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paf-digest V1998 #29




paf-digest           Sunday, July 19 1998           Volume 1998 : Number 029



In this issue:

       RE: [PAF] Windows 98 and PAF
       Re: [PAF] Windows 98 and PAF
       Re: [PAF] BACKUP BACKUP BACKUP
       Re: [PAF] Windows 98 and PAF
       [PAF] PAF 3.0 AND PAF Companion Pathfinders
       [PAF] PAF 2.31 Companion
       [PAF] Digital Archiving: An Oxymoron
       [PAF] PAF 2.31
       [PAF] PAF 3.0 and PAF Companion Pathfinders

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: Thu, 16 Jul 1998 16:31:34 -0500
From: "Webster, James" <James_Webster@afcc.com>
Subject: RE: [PAF] Windows 98 and PAF

I have converted to W98, run PAF2, what I cannot do is get it to complete
the creation of a GEDCOM file.

Jim Webster

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	kjhamlin [SMTP:kjhamlin@oakland.edu]
> Sent:	Thursday, July 16, 1998 3:59 PM
> To:	paf@innernet.org
> Subject:	Re: [PAF] Windows 98 and PAF
> 
> I am currently running PAF 3.0m under Windows 98. The only problem I have
> had is
> that PAF will not work with the A: drive anymore.  I have not had time to
> investigate it further.
> 
> Bruce Hamlin
> 
> Richard Nowlin wrote:
> 
> > At the FHC where I volunteer, the director is planning to install
> > Windows 98 on the two windows computers they have. Recently there was
> > some soc.genealogy.computers newsgroup discussion of problems with
> > PAF3.0 on computers that had been upgraded to Windows 98.  Several
> > problems were described, potential solutions proposed, but there has
> > been no final response to the topic.
> >
> > Has anyone converted to Windows 98 and successfully run PAF 2.31 and/or
> > PAF3.0M?
> >
> > Are their problems that you had, and solved?
> >
> > Any response would be appreciated. One never knows in newsgroup
> > discussions whether the problems is user created, or real, unless the
> > user is a recognizable name.
> >
> > Thanks, Dick Nowlin
> >
> >
> ==========================================================================
> ==
> > 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/
> ==========================================================================
> ==
============================================================================
For assistance and help for the PAF Mailing List please contact
ed.rogers@bigfoot.com or http://www.innernet.org/paf/
============================================================================

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 16 Jul 1998 18:01:45 -0400
From: kjhamlin <kjhamlin@oakland.edu>
Subject: Re: [PAF] Windows 98 and PAF

I can create a GEDCOM file just fine with PAF 3.0m under Windows 98 send it to
my hard drive since it won't work on the A: drive.

Bruce Hamlin

Webster, James wrote:

> I have converted to W98, run PAF2, what I cannot do is get it to complete
> the creation of a GEDCOM file.
>
> Jim Webster
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: kjhamlin [SMTP:kjhamlin@oakland.edu]
> > Sent: Thursday, July 16, 1998 3:59 PM
> > To:   paf@innernet.org
> > Subject:      Re: [PAF] Windows 98 and PAF
> >
> > I am currently running PAF 3.0m under Windows 98. The only problem I have
> > had is
> > that PAF will not work with the A: drive anymore.  I have not had time to
> > investigate it further.
> >
> > Bruce Hamlin
> >
> > Richard Nowlin wrote:
> >
> > > At the FHC where I volunteer, the director is planning to install
> > > Windows 98 on the two windows computers they have. Recently there was
> > > some soc.genealogy.computers newsgroup discussion of problems with
> > > PAF3.0 on computers that had been upgraded to Windows 98.  Several
> > > problems were described, potential solutions proposed, but there has
> > > been no final response to the topic.
> > >
> > > Has anyone converted to Windows 98 and successfully run PAF 2.31 and/or
> > > PAF3.0M?
> > >
> > > Are their problems that you had, and solved?
> > >
> > > Any response would be appreciated. One never knows in newsgroup
> > > discussions whether the problems is user created, or real, unless the
> > > user is a recognizable name.
> > >
> > > Thanks, Dick Nowlin
> > >
> > >
> > ==========================================================================
> > ==
> > > 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/
> > ==========================================================================
> > ==
> ============================================================================
> 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
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============================================================================

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 16 Jul 1998 19:01:49 -0500
From: "Bonnie M. Wuensche" <jwuensch@arkansas.net>
Subject: Re: [PAF] BACKUP BACKUP BACKUP

My husband always says the 3 most important words in the computer
industry are the three mentioned above!

I keep my backups to PAF on a rotating set - A, B, C of disks. My
newest backup always goes to the rear. It takes me five 3.5 -1.4
disks for each backup. a very small investment of my time!

I keep a rubberband around each set, and have color-coded the sets
with stickers - like red, blue and yellow. Each disk is of course
numbered within its own set, so they really say A-1 of 5; A2 of 5;
etc. The color coding keeps me from accidentally rewriting over a
disk.

That is the reason also for keeping a rubber band  around them,
and rotating the newest backup to the back of the pile. I know
when I grab the set in the front, that it is ready for me.

I have been doing this since 1986, and have NEVER lost all my data
of my PAF files. It will always be no later than the last backup,
which if I am working on with a lot of changes, I back up every
couple of hours. I keep all my paperwork in one stack, just in
case I have to do a re-input.  I keep a small disk box on my desk
just for these. All my other disks are stored elsewhere.

My several backups during my work time I make to C:\temp - for one
thing, it is faster writing to the hard drive than to a floppy,
and and for at least one other, I am not shuffling disks all day
long. I make my final backup for the day to my hard drive in
C:\temp, then backup again the same files to the floppies.

I don't care what you might have - paper hard copy - Xerox -
CD's - zipdrives - tape backups  - whatever - eventually they all
are subject to becoming corrupted - or at least having an
accident - like spilling a soda on them! Even power outages, or
temperature. One day I was working on my files, and the power went
out. It stayed out for hours. Since there was no bad weather, I
called the utility company after a time. Turns out there was a
traffic accident where one of the vehicles hit a utility pole with
the transformer on it. We were out of power for hours - but hey -
some poor person was out for good!

Hope this helps!

Bonnie M Wuensche - another Family History Fan!


Bonnie~ find me at / jwuensch@arkansas.net


"You don't lose a testimony with
 a blowout, but by a slow leak"
- -----Original Message-----
From: John J. Totten <jjtotte@california.sandia.gov>
To: paf@innernet.org <paf@innernet.org>
Cc: paf@rehtori.kasanen.fi <paf@rehtori.kasanen.fi>
Date: Tuesday, July 14, 1998 5:56 PM
Subject: Re: [PAF] Re: archival storage


>Joan Raney wrote:
>>
>> I read the posts about ZIP drives.  I was wanting to purchase
one for
>> backup and archival use.  In March my hard drive crashed and I
didn't
>> have good backup copies so I lost almost everything.  I don't
want
>> that to happen to me again, hence the interest in a ZIP drive.
>> Seeing the expensive price to pay for a floppy zip disk that
turns
>> out to be a flop (no pun intended) I think the company that
makes the
>> ZIP disks ought to offer a refund or exchange or something.
>>
>> Should I still buy a ZIP drive?
>>
>> Joan Raney
>> Charlotte, NC
>> raneyj@rex.queens.edu
>> oviattj@juno.com
>>
==================================================================
==========
>> For assistance and help for the PAF Mailing List please contact
>> ed.rogers@bigfoot.com or http://www.innernet.org/paf/
>>
==================================================================
==========
>I have been using a Zip drive for a couple years with no
problems.  The
>suggestion that the media is rotated on some regular basis is the
>industry method of making sure that there is at least a partial
copy of
>the data that is no older than two back ups ago.
>
>Lots of computer systems are backed up each day and the media is
rotated
>through the week and one disk or tape archived at the end of the
week.
>Typically that is not required by the home user, but it is a good
idea.
>Then if the tape drive or Zip in my case fails and destroys the
media
>only one back up is lost rather than all of it.
>
>John Totten
>
>=================================================================
===========
>For assistance and help for the PAF Mailing List please contact
>ed.rogers@bigfoot.com or http://www.innernet.org/paf/
>=================================================================
===========

============================================================================
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============================================================================

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 17 Jul 1998 14:08:39 EDT
From: CTSchick@aol.com
Subject: Re: [PAF] Windows 98 and PAF

I just had Windows 98 installed yesterday. After seeing this posting I
immediately went in PAF 3.0m and ran a back-up on Drive A. It worked
perfectly. Have not tried a Gedcom yet.
Charlotte
============================================================================
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============================================================================

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 17 Jul 1998 22:33:39 -0700
From: rhaldy@Juno.Com (Richard L Halliday)
Subject: [PAF] PAF 3.0 AND PAF Companion Pathfinders

This message contains the pathfinders for PAF 3.0 and PAF Companion.  If
anyone should like to reprint these permission is hereby granted by the
author.  Richard L. Halliday           rhaldy@juno.com

Find the desired function in the alphabetical list.  Following the
function in parenthesis are
the keystrokes or item to select from the list.



                       PAF 3.0 Pathfinder
by Richard L. Halliday

Add ... (A, select)
Add child (A, Add Child)
Add new family (A, Add New Family Not Yet in File)
Add new individual (A, Add New Individual Not Yet in File)
Add spouse (A, Add Spouse)
Add parent (A, Add Parents)
Address (Y, Add/Change Submitter Name & Address)
Adoptive link (K, Adoptive) (highlight must be on principal or child)
Alphabetical search (1, H)
Ancestral File corrections (X, Create a file of records to send to
Ancestral File)
Ancestral File contribution (X, Create a file of records to send to
Ancestral File)
Automatic Match, Manual Merge (T, Automatic Match, Manual Merge)
Backup (Y, Backup the current file)
Browse, individual (2, arrow keys)
Biological link (K, Biological)
Calculate date (Y, Calculate a date)
Change database (<F5>)
Change names to upper- & lowercase (Y, Change Names to Upper- and
Lowercase
Letters)
Case, change to upper- & lower (Y, Change Names to Upper- and Lowercase
Letters)
Change old temple codes to new (Y, Change 2-Letter Temple Codes to New
Codes)
Change to alternate printer (P, Change Print Destination, select printer)
Check database (Y, Scan file for problems)
Configuration (Y, Change Program & Printer Preferences)
Custom reports, print (P, Custom Reports, select)
Date Calculator (Y, Calculate a date)
Descendancy (P, Descendancy Chart)
Diacritics (E, <F7>)
Edit (E or <Enter>)
Export (X, select)
Family, show (3)
Family groups (P, Family Group Reports)
Family ordinance summary (P, LDS Reports, Family Ordinance Summary)
File, open another (F5)
File, print to a disk (P, Change Print Destination, Save to a Disk File)
File problems (Y, Scan File for Problems)
Fix database (Y, Scan File for Problems)
GEDCOM file (X, Create a file of records to share)
Go to RIN (R)
Go to MRIN (N)
Guardian link (K, Guardian)
Help (<Alt>-<H>)
Import a GEDCOM file (I)
Incomplete individual ordinances (P, LDS Reports, Incomplete Individual
Ordinances)
Incomplete marriage sealings (P, LDS Reports, Incomplete Marriage
Sealings)
Individual browse (2)
Individual report (P, Individual Reports)
Large pedigree (L)
LDS reports (P, LDS Reports)
Link, parent (K, select type) (highlight must be on principal or child)
Lists, sorted (P, Lists, select)
List possible matches  (T, Print list of possible matches)
Marriage (Highlight marriage date & <Enter>)
Matches, List of possible (T, Print list of possible matches)
Merge records (T,x)
Merge report (T, Print merge report)
Merge source records (T, Merge source records)
Merge two individuals (T, Merge two individuals)
MRIN search (N)
Name and address (Y, Add/Change Submitters Name & Address)
Name list, alphabetical (1)
New ... (A, select ...)
Notes (F3)
Open File (F5)
Ordinance summary (P, LDS Reports, select)
Other parents (+) (only when "+" is shown)
Parent link (K) (highlight must be on principal or child)
Parents, other (+) (only when "+" is shown)
Possible matches, list (T, Print list of possible matches)
Parent link (K; Biological, Adoptive, Guardian, Sealing, Link challenged
or Link
disproved)
Parents, other (+)
Pedigree, large (L)
Pedigree, small (3)
Possible record problems (P, Lists, Possible Record Problems)
Preferences (Y, Change program preferences)
Rearrange (G; Children, Spouses or Parents)
Relationship calculator (Y, Find relationship)
Research process (P, Research Tools & Reports, Research Process)
Research tools (P, Research Tools & Reports, select)
Restore a backup file (Y, Restore a File From a Backup Copy)
Pedigree (P, Pedigree Charts)
Preferences (Y, Change Program & Printer Preferences)
Possible matches (T, Print list of possible matches)
Print (P, select)
Print destination, select (P, Change Print Destination, select)
Print to disk file (P, Change Print Destination, Save to a Disk File)
Print to screen (P, Change Print Destination, Print to Screen)
Printer, change to alternate (P, Change Print Destination, select
printer)
Problems, file (Y, Scan File for Problems)
Relationship calculator (&, Find Relationship Between Two Individuals)
RIN search (R)
Sealing link (K, Sealing)
Search, alphabetical (1, H)
Search by field (i.e. fill in b, d, name, etc.) (H)
Search, MRIN (N)
Search, RIN (R)
Sorted lists (P, Lists, select)
Sources (E, <F4>)
Small pedigree of highlighted or displayed individual (3) 
Statistics (Y, Display File Statistics)
Submitters name/address (Y, Add/Change submitter)
Temple codes (Y, Change 2-letter temple codes to 5-letter codes)
Temple codes list (E, cursor in temple field, <F6>)
Temple submissions (X, Prepare a file of records to use in TempleReady)
Utilities menu (Y)

select = select from list



  If anyone wishes to republish this list, permission is hereby granted. 
Richard L Halliday

	Companion 1.0 Pathfinder
	A Non-Comprehensive List
by Richard L. Halliday

Ancestor Chart (MS, Ancestor, ...)
Ancestor Chart (HB, Reports, Ancestors Chart, ...)
Automatic Black Print-Color Graphics* (HB, Preferences, Printer Setup,
Options, Automatic)
Black Text* (HB, Preferences, Printer Setup, Options, Black Text)
Color Graphics (PAF Companion does not produce color graphics)
Descendant Chart (MS, Descendant, ...)
Descendant Chart (HB, Reports, Descendant Chart, ...)
Do not print "!" in notes (HB, Preferences, Options, General, Do not
print "!" in notes.)
Enable Word Wrap (HB, Preferences, Options, General, Enable Word Wrap)
Family Group Record (MS, Family, ...)
Family Group Record (HB, Reports, Family Group Record, ...)
Fan Chart (MS, Fan, ...)
Fan Chart (HB, Reports, Fan Chart, ...)
Find Individual (HB, Find Individual, select)
Find PAF Database (HB, Select File, Scan Disk)
Font (HB, Preferences, Options, General, Fonts, select)
Font Size (Don't bother; automatically selected by program)
Font Style (HB, Preferences, Options, General, Font, Style)
ID Search (MS, Go To, ID Number)
ID Search (HB, Find Individual, Go To, ID Number)
Name Files (HB, Preferences, Name Files)
Name Search (MS, Go To Name, name)
Name Search (HB, Find Individual, Go To Name, name)
Orientation of paper (HB, Preferences, Options, Printer Setup,
Orientation, select)
PAF, Run (HB, Run PAF)
Paper Size* (HB, Preferences, Options, General, Printer Setup, Size,
select)
Path to Word Processor (HB, Preferences, Options, General, Path to Word
Processor)
Pedigree Chart (MS, Pedigree, ...)
Pedigree Chart (HB, Reports, Pedigree Chart, ...)
Pointer Size (HB, Preferences, Options, Pointer, select)
Preview Ancestor Chart (MS, View Ancestor)
Preview Descendancy Chart (MS, View Descend.)
Printer Options* (HB, Preferences, Options, General, Printer Setup,
select)
Print Quality* (HB, Preferences, Printer Setup, Options, select)
Printer Setup* (HB, Preferences, Options, Printer Setup, select)
Register Report (MS, Register, ...)
Register Report (HB, Reports, Register, ...)
Reports (HB, Reports, select)
RIN Search (MS, Go To RIN, ...)
RIN Search (HB, Find Individual, Go To Rin, ...)
Run PAF (HB, Run PAF)
Search by Field (MS, Search, fill field(s))
Search by Field (HB, Find Individual, Search File, fill field(s))
Select Database (HB, Select File, ...)
Submitter (HB, Preferences, Options, General, Submitter, ...)
Typeface (HB, Preferences, Options, General, Fonts, select)
View Ancestors (MS, View Ancestors, ...)
View Ancestors (HB, View, Ancestors, ...)
View Descendants (MS, View Descendants, ...)
View Descendants (HB, View, Descendants, ...)
View Family Group (MS, default display)
View Family Group (HB, View, Family Group)
Word Processor, Path to (HB, Preferences, Options, General, Path to Word
Processor)
Word Processor, Select (HB, Preferences, Options, General, select)
Word Wrap, Enable (HB, Preferences, Options, General, Enable Word Wrap)
"!", do not Print in Notes (HB, Preferences, Options, General, Do not
print "!" in notes.)

* Printer functions may be printer specific
... = make selections as indicated
HB = Home Base
MS = Main Screen
select = select from list

_____________________________________________________________________
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Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com
Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]
============================================================================
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------------------------------

Date: Fri, 17 Jul 1998 22:29:35 -0700
From: rhaldy@Juno.Com (Richard L Halliday)
Subject: [PAF] PAF 2.31 Companion

Jim F;
   Here I go with yet another try to post to the PAF list and to you
personally.  If anyone should like to reprint this document, permission
is hereby granted.

PAF (2.31) Path Finder from the 
 Pedigree Search Menu
by Richard Halliday



Editor's Note: Here's a handy list of keystrokes to speed you along your
way from PAF's Pedigree Search menu.  You can also work faster with menus
if you set your configuration to not require carriage returns on menus. 
Make sure "N" is entered instead of "Y" as the option on the first line
after Scratch Disk while running PAF Configuration.
In the table below, "x" means to make a selection from the displayed
list.



Desired Action in PAF	Keystrokes
4/5/6 Generation Pedigree Chart	Y,3,F1,4/5/6,F1
Ahnentafel Chart	P,2,6
Ahnentafel Numbers as ID numbers	&,2
Ancestry Charts	P,2,4
Back Up Data Files to Diskette	Y,5
Birth Date Graph	&,5
Blank Forms	P,7,x
Charts	P,2,x
Cascading Family Group Records	P,2,2
Cascading Pedigree	P,2,1
Cascading Both FGR and Pedigree	P,2,3
Check Data Files	Y,7
Date & Span Calculator	&,6
Descendants Chart	P,2,5
Descendants Count	&,3
End-of-Line Individuals	P,5,2
Family Group Record, Print	P,2,2
Fix Data Files	Y,8
Focus/Design Reports	U,x
Incomplete LDS Ordinances	P,8,x
Individuals with Notes	P,5,1
Individuals without Recorded Parents	P,5,3
LDS Ordinance Suppression	Y,3,F1,N,F1
LDS Reports	P,8,x
Marriage Record, Edit	I,I,E  or  3,E
Match/Merge	T,x
Name and Address	Y,1
Name Codes	P,4,7
Name-Sorted List	P,4,4
Name Frequency	&,4
Output, Store as Disk File	P,1,2
Output, Display on Screen	P,1,3
Patron Name & Address	Y,1
Pedigree Chart & FGR, Cascading	P,2,3
Pedigree Chart, Index Only	P,3,4
Pedigree Chart, Print	P,2,1
Pedigree Chart, 4-, 5- or 6-Generation	Y,3,F1,4/5/6,F1
Place Sorted List	P,4,4
Possible Record Problems	P,5,4
Print Destination–to Disk or Screen	P,1,x
Print List of Possible Matches	T,2
Print Notes–with Individual Summary	I, P
Printed Report Titles	Y,2
Range Print–FGR, Summaries, Notes	P,3,x
Relationship Calculator	&,1
Research Log	P,7,4
Restore Backup FR Data Files        from Floppy	Y,6
RIN Suppression	Y, 3, F1, N [at print numbers], F1
Select Pages to Print	P,1,4
Sorted Lists	RIN, MRIN, Name, Place, ID, Family Group, Name
Code	P,4,x
SOUNDEX	&,2
Statistics–file sizes, disk space, etc.	Y,4,x
Summaries	P,5,x
Surname Frequencies	P,6,x
Temples–code, location, starting date	P,7,7 & 8 
Temporarily Change Configuration	Y,3
Wall Charts	P,2,4,x

_____________________________________________________________________
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]
============================================================================
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============================================================================

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 17 Jul 1998 22:42:58 -0700
From: rhaldy@Juno.Com (Richard L Halliday)
Subject: [PAF] Digital Archiving: An Oxymoron

The following article was printed in the current issue of the Silicon
Valley PAF Users Group, PAFinder.  Permission to republish this article
is granted, but must include credits  to the author and the Silicon
Valley PAF Users Group, PAFinder.

   Now that I hope I have the correct address for the PAF list, I am
passing the following article along as information which was welcome to
me.  I believe that it is better to be forwarned than comfortable.
          
            Richard L. Halliday       rhaldy@juno.com

Digital Archiving: An Oxymoron
by Hugh Harline
On more than one occasion I have heard people say, "I'm going to use my
scanner to archive photographs." Archiving is really just storing records
for use later on. But when I think of "archiving," I always think of
long-term storage. My family has been involved in genealogy for many
years and long-term storage for people involved in searching out old
public records is measured in centuries. 
Unfortunately the computer industry has a different view of storage. I
have heard computer people brag that their tapes and disks can be read
five years after they were written. I'm sorry, but five years cannot be
considered "archival."
I recently learned a bit more about the reliability of computer storage. 
The National Media Lab did some testing of computer storage media to
determine how long our current tapes and disks will be reliable. The
results were in an article in the February 16, 1998, issue of US News and
World Report.  Most of the brands of magnetic tape and floppy disks will
last about three to five years-the high-quality brands should last about
10 to 12 years.
The biggest surprise for me was how long the CD-R (recordable compact
disk) was stable-only three years.  The higher-quality brands could last
around 30 years, but not the 50 to 100 years that I was hearing about a
few years ago.
One of the materials best suited to archiving is a high-quality,
low-acid, buffered paper.  That's right, paper.  Documents on paper and
photos on paper or film will outlive your computer files.
Another problem mentioned in the article and also talked about in
genealogy circles is usefulness of hardware and software and how they are
an integral part in the whole puzzle.
It works like this: Three things are needed if computer files are to be
accessible: hardware, software, and a medium to store the files.
Hardware and software are ever-changing-newer, faster, better every year.
But new equipment does not support the old. In 1981 Bill Gates said,
"640K ought to be enough for anybody." You try running your current
computer on 640K of memory.
The hardware and the software are very different now. We can only expect
the changes in technology to continue. Trying to run old software on new
computers is also next to impossible (unless you can write some emulation
software to get the new computer to think it is old).
Some older programming languages and software applications are no longer
supported by the original company (which may have been bought out two or
three times) or by the rest of the industry. If the hardware or software
no longer exists, then the programs are not going to be able to run, and
the files created by them will be only indecipherable series of ones and
zeros of binary code sitting on disks. If you were able to view a file
you would most likely see some weird symbols on your screen, not what you
had originally saved.
The computer storage medium that you save your files onto has to be
stable also. Magnetic tapes, floppy disks, removable hard drives,
magnetic-optical-compact disks, recordable compact disks-all have a
limited life span. Until a material that has long term storage properties
is developed this will always be a big part of the problem.
The current answer to the problem is to store files in an analog manner,
for instance, on paper. An alternative is to keep your computer files
current with technology by copying your files to new media before the old
ones die and to convert files to newer software file formats before the
old format disappears and the file becomes unreadable.  Use the better,
more expensive brands of media for long-term storage of files: They will
be reliable much longer then the cheaper ones.  There is no way to tell
when the death of a disk is imminent. You only know that it will happen.
The best file format in which to save important text and data documents
is ASCII text.  It can be opened or imported by word processors and text
editors.  Graphics pose a different problem: Save them in as generic a
file format as possible so they can be read by other applications.  You
can also keep those old computers and software around to help you in
reading and transferring your files. That is, you can keep it until it
breaks down and needs a part that you can't get anymore-time to raid the
computer junk yard.
Digital electronics can do wonderful things, but if you are not aware of
the limitations in life and reliability you may have a stack of
unreadable disks in years to come.  (They make good coasters!)

_____________________________________________________________________
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Date: Sat, 18 Jul 1998 15:28:12 EDT
From: aaberg3@Juno.Com (Robert M Aaberg)
Subject: [PAF] PAF 2.31

I've seen a lot of helpful info lately. thot I'de some one I stumbled
into some time back.
If you have down loaded a GEDCOM from a FHC and you added it to your list
and combiled  several names, you may have a lot of junk in notes.  In
stead of going in to 5 Notes, go into 4 pedigree search and hit 2.
You can read notes and compare to you individual record-
you can edit the record-
you can get into notes and delete items like record to long for---
or you can edit notes.
It's much shorter way ten going into 5 Notes and you can view both at the
same time.
Bob Aaberg at aaberg3@juno.com

_____________________________________________________________________
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------------------------------

Date: Sat, 18 Jul 1998 20:25:44 -0700
From: rhaldy@Juno.Com (Richard L Halliday)
Subject: [PAF] PAF 3.0 and PAF Companion Pathfinders

Robin et al;
  I believe that both the PAF 3.0 and the PAF Companion Pathfinders are
tied together.  Please look down the list.  Both should be there.  If
not, now that I have the schtick, I will resend the PAF Companion
Pathfinder.

             Richard L. Halliday            rhaldy@juno.com

_____________________________________________________________________
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------------------------------

End of paf-digest V1998 #29
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