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Importing a PAF 2.x File


This covers both PAF 2.x files and Ancestral Quest 2.x files.

 
To import a Personal Ancestral File®  (PAF file) into Legacy:
1. From the File tab on the Ribbon bar choose Import.
2. From the dropdown list, choose PAF 2.31 or Ancestral Quest 2 File…
3. Specify the location of the PAF file you want to import.
4. Choose the OK button.
5. Decide if you want to import the PAF file into the current Family File or into a new Family File and choose the appropriate button.  If you choose to create a new Family File, Legacy prompts you for a file name before proceeding.  Importing into a new file also allows Legacy to use the same ID numbers that were assigned by Personal Ancestral File.  If you import into a Family File with existing individuals, Legacy may not be able to retain the incoming ID numbers because they might already be in use.
6. Set the desired options.  Each is described below.
7. When you are ready to import, choose the START IMPORT button.  Legacy imports the PAF file while displaying a progress meter.

Note:  You can also import files into Legacy using the Import Wizard.  (See Import Wizard for more information.)

Import Filters

Check for Valid Date Formats during this import
Legacy uses consistent, logical formatting rules when it comes to dates.  (See Entering Dates.)  Other programs allow free-form dates that can include unrelated text, making the dates unusable for sorting and date arithmetic.  During the import process, Legacy checks each date for a proper format and presents any unrecognized dates for you to correct or accept.  (See Unrecognized Date)  If you would like to accept all dates, regardless of their format, uncheck this option.  (Using the search engine in Legacy, you can produce a list showing the names and record numbers of all individuals who have unrecognized dates.  Using this list you can quickly jump to each individual and make corrections later.) 

Put ID number into Ancestral File Number field
PAF only has one ID number field that can be used for any kind of number.  Legacy has both a User ID Number field and an Ancestral File Number field.  If the ID number field in the PAF file was used to hold the Ancestral File Number, you should choose this option so the number is placed in the correct field in the Legacy Family File.  If the PAF number was used for something other than an AFN number, leave this option unchecked.

Re-word-wrap the contents of all Note fields
Personal Ancestral File 2.x inserts a carriage return at the end of each individual line in the note field.  This is OK if you only use PAF and don't ever want to insert more information into the middle of a note block.  In this case you have to manually reformat each affected line.  When these note blocks are imported from a PAF 2.x file, the carriage returns come with them.  If you would like to have single carriage returns removed from the notes so that they flow into the Legacy note fields, select this option.  Two or more consecutive carriage returns are not removed.  This way, new paragraphs separated by a blank line are preserved.

Format Names and Places
When importing new records from a different Family File, you can have all the names and places formatted to the current format settings.  This includes upper casing, initial caps or leaving alone surnames, initial caps on given names, and initial caps on locations.

Record Numbering
Try to keep original ID numbers  Most GEDCOM files are encoded with the record numbers (RINs) that were used in the exporting program that created them.  Often users come to identify particular individuals within their files as much with this number as with their names.  Legacy looks for and tries to retain these numbers whenever possible.  (About the only reason they can't be used is if there aren't any in the GEDCOM file, or if you are importing into a Family File that already uses some of the record numbers.)  If this option is selected, Legacy will still try to use the same ID numbers, but if it can't, it won't bother telling you about it.

Renumber from:  1  While importing, you can choose to have Legacy renumber the RIN's from any starting number.

AutoSource
As you import new individuals into your Family File, you can assign a source to them.  This is a good way to keep track of where the imported individuals came from.  (See AutoSource for more information.)


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