Personal Ancestral File (2.1) A Genealogical Management System for Home Computers The following information comes from pamphlet PBGS1121, published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was imputed by John L. Gladden of 1:381/5. Personal Ancestral File (PAF) is a standard for genealogical software. -If you are looking for a useful genealogy program package for your personal computer, Personal Ancestral File is your answer. -Personal Ancestral File is a system designed to simplify your genealogical record keeping. -Developed and distributed by the Family History Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it is powerful and sophisticated, yet easy to use. -Personal Ancestral File offers three unique programs: Family Records, Research Data Filer, and Genealogical Information Exchange. -The software package: a user manual in a deluxe 3-ring, 8 by 9 inch binder with diskettes included. FAMILY RECORDS The Family Records program lets you assemble your pedigree, at the same time compiling a wealth of genealogical information for each of your ancestors. You can enter the following information about each ancestor: -Name (surname and up to three give names) -Gender -Title, if any (Dr., etc.) -Birth date and place and/or christening date and place -Death and burial dates and places -Spouse, marriage date, and place of marriage -LDS ordinance dates and places (if applicable) -User-assigned ID number Listed below are other features of the Family Records program. NOTES. Personal Ancestral File allows you to enter historical information or source reference notes for each individual - valuable background information every genealogist wants to keep. STORAGE. Because you store your information on diskettes other than the program diskette, you can record information about an unlimited number of people. You are only limited by the number of diskettes you want to buy. For each diskette, the system assigns a unique number (called a Record Identification Number) for each of your ancestors, making it easy to retrieve information. You may also assign to each ancestor an ID number unique within your file. FAMILY GROUPING. Personal Ancestral File lets you group families together, showing relationships between spouses, children, parents, and siblings for each generation. PEDIGREE SEARCHES. As you enter more and more information and establish the links from family to family, the program also allows you to search your pedigree lines on a diskette and either display or print them in a chart. PRINTOUTS. The program can print blank or filled-in pedigree charts and family group record forms in either letter or legal size. For Latter-day Saints, the program can also produce completed name submission forms for temple ordinances and also lists of people whose temple work has not been completed. All of the information entered on any person can be printed out, including history notes. SORTING CAPABILITY. The Family Records program can sort and print lists - for example, names of individuals ordered alphabetically, by Record Identification Number, or by user-assigned ID number. RESEARCH DATA FILER The Research Data Filer program can help you manage large volumes of original research data. Using this program, you can: -Document your information sources, including details about the author, publisher, book, page, and library where you found the data. -Search, sort, or print your information by event (birth, marriage, military service, death, etc.), place, date, name of person, or relationship to others. The Research Data Filer does not teach you research principles or strategies. But it does help organize research data so that you can analyze it more effectively. GENEALOGICAL INFORMATION EXCHANGE* This program is an enhancement of the GEDCOM program of Release 2.0. It can: -Convert all or part of your Family Records data to a transmission data format that you can send to another Personal Ancestral File user. -Interface with your own communications program to transmit converted data to or receive data from another Personal Ancestral File user. -Convert data received from another Personal Ancestral File user to the Family Records format for use on the receiving computer. -Prepare submissions on diskette for the Family History Department's Ancestral File.** -Prepare submissions on diskettes with names to be processed for LDS temple ordinances.** You can also use the Genealogical Information Exchange program to copy a portion of one data diskette onto another. *The Genealogical Information Exchange program is not available in the Apple II version. The Apple II version has the same capabilities as Release 2.0, except that it uses ProDOS operating system instead of the Apple DOS 3.3 operating system. Users of Apple II version can still submit their genealogies on diskette for the Ancestral File using the GEDCOM program. The Genealogical Information Exchange is not a separate program in the Macintosh version. In the Macintosh version, the functions of the Genealogical Information Exchange are incorporated into the Family Records Program. PLEASE NOTE A few final words about Personal Ancestral File -Personal Ancestral File operates only on your personal computer. It does not give you access to any of the computer files in the Family History Department. -Forms printed by this system will be accepted by the Family History Department for four-generation filing or for LDS temple ordinances. -Personal Ancestral File enables you to group families together and link them from generation to generation based upon the relationships that you enter into the system. -This genealogical software was developed as an aid for those who own or have access to a personal computer. The Family History Department does not encourage you to purchase a personal computer simply to use this software. -Those who have used Release 1.0 for the IBM computer can convert their data for use with Release 2.1. VERSIONS AVAILABLE FOR: -MS-DOS computers (Release 2.1), Order #PBGS1642 -Apple II computers (Release 2.0P), Order #PBGS1653 -Macintosh computers (Release 2.1), Will be released in Fall of 1988 Address inquiries about system requirements of these and other versions to: Ancestral File Operations Unit Family History Department 50 East North Temple Street Salt Lake City, UT 84150 (801) 240-2584 To order your version of Personal Ancestral File, indicate the order number for the version requested and send $35.00 (this includes shipping and handling) in a check or money order payable to "Corporation of the President" and send to: Salt Lake Distribution Center 1999 West 1700 South Salt Lake City, UT 84104 Please allow at least three weeks for delivery.