[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
paf-digest V1 #17
paf-digest Friday, June 5 1998 Volume 01 : Number 017
In this issue:
PAF: Source question
Re: PAF: .AF files
Re: PAF: Source question
Re: PAF: Source question
Re: PAF: Source question
PAF: The computer ate the Js
Re: PAF: Source question
Re: PAF: The computer ate the Js
Re: PAF: The computer ate the Js
Re: PAF: The computer ate the Js
See the end of the digest for information on subscribing to the PAF
or PAF-Digest mailing lists and on how to retrieve back issues.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Tue, 2 Jun 1998 19:25:46 GMT
From: Walter.Anderson@cpafug.pcbuddy.com (Walter Anderson)
Subject: PAF: Source question
P> I have been converting my 2.31 notes into sources, and I'm sort of
P> glad I'm doing it record by record, because I'm coming across
P> mistakes I made years ago when I first started recording
P> documentation in my notes. Fixing them has been no small task, but I
P> am making some progress and I feel good about that.
P> The questions I have are:
P> 1. can I print a list of sources that have no rin or mrin attached to
P> them?
P> 2. can I print a source and all the rin's/mrin's attached to that
P> source?
P> 3. can I delete a source from my database if it isn't attached to a
P> rin/mrin?
You can get rid of all the sources that have no associated rin/mrin by
using GEDCOM to export and then inport the data to another data base.
Walt
============================================================================
For assistance and help for the PAF Mailing List please contact
ed.rogers@bigfoot.com or http://www.innernet.org/paf/
============================================================================
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 02 Jun 1998 10:52:33 -0500
From: "Richard K. Nowlin" <nowlin@flash.net>
Subject: Re: PAF: .AF files
The PAF3.0 program creates a "database-name".AF file when certain edits to
records that have Ancestral File numbers occurs in the PAF3 database. The file
is named for the database that edited plus the .AF extension. Minor changes of
data, ie. birth, death, burial dates and places are tracked within the PAF
database. Major changes to relationships, i.e. removal of a person as a parent
from a family, will cause the databasename.AF file to be created. If one is only
using PAF3 databases on their home computer, there is no problem, except that
one should not erase the file, unless you are discarding the database. The file
is part of the PAF3 programs sysytem for tracking changes made to Ancestral
Filed numbered records, making it easier for the user to submit changes in this
data back to the Ancestral File by making an AF Submission export. You are
correct, there is no mention of this file in the manual. I became concerned
about it when I was cleaning up excess files left behind on the Family History
Center computers from patron useage of PAF3 on databases that had been run on
the A or B drive, or had been copied to the hard drive. I have subsequently
been involved in the development of a shell program that should be released soon
that facilitates running PAF databases from A or B drive on the HArd Drive in a
FHC, and when through copied the files (including focus, and AF files) back to
the floppy, and erases them from the FHC hard drive. Hope this helps, and
answers your question. Dick
Thomas C Boelling wrote:
> Someone mention earlier in the last week or two, what do the .AF files
> do? I had a person ask about the other day and was trying to figure out
> where in the PAF3 program it creates this extension file.
>
> >From what I've seen in the file, it's some kind of pointer file in some
> rich text format. Nothing in the program book tells about this odd quirk
> of a file.
>
> Tom
>
> _____________________________________________________________________
> You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail.
> Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com
> Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]
> ============================================================================
> For assistance and help for the PAF Mailing List please contact
> ed.rogers@bigfoot.com or http://www.innernet.org/paf/
> ============================================================================
============================================================================
For assistance and help for the PAF Mailing List please contact
ed.rogers@bigfoot.com or http://www.innernet.org/paf/
============================================================================
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 3 Jun 1998 07:02:23 -0600
From: "Ken Rock" <us2@bighorn.dr.lucent.com>
Subject: Re: PAF: Source question
I would like to add another question to Joan's list.
4) I would like to change the order that the sources appear.
Any thoughts?
Ken Rock
============================================================================
For assistance and help for the PAF Mailing List please contact
ed.rogers@bigfoot.com or http://www.innernet.org/paf/
============================================================================
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 4 Jun 1998 06:16:24 GMT
From: Walter.Anderson@cpafug.pcbuddy.com (Walter Anderson)
Subject: Re: PAF: Source question
P> From: "Ken Rock" <us2@bighorn.dr.lucent.com>
P> I would like to add another question to Joan's list.
P> 4) I would like to change the order that the sources appear.
P> Any thoughts?
I assume that you mean to change the order of the sources as they are
found with an indidvivual. I have found that it is easier to work on the
sources in the GEDCOM file for that data than in the PAF program.
I would try the following. I haven't tried any og these as I have/see
no reason to change the order that the sources appear in my data. How about
giving some of your reasons.
Make a GEDCOM file and change the order of the sources in the
individual section where the sources for that individual are listed. If that
didn't work try changing some of the numbers in the GEDCOM file. Also try
deleting all the sources with an
individual and adding them back in the order
you want.
Walt
============================================================================
For assistance and help for the PAF Mailing List please contact
ed.rogers@bigfoot.com or http://www.innernet.org/paf/
============================================================================
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 4 Jun 1998 07:01:23 -0600
From: "Ken Rock" <us2@bighorn.dr.lucent.com>
Subject: Re: PAF: Source question
Admittedly, the only reason I want to change to order of the sources of an
individual is for neatness. I would like to have them in desending order.
(i.e. birth record, census records by year, etc.) It is also easier to see
where I need to continue my search.
It may not be a good reason, but it is a reason.
Walt, thanks for the thoughts. I've been thinking about the GEDCOM method.
On Jun 4, 6:16am, Walter.Anderson@cpafug.pcbuddy.com wrote:
> P> From: "Ken Rock" <us2@bighorn.dr.lucent.com>
>
> P> I would like to add another question to Joan's list.
>
> P> 4) I would like to change the order that the sources appear.
>
> P> Any thoughts?
>
> I assume that you mean to change the order of the sources as they are
> found with an indidvivual. I have found that it is easier to work on the
> sources in the GEDCOM file for that data than in the PAF program.
>
> I would try the following. I haven't tried any og these as I
have/see
> no reason to change the order that the sources appear in my data. How about
> giving some of your reasons.
>
> Make a GEDCOM file and change the order of the sources in the
> individual section where the sources for that individual are listed. If that
> didn't work try changing some of the numbers in the GEDCOM file. Also try
> deleting all the sources with an
> individual and adding them back in the order
> you want.
>
> Walt
>
> ============================================================================
> For assistance and help for the PAF Mailing List please contact
> ed.rogers@bigfoot.com or http://www.innernet.org/paf/
> ============================================================================
>
>-- End of excerpt from Walter.Anderson@cpafug.pcbuddy.com
- --
<> H A V E A G O O D D A Y <>
Ken Rock
Room 1W76P
11900 N. Pecos Str.
Denver, CO 80234
(303) 538-1895
kcrock@lucent.com
============================================================================
For assistance and help for the PAF Mailing List please contact
ed.rogers@bigfoot.com or http://www.innernet.org/paf/
============================================================================
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 4 Jun 1998 21:48:12 -0400 (EDT)
From: Cheryl Singhal <csinghal@CapAccess.org>
Subject: PAF: The computer ate the Js
Now that I have your attention. (g)
A colleague tells me that her husband has PAF 2.31 set up to run under
Win 3.1. The last several times she added information to her data, it
has vanished. Each time it vanishes it takes out a different part of the
REST of the data base.
For example: she added 50 individuals, and linked them into families,
PRINTED IT OFF, and exited PAF. A week or so later, she went back to
print off more copies, and the information wasn't there -- nor was the
JONES families (one of her big ones). She moaned piteously, and
reentered all her JONES data AND the same 50 people she'd added the week
before. Printed off the extra copies, and exited. Three weeks later,
she went back in to add some more people and the LONGs were gone from the
data base (another of her biggies) along with those 50 newcomers.
She's afraid to look after she re-entered them the last time.
So, anyone have any clues? What do I even tell her to look for? (My
first thought was that her husband was dividing the database without
remembering to tell her about it, but she says he has never used the
program and didn't seem to know anything about it when she was singing
the blues over her problems.)
This is my week for off-the-wall problems.
Cheryl
============================================================================
For assistance and help for the PAF Mailing List please contact
ed.rogers@bigfoot.com or http://www.innernet.org/paf/
============================================================================
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 5 Jun 1998 00:01:25 EDT
From: Mlharline@aol.com
Subject: Re: PAF: Source question
In a message dated 98-06-04 09:06:39 EDT, you write:
>
> Admittedly, the only reason I want to change to order of the sources of an
> individual is for neatness. I would like to have them in desending order.
> (i.e. birth record, census records by year, etc.) It is also easier to see
> where I need to continue my search.
>
Since the sources are listed in alphabetical order using the Source Title, you
can order the sources to some extent by choosing the titles carefully. I sent
out a message once asking for opinions about a source title "Jones, John
(1767): Death Certificate" and was told that the traditional way was "Death
Certificate of John Jones" If you want all your death certificates for
everyone together that latter format is useful. If you want all certificates
or records pertaining only to John Jones together, than try starting with his
name.
This can get rather complicated, and if John Jones' birth record is a book
of Vital Records you would use the title of the book as the source because it
pertains to more than one individual. I would like to see the title listed as
"State, County, City: Vital Records."
I know those who want to stay with accepted citations will object, but this
will keep all the records of one area together. It's an idea.
Census records can start with a geographical area and a year.
All comments will be appreciated.
Mary Lou Harline
============================================================================
For assistance and help for the PAF Mailing List please contact
ed.rogers@bigfoot.com or http://www.innernet.org/paf/
============================================================================
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 05 Jun 1998 01:56:14 -0400
From: Bob Shi <metaquest@mms.net>
Subject: Re: PAF: The computer ate the Js
Cheryl Singhal wrote:
> A colleague tells me that her husband has PAF 2.31 set up to run under
> Win 3.1. The last several times she added information to her data, it
> has vanished. Each time it vanishes it takes out a different part of the
> REST of the data base.
>
> For example: she added 50 individuals, and linked them into families,
> PRINTED IT OFF, and exited PAF. A week or so later, she went back to
> print off more copies, and the information wasn't there -- nor was the
> JONES families (one of her big ones). She moaned piteously, and
> reentered all her JONES data AND the same 50 people she'd added the week
> before. Printed off the extra copies, and exited. Three weeks later,
> she went back in to add some more people and the LONGs were gone from the
> data base (another of her biggies) along with those 50 newcomers.
>
> She's afraid to look after she re-entered them the last time.
>
> So, anyone have any clues? What do I even tell her to look for?
Cheryl,
Has she checked the integrity of the DOS file system with SCANDISK or
CHKDSK?
Is she using a disk cache? Are writes being cached? Does she turn off
her computer before exiting Windows? Is the cache being flushed before
presenting a DOS prompt?
Best wishes,
Bob
- --
Member: NGS, NCGS, PGN, Association of Professional Genealogists
Address for professional research requests: metaq1@mms.net
Web page: http://ncgen.mms.net/
============================================================================
For assistance and help for the PAF Mailing List please contact
ed.rogers@bigfoot.com or http://www.innernet.org/paf/
============================================================================
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 05 Jun 1998 01:56:14 -0400
From: Bob Shi <metaquest@mms.net>
Subject: Re: PAF: The computer ate the Js
Cheryl Singhal wrote:
> A colleague tells me that her husband has PAF 2.31 set up to run under
> Win 3.1. The last several times she added information to her data, it
> has vanished. Each time it vanishes it takes out a different part of the
> REST of the data base.
>
> For example: she added 50 individuals, and linked them into families,
> PRINTED IT OFF, and exited PAF. A week or so later, she went back to
> print off more copies, and the information wasn't there -- nor was the
> JONES families (one of her big ones). She moaned piteously, and
> reentered all her JONES data AND the same 50 people she'd added the week
> before. Printed off the extra copies, and exited. Three weeks later,
> she went back in to add some more people and the LONGs were gone from the
> data base (another of her biggies) along with those 50 newcomers.
>
> She's afraid to look after she re-entered them the last time.
>
> So, anyone have any clues? What do I even tell her to look for?
Cheryl,
Has she checked the integrity of the DOS file system with SCANDISK or
CHKDSK?
Is she using a disk cache? Are writes being cached? Does she turn off
her computer before exiting Windows? Is the cache being flushed before
presenting a DOS prompt?
Best wishes,
Bob
- --
Member: NGS, NCGS, PGN, Association of Professional Genealogists
Address for professional research requests: metaq1@mms.net
Web page: http://ncgen.mms.net/
============================================================================
For assistance and help for the PAF Mailing List please contact
ed.rogers@bigfoot.com or http://www.innernet.org/paf/
============================================================================
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 5 Jun 1998 09:19:46 -0700
From: rhaldy@Juno.Com (Richard L Halliday)
Subject: Re: PAF: The computer ate the Js
Cheryl;
Hi, I'm new to this list so I do not know your conventions yet.
Please make allowances.
I have thought about your friends problem with PAF 2.31 since last
night. I have thought about two different reasons for her problem with
the PAF data files. You will not like either of them. They are a virus
or a hard drive going bad.
Does she have a son between the ages of seven and twenty five who has
"borrowed" software from a friend and installed it on her computer? If
so, check for viruses. Likewise, has she downloaded anything from the
local Family History Center? Our local center has had at least two
viruses (Stoned and Michaelangelo) which were brought in by patrons who
brought their own disks to copy files onto.
To check for a virus she will have to run one of the virus checking
programs. As I read the charter for this list, I am not supposed to
advertise software. If you will contact me directly, I will give you the
name of two good ones. The one I use does interfere with the loading of
Windows 95 on some machines, but the advantage is that I can have it
telephone the manufacturer every few months and update the virus
definitions so that it can catch and kill the new ones.
If her hard disk is going bad, then she will have to run a disk
diagnostic program. Again, I will supply a commercial name and some
comments if you contact me directly. I believe that it is save to say
that all disks, both hard and floppy, will eventually go bad.
You definitely cannot trust a floppy disk which is over five years
old. The binder (glue) which holds the magnetic material to the plastic
floppy disk, or the aluminum hard disk, deteriorates and breaks loose.
Even new disks are often bad. I am working with about a dozen people
doing extraction. I always supply each data entry operator with TWO
disks as so many are faulty. So far I have found four bad floppy disks
in the first 150 floppies I have purchased for this purpose.
It sounds as if your friend does NOT make backup copies of the work
she does with PAF. My personal rule is "When I have done so much work
that I do not want to redo it, I make a backup copy". I keep six sets of
backup disks and use them in turn. As each is used, I write the date on
the label. That way if I have a virus infected or otherwise damaged
backup file, I can always go to one which is older.
I began this practice after a disaster at work. I was writing
software for Hewlett Packard computers. There was a bug in the operating
system. It corrupted my file. I backed it up and now had a bad backup.
The next morning I discovered the problem, fixed it and backed it up to
my other backup file. Now both backups were corrupted. Since the
problem kept reoccurring, I called the manufacturer. It was not until
afternoon that I realized what had happened. I then called my supervisor
and told him that it would take me a month to recreate the program.
Fortunately, I then found another backup copy and was able to recover in
a week. Since then I have made
multiple backup copies of all important files.
Richard L. Halliday rhaldy@juno.com
_____________________________________________________________________
You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail.
Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com
Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]
============================================================================
For assistance and help for the PAF Mailing List please contact
ed.rogers@bigfoot.com or http://www.innernet.org/paf/
============================================================================
------------------------------
End of paf-digest V1 #17
************************
To unsubscribe to PAF-Digest, send the following command to
majordomo@innernet.org:
unsubscribe paf-digest
At this point there is no direct method to receive back issues other than
to email ed.rogers@bigfoot.com. Happy PAF'ing!