PAF 3: Importing & Exporting GEDCOM Files

(Last updated 01 March, 2003)

What is GEDCOM?

Genealogy programs store their data using incompatible formats, meaning that one program cannot read another program's files.  It can be said, then, that each program speaks a different "language." 

When the personal computer was young, the genealogical community decided they wanted to exchange their incompatible files.   They created the GEDCOM file format so that otherwise-incompatible programs could speak the same language.  At long last, users of incompatible programs could share their genealogical data.

Importing a GEDCOM File to PAF 3

This lesson shows how to import a GEDCOM file from a floppy disk to PAF 3.

1. Open the PAF program.
2. Use the arrow keys to highlight your PAF file. Press Enter.
3. At the SMALL PEDIGREE, type F6 to see More Options.
4. Type "I" to import records.
5. You’ll see a backup warning. If you already have a backup, type "N."
6. At the SELECT FILES TO IMPORT INTO [YOUR PAF FILENAME] screen, select F3 to Change Drive/Directory.
7. At the CHANGE DRIVE/DIRECTORY screen, type "A:". Insert your GEDCOM disk into the A: drive. Then press F1.
8. At the SELECT FILE TO IMPORT INTO screen, use the arrow keys to highlight the GEDCOM you want to import. Press Enter.
9. The LISTING FILE screen will appear. A listing file is a text file that lists all the data that couldn’t be imported via GEDCOM. You want your listing file to have the same name as your GEDCOM file. Press F1.
10. At the IMPORT WHICH RECORDS FROM THE FILE YOU SELECTED? screen, press ENTER to import all records.
11. At the IMPORT COMPLETE screen, press F1.
12. You have now added the individuals from your GEDCOM file to your PAF data file. Next, you need to link the individuals imported from the GEDCOM to the individuals you already had on your PAF database. For instructions, see the lesson on Merging.

Exporting a GEDCOM File from PAF 3

This lesson teaches users to export a GEDCOM file from a floppy data disk to a floppy GEDCOM disk in the same drive.  This method is the slowest, but is also the simplest for a rookie. 

A faster GEDCOM creation method takes advantage of the higher speeds of hard drives over floppy drives.  This method involves copying the PAF data file to the hard disk, then opening it and creating the GEDCOM on the hard disk.  Afterward, the GEDCOM would be copied to a floppy disk, which the user could share with relatives. 

Although the hard-disk method is faster, all its file transfers from floppy disk to hard disk and back again confuse rookies.  Thus, the floppy-disk method outlined below is a better way to introduce rookies to the GEDCOM process.  For the faster hard-disk method, please consult the PAF manual.

To make a GEDCOM file from PAF 3, follow these steps:

1. Insert your PAF data disk into the computer.
2. Open the PAF program.
3. At the SELECT FILE TO OPEN screen, select Open File Not Shown.
4. From the OPEN FILE NOT SHOWN screen, select F3 to Change Drive/Directory.
5. From the CHANGE DRIVE/DIRECTORY screen, type "A:". Press F1 to continue.
6. From the OPEN FILE NOT SHOWN screen, use the arrow keys to highlight the file you want to copy to GEDCOM, and press Enter to open it.
7. At the SMALL PEDIGREE screen, press F6 for More Options.
8. Select "eXport".
9. At the SELECT TYPE OF EXPORT FILE TO CREATE screen, select "Create a File of Records to Share. (Create a GEDCOM file.)".
10. At the SELECT RECORDS FOR GEDCOM FILE screen, select all of the people in your file by selecting "All". Press F1 for the Next Step.
11. At the GEDCOM FILE OPTIONS screen, press F1 for the Next Step.
12. At the DESTINATION OF THIS GEDCOM FILE screen, select "GEDCOM for Personal Ancestral File 3.0".
13. At the SUBMITTER'S INFORMATION screen, type in your name and address. Press F1 for the Next Step.
14. At the NAME YOUR FILE AND SELECT DISK DRIVE screen, type the name you want to use for your GEDCOM file. It's a good idea to name your GEDCOM the same as your PAF file; this helps you remember which PAF file you took the GEDCOM from. If you give your PAF and GEDCOM files the same name, you'll still be able to tell them apart by their filename extensions. For example, if your PAF file was named "McDonald.paf", your GEDCOM file would be named "McDonald,ged".
15. After naming your GEDCOM, press F1 for the Next Step.
16. At the INSERT A DIFFERENT DISK screen, take your PAF disk out of the drive and insert the disk on which you want to put your GEDCOM file. Press F1 for the Next Step.
17. At the RE-INSERT DATA DISK screen, remove your GEDCOM disk, insert your PAF disk, and press Enter.
18. At the EXPORT COMPLETE screen, press F1.
19. Label your GEDCOM disk so you can tell it apart from your PAF disk. For instance, label it "McDonald.ged – created from McDonald.paf on 11 Oct 1998". (It's important to note the creation date of your GEDCOM file and the name of the PAF file from which it was taken).

     

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