WHAT ARE PAF AND GEDCOM? PAF Personal Ancestral File (ver. 5.0) is a FREE genealogy software program for compiling all the facts, notes, sources, family trees, creating genealogy web pages, and much more. I think it compares quite nicely with other programs which actually sell a lot of fluff that one doesn't actually need to get the genealogy on paper. PAF was developed by the Mormon church in Salt Lake City, which is noted as having the largest compilation of genealogical resources in the world. They were the inventors of the “Gedcom” which virtually everyone uses to transfer genealogy files from one to another. GEDCOM A format for storing genealogical information so that many computer programs can use it. Different computer programs store information differently, so the information created with one computer program cannot necessarily be read by another program. It is as if two people need to exchange information but one speaks Japanese and the other speaks German. To communicate they may use a third language, such as English. GEDCOM (an acronym for Genealogical Data COMmunications) is the format for storing information that many genealogical computer programs can read. How It Works PAF will create my Gedcom file as I instruct it. Perhaps all the families linked together, from the farthest ancestor, down to me. Or, I can create a Gedcom file with a “short” family of two or three generations. I may end up putting both on the website. If you have a genealogy program (e.g., PAF, FamilyTree, or Roots) you can “import” my Gedcom files directly to your computer, and your program will convert the files so that you can work with them in your program. Your program documentation will have instructions for how you should do this. Surname List As best I can figure it, the Surname List will give you a list of the surnames that are contained in my GEDCOM. You see, the GEDCOM isn’t something that you can consult while on my website. You should go to the Surname list, the Ancestor list, or the Descendant list, and look up individual names there. When you click on a name, you will be directed to information about that person and the family, and you can browse around in there. Ancestor List, Descendant List Same principle as the Surname list. This list gives you all the names of individuals and you can choose and click to see more detailed information about that individual. GEDCOM Files As well as being a “format”, as described above, GEDCOM also refers to the actual files that I have created on PAF, and put into a GEDCOM format. You can download my GEDCOM files to use in your own genealogy program. You may wish to get the PAF software, which is free, or any of a number of other good genealogy programs (see links below). You must then consult the instructions of your own program for transferring my GEDCOM files to your program. It is relatively easy to do. Generally speaking, you would create a new file in your program in order to receive the GEDCOM files. Then you would “import” my GEDCOM files into your program. Below are some links to popular genealogy software. Personal Ancestral File  This is PAF, the program I use. It's FREE. Family Tree Maker  Associated with genealogy.com; a vast website. Family Origins Legacy Family Tree  A great program - I'm switching to it very soon. Reunion (for Macintosh) Home Page | Gateway to the Archives Official Website of the Burch, Nickel, Sheldon, Griffin, Saemann and Brazelton Family Joann Saemann West Jordan, UT Copyright © 2002 Joann Saemann Last Updated – 20 August 2008 This candle was lit on the 11th of September, 2001.