How to Convert Old PAF Databases to PAF 5

HOW TO CONVERT OLD PAF DATABASES TO PAF 5

The following instructions document the steps to follow when converting PAF 2.31 databases, PAF 3.0 databases, or PAF 4.0 databases to a PAF 5.0 database.

It often happens that you are handed an old floppy or a set of floppies that its owner says contains a PAF database, but you are not given any details about what version of PAF the database is stored. Furthermore, they may not even know if it is the actual database, or a backup of the database.

(Note: This document assumes that you have a PC running Windows 95, 98, NT, ME, 2000 or XP and that your computer has a drive to read the floppy disk containing the database; either 3.5” or 5.25”. If the file has been e-mailed to you, or is already on your hard drive, then a floppy drive will not be necessary unless you need to put the converted file on a floppy to deliver it to the owner.)

Step One:

Determine the PAF version of the database and if it is an actual database or a backup. Place the floppy disk in the disk drive. Click on the START icon on the Windows task bar – usually in the lower left corner of your screen. Select PROGRAMS from the pop-up menu and click on Windows Explorer. (In Windows XP, this program is part of the ACCESSORIES option.)

Using the Folders portion on the left side of the Explorer screen, click on the plus sign in front of My Computer and then click on the label of the disk drive that contains the floppy you wish to search. For example, it should be something like: 3½ Floppy (A:). Once the drive’s label is highlighted, the contents of the floppy will be displayed in right side of the screen. Depending on how you have set the properties of your system, you should see a listing of files, or a set of icons that represent files.

A PAF 2.31 database will have six files
with files names as follows:

INDIV2.DAT or INDIV2.BAK
MARR2.DAT or MARR2.BAK
NAME2.DAT or NAME2.BAK
NAMEADD2.DAT or NAMEADD2.BAK
NOTES2.DAT or NOTES2.BAK
REPTITL2.DAT or REPTITL.BAK

If the files have the .DAT file extension, then your database is a copy of the actual PAF database. If the files have the .BAK file extension, then you have a backup copy of the database. If the database takes up more than one floppy disk, you may not see all six files on the first floppy. If you are only given one floppy and you do not see all six of the files displayed, then you do not have the complete database, and will not be able to complete the conversion.

A PAF 3 or PAF 4 database will have a single file name that reflects the title of the database with a file extension .PAF, such as SMITH.PAF. Whether your file is a PAF 3 or PAF 4 database is not crucial, because either version can be converted by the PAF 5 program.

A backup of a PAF 3 or PAF 4 database will have a file extension .BAK, such as SMITH.BAK. To determine which version you have, you must attempt to restore the database using either PAF 3 or PAF 4 to see which version successfully performs the restoration.

A PAF 5 database will have a single file name that reflects the title of the database with a file extension .PAF, such as SMITH.PAF. A backup of a PAF 5 database will have a file extension .ZIP, such as SMITH.ZIP.

Step Two:

Determine the steps necessary to convert the data. Use the table below to identify the process you must follow. In each case, you have a choice of letting the PAF program perform the conversion directly, or of creating a GEDCOM file which can then be imported into your PAF 5 program. The option you choose may be limited by which versions of the PAF software you have available on your computer. For example, whenever you have a backup file, you will need the corresponding version of the PAF program to restore the file to a database. Likewise, if you wish to use the GEDCOM option, you will need to have the corresponding version of the PAF program.

PAF 5 will convert PAF 3 and PAF 4 databases directly, but will not convert a PAF 2.31 file directly.