abbreviated title and a short-form - these do not have to be complicated.  Ignore the bottom portion of the screen - the information that would be typed in there is not necessary to the functioning of the custom event.  Those are blank sentences that you can pre-configure in the event that you produce a web site from your PAF file.

8.  Click "OK".  You will be returned to the "Select Event" screen where you will now find your custom event added.  Highlight your custom event by clicking on it once and then click on the "Select" button to the right.

9.  You will now be returned to your "Edit Individual" screen.  Your new special person or event will be listed farther down the page under "Other Events".  NOTE:  When you create a new event and add it to your "Edit Individual" screen, your original "Edit Individual" screen is replaced.  So, be sure to re-enter all of your christening, burial, etc. information on the new screen.

ALSO, at such time as you export your information and someone else imports that information, even though you have your PAF set up to display the new event, you will have to instruct your recipient to do likewise.  Else, your recipient will not be able to view your added information.

I hope this helps.  PAF is such a misunderstood program. It is small in appearance but has many many capabilities that people have overlooked simply because they haven't realized that search parameters and new events can be specified to a person's choosing.

In case you are not aware, even the notes feature of PAF 5.2 can be broken down into various categories.  Those new, or special interest, categories can also be searched for on a custom search.  I use "user-defined" categories to

i)  track research tasks that are completed, as well as still pending;

ii)  track expenses incurred on a project;

iii)  track hours and fees put into a project.

Good luck and best wishes,

What is the difference between The Master Genealogist and PAF?  I've heard that TMG has many more features than PAF.
         

Probably the easiest approach in answering this question would be to tell you what PAF cannot do that is possible in TMG.  The list is short!  

PAF does not have a spell checker.  This can be overcome by typing one's notes in a word processor, performing a spelling and grammar check,then copy/paste to notes in PAF.  Very simple solution and you receive the benefit of having your text checked for grammar, as well.

PAF does not have the regnal date converter but there are several independent web sites that have such converters, if needed.

PAF does not have the 'accent' ability found in TMG nor can it output directly to a native file format for word processing.  Again, however, this last point can also be overcome by saving the PAF output to an 'RTF' file and re-saving the 'RTF' file to one of 30 or more different word processing formats.

As for the 'accents':  Although this is an interesting feature, a similar output can be produced through building a custom report in PAF.

The last big difference between the two programs is found in the 'Person View' screen.  The Person View in TMG seems to have an embedded image of the information that PAF produces in the "Individual" view.  TMG also shows, unsolicited, the soundex equivalent for the surname and the last edited date.  I would like to see the last edited date for each individual as that could be very helpful.  However, PAF stores edits to a log file that can be checked at any time.  The soundex code, which is generally only required for access to some U.S. indices, can be generated by PAF through one of its' utilities.  So, once again, PAF does possess the same capability as TMG.

The custom reports in PAF can be saved to a delimited file for import into a spreadsheet or database.  This feature I couldn't find in TMG.

Absolutely everything else that TMG can do, PAF is likewise capable of.  As with any program, it takes working with it over time to really discover all of its' unplumbed depths.  PAF is certainly an example of this.  I actually like the displays in PAF much better as they are clean and uncluttered.  I also find data entry and construction of source citations in PAF to be extremely fast as there are all sorts of hot keys, smart remembers, etc. to employ.  In my business, I need to be able to get a client's new information in pronto and not spend too much time with non-necessaries.  Looking at the TMG 'Person View' screen makes me want to run away!  The price on PAF is much better as well.  Somehow, I just can't complain about US$Free!  It is also possible to add a few new tree and report formats to your outputs if the PAF Companion program is purchased for US$5.00.

Best wishes,

When I print a 'Book' to an RTF file to save on my computer, the index of persons is not produced.  Is that feature only available if you print to the printer?
         

I presume you have clicked the box at the bottom right of the Reports and Charts window that says "Print To File".

When you click on the button to "print" the report - after previewing the file to see that it is what you are after - the file will be printed to an RTF file in the directory and file that you specify.

Now the tricky part is the fact that, you are absolutely correct, the RTF file does NOT have the index included.  This is due to the fact that each word processing program has its' own method of specifying index entries.  For instance, I use MS Word 2000 Premium.  Once my RTF file is in situ I have to go to my "insert" menu and select to insert indexes and tables.  This is, of course, after I've positioned my cursor in my RTF file where I want the index to appear.  Then all I have to do is hit the F9 key to update the index field and save the file with the index intact.  It may be that your word processing program does not recognize the index method used by PAF.  The entries are marked thusly - "{xe .....}" and should be visible if you are viewing your RTF file in print layout with hidden characters displayed.

When PAF was developed it was done so with the assumption of what Salt Lake techs thought was the most widely used word processing applications and printers.  I've had problems when physically printing reports - whether saved to RTF or straight from the print reports menu.  My primary printer is an Intellifax 4750 and it just won't print the very thin lines - less than 1.0 pt. - that are produced in PAF reports.  I did contact Salt Lake about that problem, as well, and after sending all my data down regarding my laser printer they came back with the advice that they will have to work on developing a more flexible PAF for different styles of printers and word processing programs.  Interesting!  So, it may be that there are other incompatibilities yet to be discovered as we, the users out here, add another word processor and/or printer to the mix.

Have you tried the Paf Companion?  The Descendant's Register report is produced from the PAF file information and dumped straight into an RTF file but brought up in WordPad rather than any resident default word processor.  The index to names is automatically included with the report.  PAF Companion has to be purchased - approximately US$5.00, but updates are typically free.

Best of luck,

Is there any method by which I can share my PAF file with someone other than printing or saving a report?
         

There is another alternative to printing out or saving and sending an RTF file to another researcher.  The only requirement is that both you and your recipient must have some form of web browser - Internet Explorer, Netscape, Opera, et cetera.

In a matter of seconds, PAF will produce an htm-based web site from your information.  It comes complete with a surname and full name index.  Although it's a larger file than an RTF file, at least you would know that your recipient will be able to view it on his or her web browser.  I have just finished alterations and enhancements on a PAF web site that has been uploaded to my own web site on behalf of a client.  If you haven't seen the format you are welcome to take a look (this is a public access site).  In this instance, all names of living individuals have been eliminated (my requirement).  Click here to view Chamberlain Ancestors.

Also, the entire web site can be downloaded to CD and mailed to any contact.  This is not only a much less expensive alternative for you, as you can mail a CD for a fraction of the cost of physically mailing a package of printed records.  Some people in remote areas of the world, although they may have Internet access, are paying long-distance telephone charges for that access.  Mailing a CD to such a person would save your recipient a lot of on-web access time.  Similar benefits would be gained by recipients who have to share their use of computer time with others.  With a CD in hand, they have the ability to delve through your information at their own liberty.

How can I change the printer setting in PAF so that I can specify a printer other than my default printer?
         

On the print reports option, regardless of what type of report or chart you select, click on the "Page Setup" button in the right-hand column.  Once the "page setup" window appears you will see, at the bottom right, a button marked "Printer".  Click on that button and you will be given a window from which you can change your active printer for the report and make any other printer property selections you would like.

Does PAF allow one to record more than one source for an event - such as a source for the date and a different source for the place?
         

Absolutely!  The source and citation features built in to PAF allow for maximum flexibility and ease of use.  There is no limit to the number or type of sources that one can record in their PAF file.  Additionally, personal comments can be made concerning a source, separate from the recordal of the actual text of a source.  In the Comments section of the Sources window one could state that the particular source was used to verify the date of the event while a different source had been used to verify the place of an event.  An image of the source can also be scanned into the program.  

Adding a second, third, or fourth source for one event is as simple as double clicking on the source column next to the event in the Edit Individual form.  If no source has yet been entered for an event, enter your source.  Subsequent sources can be added to that same event simply by clicking on the New button at the bottom of the Sources window and selecting or creating a new source from the Select Source window.

It is also possible to relate one or more sources to just the individual's name, such as a census, Will, tax record and so forth.  These types of records do not necessarily correlate to a particular event in an individual's life but, most definitely, form a critical record concerning that individual.  I also appreciate this feature for the ability I am given to record each of the census enumerations during the person's life.  In this way, when all census are arranged in chronological order, from earliest to most recent, one can readily see the changes that took place within a family unit.  When the sources are viewed, a running biographical commentary starts to form just from the timelined information.

It is likewise very easy to delete a source and citation from an individual's record.  The only step required is to display the source that you wish to delete in the Sources window and click on the Delete key at the bottom of that window.  Very easy.  Very flexible.  Very user friendly.

Can PAF produce the HTML code for a website from the data in the program?  Can the code be edited using a standard HTML editor?
         

The answers to both of your questions are, yes!  Once again, PAF wins in my books for ease of use, flexibility and user friendliness in creating and editing websites.  PAF also produces a GEDCOM file from your web site data and includes that file amongst the files to be uploaded to your ISP's server.  PAF then places a link on the Table of Contents page to enable a viewer to download your GEDCOM file.  For the first-time web publisher I really recommend using the PAF program.  

You are not confined to having to load your entire PAF file into an HTML format as it is also very easy to pick and choose which individuals you wish to have included on your web site.  Many choices are laid out for you on the various windows that are used by PAF to create your web site.  All you have to do is click on a box to mark it to include, or exclude, certain information.  For instance, on the very first window - Create Web Page - under Other Options there is a box that is marked by default to hide details for the living.  If you decide you wish to have the names of the living showing on your web site, after you have obtained their permission to so do, click on the Show names box to check mark it.  PAF will engineer the rest for you - it will hide their dates and places but include their names.

To create a website in PAF simply click on the Tools Menu and select the Create Web Page option.  Do not be fooled by the term "page", here.  PAF will create a fully indexed and paged web site that contains all of the sources, citations and notes from your PAF file, if you so desire.  PAF will allow you to choose from one of their stock backgrounds for your pages and will also provide their stock navigation links and buttons on all pages.  Best of all, you do not require any knowledge of HTML coding or web editing in order to create or run your PAF web site.  PAF will take care of it all for you.  The only ability you need to have is to be able to publish it to the server of an Internet Service Provider (ISP).  In this regard, you will need to follow your ISP's instructions for uploading your web files to their server.

If you happen to have knowledge of HTML coding, PAF can be edited in any standard web editor that will open an htm or html file.  In this case, you will have the flexibility of setting up your index pages in a manner that is more functional, change out the navigation buttons and links to those that are more interesting.  Below are links to the three standard index pages that are produced for every PAF web site.  Each of these pages has been modified to add features or change stock backgrounds and navigation buttons.

Table of Contents  - very close to actual design of page by PAF, only a few additions have been made to this page

Surname Index  - radically different than PAF output, this page has been completely recoded.  The PAF output lists all surnames alphabetically ordered but as one long paragraph.  I have yet to find a program that will produce a surname index in what I consider to be functional.

Full Name Index  - very close to original PAF output.  If you have used a consistent style to enter all of your data, i.e. used all capital letters on every surname you entered, then the output of this page by PAF will very closely resemble this page.  Entry style wasn't consistent throughout the creation of this particular PAF file as two people were involved in entering data.  Consequently, a little rewriting of the HTML code was in order to make this page more aesthetically pleasing and logical.