PAF data files of unknown origin can be distinguished by their name and extension.

• If there are several files with the extension .DAT and they include INDIV2.DAT, you have PAF 2.31 data files.
• If there are several files with the extension .BAK and they include INDIV2.BAK, you have PAF 2.31 backup files.
• If there is a file with the extension .PAF with a name that the patron recognizes, then you have either PAF 3, PAF 4, or PAF 5 file. The user should know which.
• If there is a file with the extension .BAK with a name that the patron recognizes, then you have a PAF 3 or a PAF 4 backup. It doesn’t matter which because they are identical.
• If there is a file with the extension .ZIP, with a name that the patron recognizes, then you have a PAF 5 backup.

PAF 2.31 (DOS) to PAF 4

PAF 2.31 uses a database made up of several files with .DAT extensions. They have names like: INDIV2.DAT, NAMADD2.DAT, REPTITL2.DAT, NOTES2.DAT, ALPHA2.DAT, and GIEDEF2.DAT. There may be others. Backups have the same file names with a .BAK extension. They are stored in a subdirectory inside the PAF directory C:\PAF\DATA.

1. Start up the PAF 4.0 program by double clicking on the icon for PAF 4
2. Click on the “OPEN” button as if you were going to open an existing PAF file
3. You get the Open PAF File dialog box
4. For the Look-in window near the top, browse to the proper directory: C:\PAF\DATA
5. For the middle window, you should see the file INDIV2.DAT, click on it and it will fill in that name into the window labeled “File Name”
6. Click on the “Open” button
7. You will get a message window pop up which is labeled “PAF 2.x File Conversion. Near the bottom of that screen are Conversion Options. Put a check mark in the center one: Preserve old RIN numbers if desired. Remove the check marks for the top and bottom as you do not want to wrap notes into paragraphs and you do not want to attempt to convert notes into sources!
8. Click “Continue”
9. The next pop-up screen will be labeled “Save As”; The save-in window near the top should default to the “PAFDATA” folder on C:. The middle window will show you the names of the files already in that data folder. Type into the window labeled “File Name” any name you wish for the new PAF 4.0 file (do not use a name that is already in the middle window). You should probably put the number 4 into the name so that it will be clear to you and everyone else that this is a PAF 4 file. You do not have to put an extension on the file name as that will be added automatically.
10. Click on the “Save” button. Wait for it to finish.
11. Exit the PAF 4.0 program.

PAF 2.31 (DOS) to PAF 5

• If you have 5 1/4" diskettes, use a computer which has both 5 1/4" and 3 ½" drives and copy all the files to a 3 ½" diskette.
• If you have a set of backup files, first restore it into PAF 2.31; then use PAF 4 to convert to PAF 4 format; then use PAF 5 to convert again into PAF 5 format using a different name (see page 5).
• If you have the set of .DAT files, copy them all to the c:\PAF\DATA folder then use PAF 4 to convert to PAF 4 format; then use PAF 5 to convert again into PAF 5 format using a different name(see page 5).

An alternate method would be to use PAF 2.31 to create a GEDCOM file and then use PAF 5 to create a new file and import the GEDCOM into it.

PAF 3 (DOS) to PAF 4

There is no conversion necessary because the PAF 3 and PAF 4 files are the same format. If the file is a PAF 3 file, you can open it with the PAF 4 program.

PAF 3 (DOS) to PAF 5

PAF 3 uses a single database file with a name of the users choice, but with extension of .PAF. The file is usually stored into the folder C:\PAF3\DATA. Backups have the same name, extension .BAK.

• Since the PAF 3 and PAF 4 files are identical, if you have a PAF 3 backup, first restore it into PAF4 then use PAF 5 to convert to PAF 5 format.
• If you have the .PAF file, copy it to the C:\PAFDATA folder, then use PAF5 to convert to PAF 5 format, using a different name.

PAF 4 to PAF 5

PAF 4 uses a single database file with a name of the users choice, but with the extension of .PAF. It has the exact same structure as a PAF 3 file. Backups have the same name, extension .BAK

• If you have a backup, first restore it into PAF4, then use PAF 5 to convert into the PAF 5 format, using a different name, by following the steps below.
• If you have the .PAF file, first create a copy, then use PAF 5 to convert to the PAF 5 format, using a different name, by following the steps below.

PAF 3.0 or PAF 4.0 to PAF 5.0 file conversion procedure

1. Start the PAF 5 program running. If you get the “Welcome screen”, click on the button labeled “Open - Open an existing PAF file”. If it opens up to a PAF 5 database, Click on the Menu item “File” and then click on the drop-down menu on “Open”
2. The “Open Family File” dialog box will pop-up. The top window should default to “C:\PAF Data Files”. The center window should show you any PAF files present on the hard drive. Find and click on the PAF 3 or PAF 4 file that you wish to convert to PAF 5. That will fill in the name in the window labeled “File name”
3. Click on the “Open” button.
4. The next pop-up screen should be “PAF File Conversion”, warning you that the file is an earlier version and that you must first convert it. Click on the “Continue” button
5. You will get another pop-up dialog box labeled “Create New Family File”. Leave the top window set to the default PAF Data Files. The center window shows you the PAF files on the hard drive. Fill in the blank labeled “File Name” any name you wish for the new file that will be created. Use a different name than the PAF 4 file name that you are converting so that you will not destroy your starting file. Recommended: put the number 5 into the name so that it will be clear that you now have a PAF 5 file. You do not need to put an extension on the file name as that will be generated automatically.
6. Wait for the conversion to finish. Click the “Close” button. Your screen will now show the PAF 5 file that you created.

How to Restore a PAF 2.31 Backup

1. In order to get PAF 2.31 running you have to start the FamilySearch program (DOS version). The icon is purple and shows a 3-member family holding hands.
2. Select “Personal Ancestral File 2.31" (probably selection H)
3. Select “1. Family Records” by typing the 1 and if necessary press Enter
4. Put data disk into drive A: as instructed and press Enter
5. Select “A. Utilities” by typing the letter A and press Enter
6. Select “3. Temporarily Change Configuration” by typing 3 and press Enter
7. The curser will be on the line: “Drive for Data Disk”. Change this entry by typing C:\PAF\DATA and then press “F1 Save Changes and Continue”
8. Again, select “F1 Save Changes and Continue” by pressing the F1 key.
9. Select “6. Restore Backup Files from Backup Disk” by typing 6 and press Enter
10. Press “F1 Begin Restore”
11. Wait for completion message “All Files have been restored. Press <Enter> then press the Enter key. Exit completely. This will involve several selections like “Return to Main File” When you get back to Family Search, press the Escape key to return to the Windows desktop.

How to Restore a PAF 3.0 Backup into PAF 3.0

The following is for information purposes only, use PAF 4 instead to restore directly.

1. In order to get PAF 3.0 running you will have to run the FamilySearch program (DOS version). The icon is purple and shows a 3-member family holding hands.
2. Select “Personal Ancestral File 3.0" (probably selection I)
3. At the Title Screen, “Press Enter to Continue”
4. Put your diskette having PAF 3.0 backups into the A: drive if you have not already done so.
5. The screen is labeled “Select File to Open”. The instruction you are going to follow is in the lower right-hand corner “Restore File”. Type the letter R
6. Leave the top line set to Restore from the A: drive. Type the Tab key to move the curser to the second line where the name of the file is to be entered. The easiest way to do this is to type the F6 key to “List Files”; if there is more than one file listed in the resulting green pop-up window, use the up or down arrow to move the highlight to the correct file name and then type the F1 key to select it.
7. Leave the third line set to its default value: “C:\PAF\DATA
8. Press F1 key to continue.
9. Wait for the Restore Complete message. Then press “F1 Continue.”
10. You should then see the small pedigree screen. Exit PAF 3.0 completely by following the directions given on the screen (escape and then F1). This will take you back to the Windows desktop. Once restored, it can be opened in PAF 4 without any conversion.

How to Restore a PAF 3.0 backup into PAF 4.0

1. Start the PAF 4 program running by double clicking on the PAF 4 icon. If you get the welcome screen, click “Cancel Close this dialog”.
2. Click “File”. On the drop-down menu, click “Restore”.
3. The next screen is a “Restore File From” pop-up dialog box. Change the top window to read “3 ½ Flppy (A:).
4. The middle window should show you any backup files that are on the diskette. Click on the desired file. That will fill in the blank labeled “File Name”
5. Click the “Restore” button. Wait for it to complete.
6. Exit PAF 4 when ready to proceed.

How to Restore PAF 4.0 Backup into PAF 4.0

Follow the same procedure that you would follow to restore a PAF 5 backup

List Search: PAF

Search the FHCTech email list for PAF information.

FamilySearch: Personal Ancestral File

PAF resource page on FamilySearch.org.