Personal Ancestral File#PAF and Ancestral Quest

The history of PAF ran in parallel with the evolution of GEDCOM,[http://listserv.nodak.edu/cgi-bin/wa.exe?A2=ind0011C&L=GEDCOM-L&P=R645&I=-3&T=0 Subject:Timeline of GEDCOM versions and PAF]"The evolution of GEDCOM runs parallel to the development of PAF that for many years, especially 1985–1989, was LDS' real-world implementation of GEDCOM." George Archer - Date:Mon, 20 Nov 2000 21:34:35 -0500 the de facto specification for GEnealogy Data COMmunication or exchange.

Version 2.3.1, released in 1994, was the last version written specifically for the Macintosh operating system, though PAF 5.2.18, written for Windows, can be installed on Apple Mac OS X using CrossOver Mac.

In 2004 there were speculations about PAF being made open-source.{{cite web| title= Open-sourcing PAF |first= Bryan|last= Sant |work= PLUG — Provo Linux Users Group Mailing List| date=October 14, 2004 |url= http://www.plug.org/pipermail/plug/2004-October/011522.html| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20061011170229/http://plug.org/pipermail/plug/2004-October/011522.html|archivedate=2006-10-11}}

Version 5.2.18.0 began with an adaptation of Incline Software's Ancestral Quest program,{{cite web|url=http://www.ancquest.com |title=Ancestral Quest |publisher=Ancquest.com |accessdate= 2013-09-02}} written by Gaylon Findlay.[http://www.familyhistoryexpos.com/events/presenter.php?sid=77&eid=43 Gaylon Findlay] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20090306053954/http://www.familyhistoryexpos.com/events/presenter.php?sid=77&eid=43 |date=2009-03-06 }} - "President of Incline Software" - Mesa, Arizona Family History Expo 2008 - Family History Expos Findlay has been involved in updates of PAF.[http://productsupport.familysearch.org/supportroot/Eng/Frameset_Products.asp?ReqPg=EntryDetails.asp&entryid=Q105362563500365&version=1&FAQ=MACPAF&Product=MACPAF&Color=green&DisplayName=Personal+Ancestral+File+for+Macs Personal Ancestral File for Macs - Selected FAQ] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090220190921/http://productsupport.familysearch.org/supportroot/Eng/Frameset_Products.asp?ReqPg=EntryDetails.asp&entryid=Q105362563500365&version=1&FAQ=MACPAF&Product=MACPAF&Color=green&DisplayName=Personal+Ancestral+File+for+Macs |date=2009-02-20 }} "The current version of Personal Ancestral File for the Macintosh is 2.3.1. The current IBM versions of Personal Ancestral File are 4.0.4.18 and 5.2.18 (as of Aug 2002). Ancestral Quest has been developed separately, although it retains much of the basic visual layout and file structure of PAF.

In June 2013, FamilySearch announced that, effective July 15, 2013, PAF would be discontinued, and that support and downloads would no longer be available.{{cite web |url= http://familysearch.org/PAF |title=Personal Ancestral File (PAF) — |publisher= Familysearch.org |accessdate=2013-09-02}}

The following is a selected release history:

• PAF 1.0 (MS-DOS) released in April 1984. Written in BASIC and did not have support for GEDCOM.[http://search.ldslibrary.com/article/view/2408003?q=PAF#2408085 Chapter 8: Automating the Records, BYU Studies, vol. 34 (1994), Number 2--1994] - "Personal Ancestral File (PAF) was initiated in 1983 as a part of the Ancestral File project. It was released in April 1984"[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1984/06/news-of-the-church/personal-ancestral-file-new-genealogical-software-for-home-computers?lang=eng “Personal Ancestral File: New Genealogical Software for Home Computers,”] Ensign, June 1984, p. 78: "At present, Personal Ancestral File has been developed for IBM PC and IBM PC/XT computers"[http://newsarch.rootsweb.com/th/read/ROOTS/1990-10/0657159426 RootsWeb: ROOTS-L Re: Genealogical Programs From: Cliff Manis] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715202908/http://newsarch.rootsweb.com/th/read/ROOTS/1990-10/0657159426 |date=2011-07-15 }} "I still have the PAF 1.0 in BASIC." - Date: Sun, 28 Oct 90 18:17:06 CST{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20090306045501/http://www.nesgs.org/~ancestree/vol07/v07n3p083.htm NSGS--NEBRASKA ANCESTREE Vol VII, no. 3, page 83 - Winter 1984-5]}} From: Keith W. Chambers, Beatrice, NE KEITH'S COMPUTER KORNER - "I read an article in the World-Herald about a new computer program that was being introduced by the LDS Church"Kathleen Lubeck, [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1984/06/the-church-and-computers-using-tools-the-lord-has-provided?lang=eng “The Church and Computers: Using Tools the Lord Has Provided,”] Ensign, June 1984, p. 24: "'The Genealogical Department has just completed development of a new genealogy software program for those who own or have access to personal computers,' he added. 'Personal Ancestral File is now available.'"
• PAF 2.0 (MS-DOS, Apple II, CP/M) released in April 1986. Supported an early specification of GEDCOM 2.0.[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1986/07/news-of-the-church/new-genealogy-software-available-for-computers?lang=eng “New Genealogy Software Available for Computers,”] Ensign, July 1986, p. 75: "While the original software package (Personal Ancestral File 1.0), released two years ago, was written in BASIC, Personal Ancestral File 2.0 uses 'C,' a computer language that allows faster operation and fits on fewer diskettes." Due to PAF's slowness in BASIC, it was rewritten in C.[http://newsarch.rootsweb.com/th/read/ROOTS/1990-10/0657131028 RootsWeb: ROOTS-L Re: Genealogical Programs] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715202927/http://newsarch.rootsweb.com/th/read/ROOTS/1990-10/0657131028 |date=2011-07-15 }} - From: Ron Holt Date: Sun, 28 Oct 90 16:23:48 GMT - "I'm one of the original developers of PAF (version 2.0) and know there was a Unix (actually Xenix) version done. Though the original version was developed on an IBM PC, we got to the point that we did most of our development work on the Xenix version and then ported that version to the PC, Apple II, etc." Date: Sun, 28 Oct 90 18:17:06 CST[http://search.ldslibrary.com/article/view/2408003?q=Personal%20Ancestral%20File%20(PAF)#2408086 "Chapter 8: Automating the Records, BYU Studies, vol. 34 (1994), Number 2--1994] "The earliest version of Personal Ancestral File had one glaring deficiency-poor response time. Release 2.0, a complete rewrite that was available in April 1986"Lori Stephenson Dawson, [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/new-era/1987/11/even-in-an-ordinary-ward?lang=eng “Even in an Ordinary Ward,”] New Era, November 1987, p. 9: "Personal Ancestral File (release 2.0) is available in versions for MS-DOS computers, Apple computers, and CP/M computers."
• PAF 2.1 (DOS, ProDOS, Macintosh) released in 1987.R. Scott Lloyd, [https://www.thechurchnews.com/archive/1988-07-16/family-history-data-can-now-be-submitted-on-computer-diskette-429 "Family history data can now be submitted on computer diskette"], Church News, July 16, 1988: "Named 'Release 2.1' to distinguish it from earlier versions of the Personal Ancestral File, Releases 1.0 and 2.0, which are no longer available," Supported an early specification of GEDCOM 4.0.
• PAF 2.2 (MS-DOS, ProDOS, Mac) released in 1989.R. Scott Lloyd, [https://www.thechurchnews.com/archive/1989-11-18/upgraded-software-soon-available-for-home-computer-genealogy-1751 "Upgraded software soon available for home-computer genealogy"], Church News, November 18, 1989: "For now, Release 2.2 is only available in a version for MS-DOS (IBM-compatible) computers." Supported an early specification of GEDCOM 4.0.
• PAF 2.3 (MS-DOS, Macintosh) released in 1994.[https://www.thechurchnews.com/archive/1994-01-08/upgraded-personal-ancestral-file-available-6881 "Upgraded Personal Ancestral File available"], Church News, January 8, 1994: "Release 2.3 of the program, for MS-DOS computers"[http://www.l-ags.org/tracer/vol_xiii5.htm PAF 2.3 Still Has Problems!] - THE LIVERMORE ROOTS TRACER - VOLUME XIII AUTUMN 1994 NUMBER 5 - Livermore-Amador Genealogical Society "Personal Ancestral File (PAF) Release 2.3 is no longer being offered or distributed by the Family History Department of LDS. There are some known "bugs" that they are still trying to fix." The Macintosh version was called PAF:Family Records and MacPAF. Supported an early specification of GEDCOM 4.0.
• PAF 2.31 (MS-DOS, Macintosh) released 30 Sep 1994.[http://www.byui.edu/ce/assets/documents/familyhistory_handout_boise_08/PAF_5_Tips_and_Tricks1.pdf Personal Ancestral File 5 Tips and Tricks] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327020702/http://www.byui.edu/ce/assets/documents/familyhistory_handout_boise_08/PAF_5_Tips_and_Tricks1.pdf |date=2010-03-27 }} - Family History Conference Class Handout - By:Kevin Owen - 25 October 2008 - Brigham Young University - Idaho This was the final release of the Macintosh version and only worked on Classic OS - OS 8.5 through OS 9.2.2.{{cite web |url=http://productsupport.familysearch.org/supportroot/Eng/Frameset_Products.asp?ReqPg=EntryDetails.asp&entryid=Q100350894102954&version=2&FAQ=MACPAF&Product=MACPAF&Color=green&DisplayName=Personal+Ancestral+File+for+Macs |title=Personal Ancestral File for Macs - Selected FAQ |publisher=FamilySearch.org |accessdate=2013-09-02 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120211135905/http://productsupport.familysearch.org/supportroot/Eng/Frameset_Products.asp?ReqPg=EntryDetails.asp&entryid=Q100350894102954&version=2&FAQ=MACPAF&Product=MACPAF&Color=green&DisplayName=Personal+Ancestral+File+for+Macs |archivedate=2012-02-11 }} Supported an early specification of GEDCOM 4.0.
• PAF 3.0 (DOS) released May 1997.[https://www.thechurchnews.com/archive/1997-06-07/church-releases-new-paf-version-for-computers-11360 "Church releases new PAF version for computers"], Church News, June 7, 1997: "A new DOS version of Personal Ancestral File 3.0" Supports the current GEDCOM 5.5 specification.
• PAF 3.0M (DOS) released June 1999. A maintenance release of PAF 3.0; Shows as Release 3.01M.
• PAF 4.0 released 28 June 1999. (Win9x/NT) Freeware. Supports the current GEDCOM 5.5 specification.[https://www.thechurchnews.com/archive/1999-07-10/newest-paf-version-available-on-internet-15952 "Newest PAF version available on Internet"], Church News, July 10, 1999: "Personal Ancestral File 4.0 was made available on the Internet service on June 28, just five weeks after the service's launch." PAF 4.0 was based on Ancestral Quest.[http://www.ancquest.com/aqpaf.htm Ancestral Quest - Program Description - PAF Compatibility] - "NOTE 1: In 1999, Incline Software donated a copy of the source code for Ancestral Quest 3.0 to the LDS Church. The LDS Church then used this code as a base for creating PAF 4 and PAF 5. This is part of the reason why the two programs are so compatible."[http://www.ancquest.com/faqs.htm FAQS - "Is there a relationship between PAF and Ancestral Quest?] - In 1999, Incline Software, with some strategic help from its partners, helped the LDS Church develop PAF 4 based on the newly released AQ 3.0. Both PAF 4 and the newer PAF 5 are therefore very similar to AQ. Since 1999, while the LDS Church has developed adjustments and new features into PAF, Incline Software has also develop dramatic new features into AQ." - Incline Software
• PAF 5.0 released in November 2000 (Win9x/NT) Freeware. Supports the current GEDCOM 5.5 specification. First version to support Unicode allowing multiple languages.[https://www.thechurchnews.com/archive/2001-03-24/software-upgrade-makes-names-easier-to-submit-to-temple-19386 "Software upgrade makes names easier to submit to temple"], Church News, March 24, 2001: "PAF 5.0 was recently updated to accept most of the world's alphabets and now has screens in and prints reports in Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Swedish and German."[http://www.ancestry.com/learn/library/article.aspx?article=3145 PAF 5.0] - Dick Eastman Online 1/3/2001 "Languages and Cultures. The biggest change in PAF 5 is that you can type and store characters from many of the world's languages. Not only can you record information in your own language, but you can also type characters from the languages of any of your ancestors. Technically, the database has been redesigned to accommodate all Unicode data."- Archive - Ancestry.com Included was a standalone read-only Palm OS application to view, but not edit, PAF data.[https://www.thechurchnews.com/archive/2001-06-16/key-new-features-now-on-paf-5-0-19936 "Key new features now on PAF 5.0"], Church News, June 16, 2001: "Key new features include a Palm OS application".[http://www.svpafug.org/palmrevw2.html GedStar and MyRoots, Can You Have It All in One Palm OS Handheld Database?] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728074633/http://www.svpafug.org/palmrevw2.html |date=2011-07-28 }} By Janet Brigham Rands, From The PAFinder, June 2002, GedStar is so similar to PAF for Palm in design and navigation that it appears more like a sibling than a kissin' cousin.[http://www.ancestry.com/learn/library/article.aspx?article=8848 Palm OS Genealogy Viewers], Genealogical Computing, 2003/1/10 - Archive, October/November/December 2003 Vol 23 No. 2, Ancestry.com After my last review, some may have wondered why I did not review the free PAF for Palm product. It is equivalent to the older GedStar 3.1, but has not been upgraded since, to my knowledge.[http://www.ancestry.com/learn/library/article.aspx?article=3748 GedStar Version 4.0], Dick Eastman Online, 4/18/2001 - Archive, Ancestry.com[http://ghcssoftware.com/gsindex.htm GedStar], GHCS Legacy Products Home
• PAF 5.1 released in 2001 (Win9x/NT) Freeware. Supports the current GEDCOM 5.5 specification. Support multiple languages.
• PAF 5.2 released 23 July 2002 (Win9x/NT) Freeware. Supports the current GEDCOM 5.5 specification. Supports multiple languages.[https://www.thechurchnews.com/archive/2002-08-10/updated-paf-5-2-available-22102 "Updated PAF 5.2 available"], Church News, August 10, 2002.

• PAF 4.x supported English, Spanish, Portuguese, German and French; PAF 4.0.4 was the last version for French, Spanish, and Portuguese
• PAF 5.x supported English, Chinese, German, Japanese, Korean, and Swedish

• International Genealogical Index
• Numerical variation in kinship terms

{{Reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20061208102641/http://productsupport.familysearch.org/supportroot/eng/frameset_products.asp PAF support page] at FamilySearch.org
• [http://paftutorial.byu.edu/ PAF Tutorial] at Brigham Young University (2007)
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20130913105640/https://familysearch.org/products Alternatives to PAF] from FamilySearch, archived from the [https://familysearch.org/products original] on Sep. 13, 2013
• [http://www.tamurajones.net/ABriefHistoryOfPersonalAncestralFile.xhtml Modern Software Experience: A Brief History of Personal Ancestral File]
• [http://www.tamurajones.net/WhyPAFIsStillPopular.xhtml Modern Software Experience: Why PAF is still popular]

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