
                            *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=
                            * COMPUTERIZED GENEALOGY =
                            *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=

                           BY: SHIRLEY MILLIGAN WELLS
            MEMBER OF THE SAN GORGONIO PASS GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY

     Being  a  novice  at  computing,  and  a  greater  novice  at  genealogy,
     the  following revelations  will  amaze  you  other  novices  out  there.
     First,  a little background.   I was  beginning to  be  consumed  by  the
     genealogy  "bug", which  means  you save  every  note on  your  surnames,
     whether you  have proved a link or not.   My small  family had  grown  to
     almost 400 persons just on my mother's side of my "work".   I had several
     "works" going for my daughters-in-law and my sons-in-law. I was repeating
     areas of research for lack of control  on  research  notes  and  records.
     Also,  when one of the  400  plus  descendants  of  my  great-grandfather
     Gealow would call or write, I  would have problems  with my "road map" to
     see just how we were related.   Because I am  also a  little "Scotch",  I
     chose  the  PAF (Personal Ancestral File)  sold  by  the  Church of Jesus
     Christ of Latter Day  Saints  partly  because  $35.00  is  an  unheard of
     bargain in  computer software  and  partly  because  if anyone  knew what
     would  be  necessary in  genealogical  computer program,  I thought  they
     would be the experts. I  was right.   This program comes generic in  your
     choice of systems  for  the following  types  of computers:  CP/M, Apple,
     MS/DOS.   Generic  software  can  be  configured to  be  used on whatever
     computer  you  have as  long  as  it  fits  the  three above types.  Some
     helpful  soul  at  ie CG  (Inland Empire Computer Group)  can  help   you
     configure  the  program for your particular computer like they helped me.
     PAF is actually three separate programs for genealogy:

         1.  FAMILY RECORDS..........The Family Records Program enables you to
         assemble  your  pedigree  and  at the same time compile a  wealth  of
         genealogical information  for  each of your ancestors.  You can enter
         the following  information about each ancestor:

                   Name (Surname and up to three given names)
                   Gender
                   Title (If any, i.e. Dr., Ma
                   Birth date and Place Christening Date and Place
                   Death and Burial Dates and Places
                   Spouse Marriage Date and Place
                   LDS Dates and Places (if applicable)
                   User Assigned I.D. Number

         In addition  to recording the previous information,  PAF enables  you
         to enter historical information or  source reference  notes for  each
         individual and valuable background information.

         The  information  is  stored on  a diskette  other  than the  program
         diskette,  enabling  you to  record  information  about an  unlimited
         number  of  people.    I  have  a  different  disk  for  each  of  my
         daughter's-in-law and their ancestor's families.   For each diskette,
         the system  assigns  a  unique number aiding in retrieval of informa-
         tion.  The  program  enables you to group families together,  linking
         you  with  you spouse,  children, parents, and siblings and repeating
         the same for each generation.  As you enter more and more information
         and  establish the  links  from  family  to family, the program  also
         allows  you to  search  your  pedigree lines on a given diskette  and
         either display or print out the data in chart form.   The program can
         print blank  or  completed  pedigree charts  and family  group record
         forms  in  either  letter  or  legal  size.   For  Latter-day  Saints
         the program can also produce special forms as  well as the ones  used
         by non-LDS individuals.   The  system will also sort and print  lists
         such as  the names  of individuals  ordered  alphabetical,  by Record
         Identification Number, or user-assigned I.D. number.

                    **** Remember ***** This is just the FIRST program!

         2.   RESEARCH  DATA FILER PROGRAM..........A separate program to help
         you  manage large  volumes of  original  research  data.   Using this
         program you  can document the information sources you used, including
         details  about  the author,  publisher,  page, library, etc.  Search,
         sort, or print the  information by  event (birth, marriage,  military
         service, death,  etc.) place, date, name of person,  or  relationship
         to  others.  The  Research Data Filer  does  not  teach you  research
         principles or strategies, however, it does help you organize research
         data so that you can analyze it more efficiently.

         3.   GEDCOM (GENEALOGICAL DATA COMMUNICATIONS)........Converts all or
         a part  of your Family Records  data  to  be sent to another Personal
         Ancestral File user into transmission data format.

                *  Transmits  converted  data  to  another  Personal Ancestral
                   File user.
                *  Receives  data   from   another   Personal  Ancestral  File
                   user.
                *  Converts data received from another Personal Ancestral File
                   user to the Family Records format for use  on the receiving
                   computer.

     I have been so happy with the program and I am  sure  that other  programs
     programs could not do more.  The $35.00 price really put me into  computer
     genealogy.


                          ..... Organized at last.....

    *************************************************************************
    **   This INFORMATION came from: THE HOME PLACE - BBS (714)-849-1732.  **
    *** For more PUBLIC DOMAIN programs == > GENERAL and GENEALOGICAL <== ***
    ** SET your MODEM to 8/N/1 (300/1200/2400) & call THE HOME PLACE - BBS **
    *************************************************************************

                                 