AF on a Single Computer

It is very easy to get the ancestral file to run on a single computer.

I create a sub directory: c:\pas\cdrom. Copy all the CD's to the c:\pas\cdrom directory. Most of the files are duplicated on each of the CD's and do not need to be copied again — so answer no when it asks if you want to overwrite them.

We need to edit the following files:

c:\autoexec.bat — add the following line. (I chose P for the PAS program - any available letter would work)

SUBST P: C:\PAS\CDROM

c:\pas\pas.ini

 [Drives]

          P=CD-ROM (Network) (add this drive letter to the existing list)

          

          [AF.EXE]

          Description=Ancestral File

          NumDrivesSearchable=12

          SearchDrives=P:

          AF01_JUL98=C:,Ancestral File Disk 1

          AF02_JUL98=C:,Ancestral File Disk 2

          AF03_JUL98=C:,Ancestral File Disk 3

          AF04_JUL98=C:,Ancestral File Disk 4

          AF05_JUL98=C:,Ancestral File Disk 5

          AF06_JUL98=C:,Ancestral File Disk 6

          AF07_JUL98=C:,Ancestral File Disk 7

          AF08_JUL98=C:,Ancestral File Disk 8

          AF09_JUL98=C:,Ancestral File Disk 9

C:\PAS\PASETUP.TXT

 AF.EXE=P:P (the 1st P is the drive letter, 
          the 2nd P is already there)

          DRIVEC=Hard Drive (Diskette)

          DRIVEP=CD-ROM (Network)

(By defining the DRIVEC as a Diskette it becomes an available option to save the GEDCOMs which is faster than saving to floppies — Some of the GEDCOMs may be up to 10 Megs)

C:\PAS\AF\PLAT2NET.TBL (The drive letter is at the end of the line)

 AF01_JUL98 AF01_JUL98 AF01_JUL.98 AF01_JUL.98 P

          AF02_JUL98 AF02_JUL98 AF02_JUL.98 AF02_JUL.98 P

          AF03_JUL98 AF03_JUL98 AF03_JUL.98 AF03_JUL.98 P

          AF04_JUL98 AF04_JUL98 AF04_JUL.98 AF04_JUL.98 P

          AF05_JUL98 AF05_JUL98 AF05_JUL.98 AF05_JUL.98 P

          AF06_JUL98 AF06_JUL98 AF06_JUL.98 AF06_JUL.98 P

          AF07_JUL98 AF07_JUL98 AF07_JUL.98 AF07_JUL.98 P

          AF08_JUL98 AF08_JUL98 AF08_JUL.98 AF08_JUL.98 P

          AF09_JUL98 AF09_JUL98 AF09_JUL.98 AF09_JUL.98 P

          AF01_JUL98

C:\PAS\AF\AFSETUP.TXT (The original values were 14 and 13, in the install you have the choice of 5,9,13)

 MAXGOBACK=100

          MAXGENS=99

Notes on this setting: The royal lines only go back about 80 or so generations, so 99 is fine and values greater do not display well in the AF program. This allows you to create a GEDCOM for up to 99 generations at a single time.

Remember: This only follow the primary (default) parent links. And not all individuals in Ancestral Files are linked to their parents, even if they are both in the database - It is still important to manually check the data. Also after creating the GEDCOM, I usually load it and do an auto merge on ID. AF will occasionally create the same individual more than once, one with data and the other linked to the parents, but both with the same AFN.

I set up the DRIVEC as a diskette. This allows the AF to create a GEDCOM on the C drive - which is much faster. I then start up PAF 4.0 (Ancestral Quest) or PAF 2.31 or 3.0 and create the individual and their spouse, import their data, merge the individuals to the imported data, and do the automatic match/merge on ID. Then I export it to diskettes for the patron.

If you still have room, I usually add the library catalog — copy the entire contents of the CD to the c:\pas\cdrom directory, it is very important to keep the directory structure the same.

Edit c:\pas\pas.ini:

 [LC.EXE] Description=Family History Library Catalog

          NumDrivesSearchable=1

          SearchDrives=P:

          FHLC_CD01=C:,Library Catalog

Edit c:\pas\pasetup.txt. The first P is the drive letter, the second P is already there - I think it stands for Primary.

LC.EXE=P:P

After you have this up and running, it is an easy step to add another drive and load the whole IGI and addendum and then add network cards and network the computers together with a concentrator.

Rick Klemetson - October 1999

AF on a Single Computer

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