RECLAIM.EXE Ver 3.2, 18 Sept 1993 Copyright (c) 1991, 1992, 1993 by Jack J. Chandler Version 3.2 corrects problems in Version 3.0 in handling record number values greater than 32,767. Version 3.0 is a special version designed primarily for use after deleting extremely large numbers of individuals from the INDIV2.DAT file. Version 3.0 is a rewrite of version 2.1 and compiled from Pascal source code. Much smaller and much faster than earlier versions. Version 3.0 will reclaim an unlimited number of deleted RINs and MRINs on a single pass. It has been tested on PAF files of over 42,000 individual records. Version 3.0 does not report a number of deleted records until after the process is complete. Options to list to the display or to print is by prompt. Note that listing or printing of this list can consume much time and a lot of printer paper. The option to print this list to disk for later review is offered. The option to output to the printer or list to the display is available only if the print to disk option was previously selected. The use of RECLAIM version 3.0 for removing records deleted by PAFSPLIT by Ann Turner or similar program is relatively fast. PAFSPLIT deletes RINs and MRINs in a low to high sorted order making the time for the search for deleted records relatively fast. When used in conjunction with NAMCLEN and NOTECLEN, RECLAIM will keep your PAF database pruned down to its actual record size, eliminating the need to use GEDCOM procedures to remove these deleted records and unused names. RECLAIM makes a minimum of RIN number changes. The number of changes will not be more than the total number of deleted records you removed. Purpose: RECLAIM.EXE was originally written to overcome problems encountered in PAF when importing records from GEDCOMs using GIE.EXE. It was found that GIE will not access records within the PAF database that had been deleted using the options within FR. GIE will add its records beginning with the record following the last physical record in the INDIV2.DAT and MARR2.DAT files. When records are downloaded from the FamilySearch records in a FHC there are invariably duplicate entries with only small variations in data. The normal entry of these records using GIE.EXE and the 'clean-up' using the FR.EXE 'Match/Merge' menu option will create many 'holes' both in your original data and in the added data. If there is enough keyboard input to fill these 'holes' then you have no problem. However, those who are downloading and importing records with the GEDCOM utilities will find that it is difficult to keep up. RECLAIM.EXE will help you 'keep up' with the 'holes' created by the GEDCOM/Match/Merge routine. The only other solution is the creation of a new GEDCOM from your data, then importing this back into a new database. This is very time consuming. RECLAIM.EXE will locate and remove the deleted records from a 5000 record database in about 2 to 4 minutes. Operation: RECLAIM.EXE need not be run in the same directory that contains your data. It can be run from any drive:\directory. You are prompted for the location of your PAF data files. You are given the option of exiting the program after a brief discussion of what the program is going to do. If you have any doubts, this is the time to quit and think things over. Before you continue, you should be sure you have a good current backup of your INDIV2.DAT and MARR2.DAT files. To prevent accidental modification of your database, you must press both and

in order to proceed. Any other keys will return you to the DOS prompt. The program is extremely simple to use. It does all the work, you simply sit and watch. When finished, then be sure to run a records check with FRCHK.EXE or with the F1 option when exiting FR.EXE prior to adding new data. The following required keyboard inputs are explained: 1> Enter Drive:\Path\ of PAF DATA files: Enter the complete drive and path of your data. example C:\PAF\DATA. If your data is not found you will be promted to to re-enter or to exit. RECLAIM immediately checks your data for deleted records. If there are none listed in the free list then the program is terminated with a message indicating no deleted records. If you had deleted records that were NOT in the deleted records free list, then FRCHK would have reported that to you. 2> Enter <^P>rocede or top to abort [^P/S] Both the and

must be pressed in order to continue from this prompt. Any other key will return you to the prompt. will abort to DOS. 3> Save your RIN/MRIN changes to disk file ? [Y/N] If you have hard copies of your database, and want to correct it for the changes you have made, then select 'Y'. This file will tell you the Old RIN and its new RIN number so that corrections can be made. If these numbers are of no significance to you then select 'N' to save about 10 seconds/1000 deleted records. These changes are saved to an ASCII text file named RECLAM00.TXT in the drive:\directory of your data files. If you make another run with RECLAIM prior to erasing this file, then RECLAIM will name the next file RECLAIM01.TXT. If this option is selected, then the file drive:\path\name will be reported to you at the program terminination Before the next prompt the program runs and you are then presented with an overall report of the changes you made. If you have elected to save your changes to disk file, then this report will be added to the end of your RIN/MRIN change listing in the disk file. 4> List your new RIN/MRIN numbers to the display [Y/N] ? This prompt is not displayed if you did not select 'Y' to the previous prompt to save your changes to disk. Selecting 'Y' here will list your Old RIN # and the New RIN # which contains the original data. To get a hard copy of this listing, you must use the DOS copy command with direction to your printer. 5> List your new RIN/MRIN numbers to the printer [Y/N] ? This prompt is :not displayaed if ou did not select 'Y' to save your changes to disk. Selecting 'Y' here will list your RIN/MRIN changes to hard copy, in paginated format, followed by the brief description of your changes. You will also encounter 'Press any key to continue...' prompts throughout the program and listings. RECLAIM.EXE will not correct any existing problems with your data. If there are existing problem as reported by FRCHK.EXE DO NOT RUN THIS PROGRAM. Since moving new active records into the 'holes' requires RECLAIM.EXE to modify ALL records connected to the one being moved, if there is a bad pointer in any of them it could perhaps create a worse problem than already exists. Again, DO NOT RUN if the FRCHK.EXE indicates an existing problem. If you have one of the updated versions of PAF 2.2 then run FRCHK with the -f option to correct any existing problems prior to running RECLAIM. Since there are only inputs from the keyboard indicating file names and locations, the error traps are limited to checking bad filenames or bad drive:\path entries. Take care in entering these and there should be no problem. RECLAIM.EXE first moves records from the end of your data files into the 'holes'. An end-of-file marker (EOF) is then placed after the last active RIN. If you have removed a great number of deleted records, it is advised that you use NOTECLEN.EXE and NAMCLEN1.EXE to remove the names and notes that were associated with your INDIV2.DAT MARR2.DAT files that were deleted. Most sources that have RECLAM30 will also have those two files. You are authorized to use and distribute this program without charge as long as no charge is placed upon the transfer other than for mailing or copying. Distribution in or with Commercial software packages is authorized by specific permission of the author. Contact the author for further details. I hope you can use this utility to good advantage. If you find bugs please let me know about them listing the problems you had encountered and any error messages you received. I can be contacted on GEnie as J.CHANDLER2 or on the FidoNet NGC echo or GENSOFT echo. If you find RECLAIM useful, and decide to continue using it, you can express your appreciation by mailing a donation of $5.00 to: Jack J. Chandler, 812 Vermillion Dr., Henderson, NV 89015