----- Original Message ----- From: <GenBound@aol.com> To: <PAF-5-USERS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, July 23, 2005 8:14 PM Subject: [PAF-5] Re: Backing Up Files > > I have never had to use a backup to restore a file. Am I unknowingly walking > on dangerous "PAF'S" (paths) here? (Everyone groan) > > Sharon > in HOT HUMID So. California > Unless some of those backups are regularly taken off site, uploaded to the Internet, or mailed/emailed to friends or relatives, then the answer is yes, you are walking a dangerous path. What happens if your house burns down, is destroyed in one of those So. Cal earthquakes, is burglarized and the computer and disks are stolen, etc? Gary Templeman

Another Idea is what I do to my Genealogy Data that I do not want to loose is I send it through Familysearch.org by way of Gedcom to the Sharing to "Pedigree Resource File" They in turn put it on CDs and store it in the Granite Mountain and also share it by putting it on CDs. Donna See Below: What will be done with my genealogy (the GEDCOM file) that I submitted? First, your GEDCOM file will be checked for file format errors. If errors are found, you will be notified by e-mail that your file could not be used. It will then be your responsibility to fix any errors and then re-submit your GEDCOM file. Second, a copy of your GEDCOM file will be placed in the Granite Mountain Records Vault, located near Salt Lake City, Utah, for preservation. Third, a copy of your GEDCOM file may be published. Currently, the submitted files are being compiled and published in a CD-ROM product called Pedigree Resource File. Pedigree Resource File is now available for purchase at near cost. It may also be available for use at a Family History Center near you at no charge. An index of the current Pedigree Resource File discs may be purchased through FamilySearch Internet. Submitted GEDCOM files may also be included in other FamilySearch products, such as Ancestral File and even made available on the Internet. Fourth, an index of the current Pedigree Resource File may be made available for searching on FamilySearch Internet. The full content of the GEDCOM files (pedigrees, sources, notes, and so on) is not available on FamilySearch Internet at the current time.

Sharon I think what you are doing is great, with one exception. I would never make a Backup to the hard drive. The data is stored in a separate folder on the hard drive; I have about 12 different databases with 70,000 records. My initial Backup is made to a Zip Drive, (external drive) and then periodically I copy that to my Flash Drive. Every 2 or 3 months I replace my Zip Disk and also copy them to a CD for storage at my local LDS library with instructions to send them to Salt Lake, if and when I die. Ross GH Cotton, Burlington ON CAN 905)639-2929 Genealogy of the COTTON surname is my Enigma. I haven't sent an attachment if the details are not mentioned above. Check out my Genealogy Web Page at www.skylinc.net/~rgcotton GOONS member responsible for tracking the family name COTTON, #1437 Coordinator for Cotton DNA testing Project, Worldwide ----- Original Message ----- From: GenBound@aol.com To: PAF-5-USERS-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Saturday, July 23, 2005 11:14 PM Subject: [PAF-5] Re: Backing Up Files I decided to add my input so that I can hear why it is not a good idea. I was going to buy a new computer, but have now decided to wait for Windows Vista next year...long time I know. I do not have a CD burner (have CD player of course). I still have parallel port so many add-on options are not available to me. This is how I back up my files -- and frequently I use the backup to make certain it is good. Hear a lot about CD's that turn up blank. I back-up my files this way: 1. First I back it up to the PAF file that opens when I click on backup. 2. Secondly I back it up again to the same file adding the date -- Sharon 072305+ the ext. When I have several then I delete the oldest dates, keeping two or three. 3. Third I back it up again to my zip drive using the file name - -it overwrites the file there. 4. Fourth I back it up again to my zip drive using the file name and the date. The zip disks I use in pairs of four -- today #1, tomorrow #2, etc. I regularly open them to see they work. At the end of the year (or sooner if I have been doing lots of research) I put those away for a year and start with four new zip disks, say beginning 2005. Next January I will discard 2004, save the four 2005 disks and start four new ones for 2006. If I am spending the entire day adding to the file then as I do backup's I add A-B-C , etc., for as many times as I use that date. I have 16 different PAF files -- various lines of family, a "may be related" file, and files for friends and other family I am helping with their research. I have never had to use a backup to restore a file. Am I unknowingly walking on dangerous "PAF'S" (paths) here? (Everyone groan) Sharon in HOT HUMID So. California ==== PAF-5-USERS Mailing List ==== PAF @ FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service http://www.familysearch.org/eng/paf/

I decided to add my input so that I can hear why it is not a good idea. I was going to buy a new computer, but have now decided to wait for Windows Vista next year...long time I know. I do not have a CD burner (have CD player of course). I still have parallel port so many add-on options are not available to me. This is how I back up my files -- and frequently I use the backup to make certain it is good. Hear a lot about CD's that turn up blank. I back-up my files this way: 1. First I back it up to the PAF file that opens when I click on backup. 2. Secondly I back it up again to the same file adding the date -- Sharon 072305+ the ext. When I have several then I delete the oldest dates, keeping two or three. 3. Third I back it up again to my zip drive using the file name - -it overwrites the file there. 4. Fourth I back it up again to my zip drive using the file name and the date. The zip disks I use in pairs of four -- today #1, tomorrow #2, etc. I regularly open them to see they work. At the end of the year (or sooner if I have been doing lots of research) I put those away for a year and start with four new zip disks, say beginning 2005. Next January I will discard 2004, save the four 2005 disks and start four new ones for 2006. If I am spending the entire day adding to the file then as I do backup's I add A-B-C , etc., for as many times as I use that date. I have 16 different PAF files -- various lines of family, a "may be related" file, and files for friends and other family I am helping with their research. I have never had to use a backup to restore a file. Am I unknowingly walking on dangerous "PAF'S" (paths) here? (Everyone groan) Sharon in HOT HUMID So. California

I have a question: When I do a backup I always go into Run Command dir a: to check what's on the disk. Is this not proof enough that I have a good backup if it tells me there was one made on this date? I also do two backups and store one in my file at the FHC. Pat At 10:13 PM 7/23/2005, Mike St. Clair/ST wrote: >When you make your backups to floppy diskettes, there is a danger many folks >ignore. If you use a single diskette or set of diskettes to do your backups >there are two catastrophes that can occur. > >1 - One that is guaranteed to happen over time is that the backup >diskette(s) can become "worn out" over time by the constant passing of the >drive heads over the diskettes. This can result in the failure to do a >successful restore when you need to. > >2 - A catastrophe that is "waiting in the wings" and could happen results >from a crash of the computer during the backup process. If you are doing a >backup and your hard drive crashes while in the process, you've just >overwritten your last backup, but haven't successfully created a usable new >backup. Thus you wouldn't have anything to restore. The same thing can >result from a power outage during the backup process, or a motherboard >failure during the backup, etc. > >I've observed that a great many PAF users follow the approach of using the >same backup disk over and over, and are thus susceptable to this sort of >problem. They feel comfortable that they are backing up their data, but >they don't really have solid protection. > >I teach an approach for folks using diskettes that get's around this >problem. > >First, assemble a set of diskettes for the backups - I recommend at least 5, >but it can be any number. A set is however many diskettes it takes to do >your backups - one being enough for most folks. > >Second, make labels indicating these are PAF backups and numbered from 1 to >as many sets as you have, and mark them with the date they went into >service. > >Third, organize the backup diskettes in numerical order (such as in a closed >diskette box or plastic diskette holder with a cover) > >Fourth, when you make a backup, take the set of diskettes off the back , >make your backup and replace them in the front. > >Fifth, at the end of each year, replace half of the diskettes. > >For some other comments about the backup process, see the following page at >PAF Review: > >http://www.paf-review.com/paf_backup.html > >Mike St. Clair > >-----Original Message----- >From: Stewart Millar [mailto:sm999@tiscali.co.uk] >Sent: Saturday, July 23, 2005 10:11 AM >To: PAF-5-USERS-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: RE: [PAF-5] Backup files > >John, > >What you are doing is absolutely fine - keep making those back-ups to your >floppy disc! > >The 3-steps I proposed are an enhancement to that process. > >Having a designated folder on your hard drive for backups (as defined in >Tools > Preferences > Folders) in combination with my second step of naming >each back-up with a date --- gives you your first line of defence - having >available on your hard drive, for immediate access and comparison a series >of dated past back up files. > >Your preference set-up for this setting most likely specifies the A-drive. > >It is of course only a first line of defence - each backup file should >subsequently be copied to an exterior medium and/or facility (floppy disc, >CD, memory stick, email attachment, ftp to internet site etc.). > >I find it most useful to have a series of past dated backups immediately >accessible for quick comparisons or testing/corrupting with some new >procedure - and, in common with a growing number of modern PC's and lap >tops, there is no built in floppy drive to my pc (although I do have an >exterior attachment which I only bring out when someone specifically wants a >floppy disk from me - becoming very rare now). > >Regards, > >Stewart > > > >-----Original Message----- >From: john burns [mailto:johnburns@telus.net] >Sent: 23 July 2005 00:30 >To: PAF-5-USERS-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: Re: [PAF-5] Backup files > >I've been looking at this post for a day and still can't make any sense of >it. I just make a backup of my PAF to a floppy disc. >Why would you "set up a specific folder for your back-up files"? >John >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Stewart Millar" <sm999@tiscali.co.uk> >To: <PAF-5-USERS-L@rootsweb.com> >Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2005 2:27 AM >Subject: RE: [PAF-5] Backup files > > > > Grace, > > > > Good Question! Despite backups being an essential safety net, over the >years > > I have seen great confusion and actual loss of data because of the way in > > which backups have been handled. > > > > The steps that I teach and advocate are as follows: > > > > 1. In Tools > Preferences > Folders set up a specific folder for your > > back-up files. This would be somewhere on your hard drive - mine are kept >in > > C:\........\My Documents\PAF\Backup. > > > > 2. When selecting or requested to do a backup - the suggested name of > > the zipped backup is your PAF database name - this should be changed to > > include the date of your backup - for example, my database is millar.paf, > > which for a backup (today) I would change the suggested name to > > > > millar-2005-07-21 (the .zip extension will be added automatically for > > you) > > > > This example of course is using the reverse European date system (Y-M-D) > > which is recommended for keeping a series of files in date sequence. > > > > For any time where you have multiple backups on the same day - for >instance, > > where you create a backup to take to a FHC or on a research trip - add >some > > data at the FHC - then create a backup at the FHC to take home - simply >add > > an additional version number at the end of the second backup file name, >for > > example: > > > > Millar-2005-07-21-2 > > > > 3. The backed-up file should then - for security reasons - either - be > > burned onto a CD - copied to a floppy disc (if your PC still has a floppy > > disc) - copied to a USB memory stick - attached and emailed to a friend - > > uploaded (ftp) to a secure internet site. Whatever suits your off-site > > storage arrangements. > > > > Using this approach you will then have a series of past backups - all date > > marked. > > > > Periodically you would delete the older backup versions. > > > > This way, any restored backup will create a PAF file with the same name >that > > has the date incorporated in it. From any restored backup, you can then >make > > the deliberate choice to rename the restored backup as your main file >(using > > Save-As). > > > > Backups are not only a safety net for restoring a lost file but used in >this > > way can allow you to open up (restore) a past back for a specific date and > > compare it with your current database to track any changes that you may >have > > made. > > > > Good luck, > > > > Stewart > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Grace Inman [mailto:Grace@eufaula.rr.com] > > Sent: 21 July 2005 04:03 > > To: PAF-5-USERS-L@rootsweb.com > > Subject: [PAF-5] Backup files > > > > Could someone please explain to me in real simple baby steps how to make >the > > best kind of backup files? When I click "Backup" on the File menu of >PAF.5, > > I always tell it to overwrite the current file. Is that the way I should >do > > it, or not? If not, how should I be doing it to provide the maximum > > protection for my file(s)? Please and thank you very much. > > Grace in Georgia, USA > > > > In God we trust. > > > > > > ==== PAF-5-USERS Mailing List ==== > > PAF @ FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service > > http://www.familysearch.org/eng/paf/ > > > > > > > > > > ==== PAF-5-USERS Mailing List ==== > > FreeBMD - Free Access to England and Wales Civil Registration Index > > Volunteer as a Transcriber Today! > > http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/ > > > > > > > >==== PAF-5-USERS Mailing List ==== >PAF @ FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service >http://www.familysearch.org/eng/paf/ > > >==== PAF-5-USERS Mailing List ==== >Replying to Posts >When quoting a post you're replying to, omit signatures and taglines that >are appended to the post.

John, Alan, and others, I make a "backup" to my hard disk. It's not my only backup (I use both floppies and USB Drives) but it's my most complete backup. What I did was write a batch file that copies all the data I tell it to into my backup folder. Then, I burn the data to a CD. Having all the data in one folder makes it easier to burn to the CD. I don't limit the data to PAF. I backup (copy) all my data (Publisher files, spredsheets, pictures, MS Word files, letters, etc.). I do this as often as I want but no less than once a week. About once a month I take a copy of this CD and store it in a locked file cabinet at the local FHC. They do this as a service and several patrons take advantage of that service. So, while "backing up" to the hard disk should not be your only backup, it does have it's benefits. > > > In a message dated 7/22/2005 4:29:24 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time, > johnburns@telus.net writes: > > I've been looking at this post for a day and still can't make any sense of > it. I just make a backup of my PAF to a floppy disc. > Why would you "set up a specific folder for your back-up files"? > John > > > > I have the same question. I would never make a backup to my hard drive. > The reason you backup your file is in case something happens to your hard > drive. I agree that a sequence of backups is good, but not to > your hard drive. > Since my file started taking more than one floppy, I have used USB memory > sticks for my rotation of backups. They are pretty cheap now, > hold more data and > are as easy to use as floppies (and so far they have not failed as floppies > often do). > Alan B. > > > ==== PAF-5-USERS Mailing List ==== > FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service > http://www.familysearch.org/

The DIR just reads the directory and doesn't guarantee that the file is actually readable. Your second backup would give you additional assurance. But as the diskettes you are using age, they will become less reliable, and at some point you will find problems reading. This depends on a combination of the actual age, the environment (heat, humidity, dustiness, etc) that you store the diskette in, and the number of times it has been read or written. I've never seen data lost when someone is rotating 5 diskettes unless it was something like a fire (your offsite copy is a good plan for that reason). But I've seen many, many folks who were relying on a single diskette lose data when their hard drive crashed. -----Original Message----- From: Patricia J Weisshaus [mailto:patjw28@earthlink.net] Sent: Saturday, July 23, 2005 9:00 PM To: Mike St. Clair/ST; PAF-5-USERS-L@rootsweb.com Subject: RE: [PAF-5] Backup files I have a question: When I do a backup I always go into Run Command dir a: to check what's on the disk. Is this not proof enough that I have a good backup if it tells me there was one made on this date? I also do two backups and store one in my file at the FHC. Pat At 10:13 PM 7/23/2005, Mike St. Clair/ST wrote: >When you make your backups to floppy diskettes, there is a danger many >folks ignore. If you use a single diskette or set of diskettes to do >your backups there are two catastrophes that can occur. > >1 - One that is guaranteed to happen over time is that the backup >diskette(s) can become "worn out" over time by the constant passing of >the drive heads over the diskettes. This can result in the failure to >do a successful restore when you need to. > >2 - A catastrophe that is "waiting in the wings" and could happen >results from a crash of the computer during the backup process. If you >are doing a backup and your hard drive crashes while in the process, >you've just overwritten your last backup, but haven't successfully >created a usable new backup. Thus you wouldn't have anything to >restore. The same thing can result from a power outage during the >backup process, or a motherboard failure during the backup, etc. > >I've observed that a great many PAF users follow the approach of using >the same backup disk over and over, and are thus susceptable to this >sort of problem. They feel comfortable that they are backing up their >data, but they don't really have solid protection. > >I teach an approach for folks using diskettes that get's around this >problem. > >First, assemble a set of diskettes for the backups - I recommend at >least 5, but it can be any number. A set is however many diskettes it >takes to do your backups - one being enough for most folks. > >Second, make labels indicating these are PAF backups and numbered from >1 to as many sets as you have, and mark them with the date they went >into service. > >Third, organize the backup diskettes in numerical order (such as in a >closed diskette box or plastic diskette holder with a cover) > >Fourth, when you make a backup, take the set of diskettes off the back >, make your backup and replace them in the front. > >Fifth, at the end of each year, replace half of the diskettes. > >For some other comments about the backup process, see the following >page at PAF Review: > >http://www.paf-review.com/paf_backup.html > >Mike St. Clair > >-----Original Message----- >From: Stewart Millar [mailto:sm999@tiscali.co.uk] >Sent: Saturday, July 23, 2005 10:11 AM >To: PAF-5-USERS-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: RE: [PAF-5] Backup files > >John, > >What you are doing is absolutely fine - keep making those back-ups to >your floppy disc! > >The 3-steps I proposed are an enhancement to that process. > >Having a designated folder on your hard drive for backups (as defined >in Tools > Preferences > Folders) in combination with my second step of >naming each back-up with a date --- gives you your first line of >defence - having available on your hard drive, for immediate access and >comparison a series of dated past back up files. > >Your preference set-up for this setting most likely specifies the A-drive. > >It is of course only a first line of defence - each backup file should >subsequently be copied to an exterior medium and/or facility (floppy >disc, CD, memory stick, email attachment, ftp to internet site etc.). > >I find it most useful to have a series of past dated backups >immediately accessible for quick comparisons or testing/corrupting with >some new procedure - and, in common with a growing number of modern >PC's and lap tops, there is no built in floppy drive to my pc (although >I do have an exterior attachment which I only bring out when someone >specifically wants a floppy disk from me - becoming very rare now). > >Regards, > >Stewart > > > >-----Original Message----- >From: john burns [mailto:johnburns@telus.net] >Sent: 23 July 2005 00:30 >To: PAF-5-USERS-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: Re: [PAF-5] Backup files > >I've been looking at this post for a day and still can't make any sense >of it. I just make a backup of my PAF to a floppy disc. >Why would you "set up a specific folder for your back-up files"? >John >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Stewart Millar" <sm999@tiscali.co.uk> >To: <PAF-5-USERS-L@rootsweb.com> >Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2005 2:27 AM >Subject: RE: [PAF-5] Backup files > > > > Grace, > > > > Good Question! Despite backups being an essential safety net, over > > the >years > > I have seen great confusion and actual loss of data because of the > > way in which backups have been handled. > > > > The steps that I teach and advocate are as follows: > > > > 1. In Tools > Preferences > Folders set up a specific folder for > > your back-up files. This would be somewhere on your hard drive - > > mine are kept >in > > C:\........\My Documents\PAF\Backup. > > > > 2. When selecting or requested to do a backup - the suggested name > > of the zipped backup is your PAF database name - this should be > > changed to include the date of your backup - for example, my > > database is millar.paf, which for a backup (today) I would change > > the suggested name to > > > > millar-2005-07-21 (the .zip extension will be added automatically > > for > > you) > > > > This example of course is using the reverse European date system > > (Y-M-D) which is recommended for keeping a series of files in date sequence. > > > > For any time where you have multiple backups on the same day - for >instance, > > where you create a backup to take to a FHC or on a research trip - > > add >some > > data at the FHC - then create a backup at the FHC to take home - > > simply >add > > an additional version number at the end of the second backup file > > name, >for > > example: > > > > Millar-2005-07-21-2 > > > > 3. The backed-up file should then - for security reasons - either - > > be burned onto a CD - copied to a floppy disc (if your PC still has > > a floppy > > disc) - copied to a USB memory stick - attached and emailed to a > > friend - uploaded (ftp) to a secure internet site. Whatever suits > > your off-site storage arrangements. > > > > Using this approach you will then have a series of past backups - > > all date marked. > > > > Periodically you would delete the older backup versions. > > > > This way, any restored backup will create a PAF file with the same > > name >that > > has the date incorporated in it. From any restored backup, you can > > then >make > > the deliberate choice to rename the restored backup as your main > > file >(using > > Save-As). > > > > Backups are not only a safety net for restoring a lost file but used > > in >this > > way can allow you to open up (restore) a past back for a specific > > date and compare it with your current database to track any changes > > that you may >have > > made. > > > > Good luck, > > > > Stewart > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Grace Inman [mailto:Grace@eufaula.rr.com] > > Sent: 21 July 2005 04:03 > > To: PAF-5-USERS-L@rootsweb.com > > Subject: [PAF-5] Backup files > > > > Could someone please explain to me in real simple baby steps how to > > make >the > > best kind of backup files? When I click "Backup" on the File menu > > of >PAF.5, > > I always tell it to overwrite the current file. Is that the way I > > should >do > > it, or not? If not, how should I be doing it to provide the maximum > > protection for my file(s)? Please and thank you very much. > > Grace in Georgia, USA > > > > In God we trust. > > > > > > ==== PAF-5-USERS Mailing List ==== > > PAF @ FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service > > http://www.familysearch.org/eng/paf/ > > > > > > > > > > ==== PAF-5-USERS Mailing List ==== > > FreeBMD - Free Access to England and Wales Civil Registration Index > > Volunteer as a Transcriber Today! > > http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/ > > > > > > > >==== PAF-5-USERS Mailing List ==== >PAF @ FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service >http://www.familysearch.org/eng/paf/ > > >==== PAF-5-USERS Mailing List ==== >Replying to Posts >When quoting a post you're replying to, omit signatures and taglines >that are appended to the post.

In a message dated 7/22/2005 4:29:24 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time, johnburns@telus.net writes: I've been looking at this post for a day and still can't make any sense of it. I just make a backup of my PAF to a floppy disc. Why would you "set up a specific folder for your back-up files"? John I have the same question. I would never make a backup to my hard drive. The reason you backup your file is in case something happens to your hard drive. I agree that a sequence of backups is good, but not to your hard drive. Since my file started taking more than one floppy, I have used USB memory sticks for my rotation of backups. They are pretty cheap now, hold more data and are as easy to use as floppies (and so far they have not failed as floppies often do). Alan B.

When you make your backups to floppy diskettes, there is a danger many folks ignore. If you use a single diskette or set of diskettes to do your backups there are two catastrophes that can occur. 1 - One that is guaranteed to happen over time is that the backup diskette(s) can become "worn out" over time by the constant passing of the drive heads over the diskettes. This can result in the failure to do a successful restore when you need to. 2 - A catastrophe that is "waiting in the wings" and could happen results from a crash of the computer during the backup process. If you are doing a backup and your hard drive crashes while in the process, you've just overwritten your last backup, but haven't successfully created a usable new backup. Thus you wouldn't have anything to restore. The same thing can result from a power outage during the backup process, or a motherboard failure during the backup, etc. I've observed that a great many PAF users follow the approach of using the same backup disk over and over, and are thus susceptable to this sort of problem. They feel comfortable that they are backing up their data, but they don't really have solid protection. I teach an approach for folks using diskettes that get's around this problem. First, assemble a set of diskettes for the backups - I recommend at least 5, but it can be any number. A set is however many diskettes it takes to do your backups - one being enough for most folks. Second, make labels indicating these are PAF backups and numbered from 1 to as many sets as you have, and mark them with the date they went into service. Third, organize the backup diskettes in numerical order (such as in a closed diskette box or plastic diskette holder with a cover) Fourth, when you make a backup, take the set of diskettes off the back , make your backup and replace them in the front. Fifth, at the end of each year, replace half of the diskettes. For some other comments about the backup process, see the following page at PAF Review: http://www.paf-review.com/paf_backup.html Mike St. Clair -----Original Message----- From: Stewart Millar [mailto:sm999@tiscali.co.uk] Sent: Saturday, July 23, 2005 10:11 AM To: PAF-5-USERS-L@rootsweb.com Subject: RE: [PAF-5] Backup files John, What you are doing is absolutely fine - keep making those back-ups to your floppy disc! The 3-steps I proposed are an enhancement to that process. Having a designated folder on your hard drive for backups (as defined in Tools > Preferences > Folders) in combination with my second step of naming each back-up with a date --- gives you your first line of defence - having available on your hard drive, for immediate access and comparison a series of dated past back up files. Your preference set-up for this setting most likely specifies the A-drive. It is of course only a first line of defence - each backup file should subsequently be copied to an exterior medium and/or facility (floppy disc, CD, memory stick, email attachment, ftp to internet site etc.). I find it most useful to have a series of past dated backups immediately accessible for quick comparisons or testing/corrupting with some new procedure - and, in common with a growing number of modern PC's and lap tops, there is no built in floppy drive to my pc (although I do have an exterior attachment which I only bring out when someone specifically wants a floppy disk from me - becoming very rare now). Regards, Stewart -----Original Message----- From: john burns [mailto:johnburns@telus.net] Sent: 23 July 2005 00:30 To: PAF-5-USERS-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [PAF-5] Backup files I've been looking at this post for a day and still can't make any sense of it. I just make a backup of my PAF to a floppy disc. Why would you "set up a specific folder for your back-up files"? John ----- Original Message ----- From: "Stewart Millar" <sm999@tiscali.co.uk> To: <PAF-5-USERS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2005 2:27 AM Subject: RE: [PAF-5] Backup files > Grace, > > Good Question! Despite backups being an essential safety net, over the years > I have seen great confusion and actual loss of data because of the way in > which backups have been handled. > > The steps that I teach and advocate are as follows: > > 1. In Tools > Preferences > Folders set up a specific folder for your > back-up files. This would be somewhere on your hard drive - mine are kept in > C:\........\My Documents\PAF\Backup. > > 2. When selecting or requested to do a backup - the suggested name of > the zipped backup is your PAF database name - this should be changed to > include the date of your backup - for example, my database is millar.paf, > which for a backup (today) I would change the suggested name to > > millar-2005-07-21 (the .zip extension will be added automatically for > you) > > This example of course is using the reverse European date system (Y-M-D) > which is recommended for keeping a series of files in date sequence. > > For any time where you have multiple backups on the same day - for instance, > where you create a backup to take to a FHC or on a research trip - add some > data at the FHC - then create a backup at the FHC to take home - simply add > an additional version number at the end of the second backup file name, for > example: > > Millar-2005-07-21-2 > > 3. The backed-up file should then - for security reasons - either - be > burned onto a CD - copied to a floppy disc (if your PC still has a floppy > disc) - copied to a USB memory stick - attached and emailed to a friend - > uploaded (ftp) to a secure internet site. Whatever suits your off-site > storage arrangements. > > Using this approach you will then have a series of past backups - all date > marked. > > Periodically you would delete the older backup versions. > > This way, any restored backup will create a PAF file with the same name that > has the date incorporated in it. From any restored backup, you can then make > the deliberate choice to rename the restored backup as your main file (using > Save-As). > > Backups are not only a safety net for restoring a lost file but used in this > way can allow you to open up (restore) a past back for a specific date and > compare it with your current database to track any changes that you may have > made. > > Good luck, > > Stewart > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Grace Inman [mailto:Grace@eufaula.rr.com] > Sent: 21 July 2005 04:03 > To: PAF-5-USERS-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: [PAF-5] Backup files > > Could someone please explain to me in real simple baby steps how to make the > best kind of backup files? When I click "Backup" on the File menu of PAF.5, > I always tell it to overwrite the current file. Is that the way I should do > it, or not? If not, how should I be doing it to provide the maximum > protection for my file(s)? Please and thank you very much. > Grace in Georgia, USA > > In God we trust. > > > ==== PAF-5-USERS Mailing List ==== > PAF @ FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service > http://www.familysearch.org/eng/paf/ > > > > > ==== PAF-5-USERS Mailing List ==== > FreeBMD - Free Access to England and Wales Civil Registration Index > Volunteer as a Transcriber Today! > http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/ > > ==== PAF-5-USERS Mailing List ==== PAF @ FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service http://www.familysearch.org/eng/paf/

lemow@email.com wrote: > Then, I burn the data to a CD. Having all the data > in one folder makes it easier to burn to the CD. ... > About once a month I take a copy of this CD and > store it in a locked file cabinet at the local FHC. An excellent idea. Every backup plan should include offsite storage. If you diligently back up your files, but keep the backups in the same building, then you have a risk due to fire or other disaster. A good way to provide this form of backup is to share your file with a relative who will do their best to keep it safe on their computer. There is a very low probability of the file being lost on your computer at the same time as it is on lost on theirs. A point about floppies - I have seen many floppies that fail after sitting idle for less than a year. Failures are a fact of life for any computer storage medium. If you have something besides a floppy, use it occasionally. There are two main reasons to backup - 1. To protect against hard drive failure. 2. To protect against incorrect changes to the file. I believe most people who backup do so because they are concerned about reason 1, which is an important reason. But the next time your computer dies, even if you have never made a backup, you may still be able to get the data from the hard drive. A computer shop may be able to get the data back for you. I had a laptop with some important data that had not yet been backed up. I took it to a local independent computer shop and asked them to retrieve the data. I bought an extra hard drive for my new desktop computer and had them transfer all of the contents of my laptop hard drive onto the new desktop hard drive. I don't remember how much they charged, but it was a reasonable price. Reason 2 is a concern that many people don't think about. But since we are all human, we can all make mistakes. When we realize the mistake, it may be because of something that happened months ago. The error may have been caused the loss of much data. The best way to fix this error is to go back to an older version of the file. Your backup strategy should include saving some older copies of the backup. For backups, I personally use the hard drive, CD's, and sending copies to a few relatives. Obviously, saving to the hard drive doesn't protect against loss due to the hard drive failing. I use it because its fast, convenient, and it protects against loss due to reason 2. The other methods (CD, Relative) protect against loss due to reason 1. Aloha, John

John, What you are doing is absolutely fine - keep making those back-ups to your floppy disc! The 3-steps I proposed are an enhancement to that process. Having a designated folder on your hard drive for backups (as defined in Tools > Preferences > Folders) in combination with my second step of naming each back-up with a date --- gives you your first line of defence - having available on your hard drive, for immediate access and comparison a series of dated past back up files. Your preference set-up for this setting most likely specifies the A-drive. It is of course only a first line of defence - each backup file should subsequently be copied to an exterior medium and/or facility (floppy disc, CD, memory stick, email attachment, ftp to internet site etc.). I find it most useful to have a series of past dated backups immediately accessible for quick comparisons or testing/corrupting with some new procedure - and, in common with a growing number of modern PC's and lap tops, there is no built in floppy drive to my pc (although I do have an exterior attachment which I only bring out when someone specifically wants a floppy disk from me - becoming very rare now). Regards, Stewart -----Original Message----- From: john burns [mailto:johnburns@telus.net] Sent: 23 July 2005 00:30 To: PAF-5-USERS-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [PAF-5] Backup files I've been looking at this post for a day and still can't make any sense of it. I just make a backup of my PAF to a floppy disc. Why would you "set up a specific folder for your back-up files"? John ----- Original Message ----- From: "Stewart Millar" <sm999@tiscali.co.uk> To: <PAF-5-USERS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2005 2:27 AM Subject: RE: [PAF-5] Backup files > Grace, > > Good Question! Despite backups being an essential safety net, over the years > I have seen great confusion and actual loss of data because of the way in > which backups have been handled. > > The steps that I teach and advocate are as follows: > > 1. In Tools > Preferences > Folders set up a specific folder for your > back-up files. This would be somewhere on your hard drive - mine are kept in > C:\........\My Documents\PAF\Backup. > > 2. When selecting or requested to do a backup - the suggested name of > the zipped backup is your PAF database name - this should be changed to > include the date of your backup - for example, my database is millar.paf, > which for a backup (today) I would change the suggested name to > > millar-2005-07-21 (the .zip extension will be added automatically for > you) > > This example of course is using the reverse European date system (Y-M-D) > which is recommended for keeping a series of files in date sequence. > > For any time where you have multiple backups on the same day - for instance, > where you create a backup to take to a FHC or on a research trip - add some > data at the FHC - then create a backup at the FHC to take home - simply add > an additional version number at the end of the second backup file name, for > example: > > Millar-2005-07-21-2 > > 3. The backed-up file should then - for security reasons - either - be > burned onto a CD - copied to a floppy disc (if your PC still has a floppy > disc) - copied to a USB memory stick - attached and emailed to a friend - > uploaded (ftp) to a secure internet site. Whatever suits your off-site > storage arrangements. > > Using this approach you will then have a series of past backups - all date > marked. > > Periodically you would delete the older backup versions. > > This way, any restored backup will create a PAF file with the same name that > has the date incorporated in it. From any restored backup, you can then make > the deliberate choice to rename the restored backup as your main file (using > Save-As). > > Backups are not only a safety net for restoring a lost file but used in this > way can allow you to open up (restore) a past back for a specific date and > compare it with your current database to track any changes that you may have > made. > > Good luck, > > Stewart > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Grace Inman [mailto:Grace@eufaula.rr.com] > Sent: 21 July 2005 04:03 > To: PAF-5-USERS-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: [PAF-5] Backup files > > Could someone please explain to me in real simple baby steps how to make the > best kind of backup files? When I click "Backup" on the File menu of PAF.5, > I always tell it to overwrite the current file. Is that the way I should do > it, or not? If not, how should I be doing it to provide the maximum > protection for my file(s)? Please and thank you very much. > Grace in Georgia, USA > > In God we trust. > > > ==== PAF-5-USERS Mailing List ==== > PAF @ FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service > http://www.familysearch.org/eng/paf/ > > > > > ==== PAF-5-USERS Mailing List ==== > FreeBMD - Free Access to England and Wales Civil Registration Index > Volunteer as a Transcriber Today! > http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/ > > ==== PAF-5-USERS Mailing List ==== PAF @ FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service http://www.familysearch.org/eng/paf/

Hi All, I have been a list member on and off for a couple of years now, lurking in the background, picking up some interesting and useful tips. About 2 or 3 years ago I bought a CD of PAF Companion, version 5.0. I downloaded an upgrade from the LDS web page, and my current version is 5.1.3. I see that the current version being sold on CD is 5.2. Does anyone know if there is an upgrade for existing users? Or will I have to buy another CD of version 5.2? Tony Hunt Stockton-on-Tees, England. -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.338 / Virus Database: 267.9.4/57 - Release Date: 22/07/05

I've been looking at this post for a day and still can't make any sense of it. I just make a backup of my PAF to a floppy disc. Why would you "set up a specific folder for your back-up files"? John ----- Original Message ----- From: "Stewart Millar" <sm999@tiscali.co.uk> To: <PAF-5-USERS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2005 2:27 AM Subject: RE: [PAF-5] Backup files > Grace, > > Good Question! Despite backups being an essential safety net, over the years > I have seen great confusion and actual loss of data because of the way in > which backups have been handled. > > The steps that I teach and advocate are as follows: > > 1. In Tools > Preferences > Folders set up a specific folder for your > back-up files. This would be somewhere on your hard drive - mine are kept in > C:\........\My Documents\PAF\Backup. > > 2. When selecting or requested to do a backup - the suggested name of > the zipped backup is your PAF database name - this should be changed to > include the date of your backup - for example, my database is millar.paf, > which for a backup (today) I would change the suggested name to > > millar-2005-07-21 (the .zip extension will be added automatically for > you) > > This example of course is using the reverse European date system (Y-M-D) > which is recommended for keeping a series of files in date sequence. > > For any time where you have multiple backups on the same day - for instance, > where you create a backup to take to a FHC or on a research trip - add some > data at the FHC - then create a backup at the FHC to take home - simply add > an additional version number at the end of the second backup file name, for > example: > > Millar-2005-07-21-2 > > 3. The backed-up file should then - for security reasons - either - be > burned onto a CD - copied to a floppy disc (if your PC still has a floppy > disc) - copied to a USB memory stick - attached and emailed to a friend - > uploaded (ftp) to a secure internet site. Whatever suits your off-site > storage arrangements. > > Using this approach you will then have a series of past backups - all date > marked. > > Periodically you would delete the older backup versions. > > This way, any restored backup will create a PAF file with the same name that > has the date incorporated in it. From any restored backup, you can then make > the deliberate choice to rename the restored backup as your main file (using > Save-As). > > Backups are not only a safety net for restoring a lost file but used in this > way can allow you to open up (restore) a past back for a specific date and > compare it with your current database to track any changes that you may have > made. > > Good luck, > > Stewart > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Grace Inman [mailto:Grace@eufaula.rr.com] > Sent: 21 July 2005 04:03 > To: PAF-5-USERS-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: [PAF-5] Backup files > > Could someone please explain to me in real simple baby steps how to make the > best kind of backup files? When I click "Backup" on the File menu of PAF.5, > I always tell it to overwrite the current file. Is that the way I should do > it, or not? If not, how should I be doing it to provide the maximum > protection for my file(s)? Please and thank you very much. > Grace in Georgia, USA > > In God we trust. > > > ==== PAF-5-USERS Mailing List ==== > PAF @ FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service > http://www.familysearch.org/eng/paf/ > > > > > ==== PAF-5-USERS Mailing List ==== > FreeBMD - Free Access to England and Wales Civil Registration Index > Volunteer as a Transcriber Today! > http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/ > >

In my experience, using the Custom Events, with dates, places and descriptions, with sources on them has been the most efficient way to get documentation on the family. The date order will print the citations out chronologically, no matter what order you enter them in; and can generate footnotes if you're inclined to publish to the web or paper. I've included sources such as 'Oral Family History' to capture the items which are stories. Notes in PAF I tend to leave for questionable info, research leads to follow-up; maybe connections, etc Regina Barry * rmbarry1066@earthlink.net * http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~rbarry4145/index.htm Man's mind is so formed that it is far more susceptible to falsehood than to truth. Desiderius Erasmus

Hello All, I am very new to PAF: in fact this is the first genealogical programme I have used even though I have been doing family history for nearly 25 years. I have developed a system for keeping notes of all the research done on one family - whether successful or not - including correspondence, transcripts, photocopies, images, certificates, photos etc etc. All these notes for each family are based on one file. Can anyone suggest ways to incorporate this information into PAF, with the minimum of tears? Thank you Rosemary, Northumberland UK

In a message dated 7/21/2005 12:25:36 PM Central Standard Time, rrands@cfmc.com writes: > Hi Grace, > There is one additional "best practices" item for backing up that has not > been mentioned in this thread. You should also keep some kind of log that > identifies in general terms what is different about each backup. For > example, you might have a log that contains entries for Date, Filename, > Comments with entries something like: > > YOur mention of "log" Richard, reminds me of a question I"ve been intending > to ask: PAF4 had a log feature which recorded each change you made in your > database; was very useful & handy. I do not find that in PAF5; am I just > not looking in the right place or is it gone now? Ethel in NEbraska

Hi Ethel, Yes you can do logging in PAF5. Go to Tools>Preferences>File>Log Changes. PAF will create a file with a .pal filename extension. In the Log changes area you can view the log records or flush them. Richard >>YOur mention of "log" Richard, reminds me of a question I"ve been >>intending to ask: PAF4 had a log feature which recorded each change you >>made in your database; was very useful & handy. I do not find that in >>PAF5; am I just not looking in the right place or is it gone now >? > >Ethel in NEbraska

Alan You were absolutely correct. I'd forgotten to check the drives. I was successful this time. Thanks to everyone who solved my problem. Pat At 10:22 AM 7/21/2005, Bartretrd@aol.com wrote: >In a message dated 7/21/2005 6:44:04 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time, >patjw28@earthlink.net writes: >Due to illness, I was away from my genealogy for about four months. I'vr >just started to get interested in it once more. For some reason, I can no >longer back up my file. I've always been able to fit it on one floppy, but >now it doesn't work. I go to File and Backup, file is already there--do you >want to replace it, yes, and in three seconds it comes back with backup >complete. I always check my floppies in the Run command and ask for >directory A and it tells me there is no file. I've reformatted the discs, >used diffferent ones, run check/repair (no problems). I'm very frustrated >at this point and don't know what to do. Can someone help? > >My first guess is that somehow the place where the backup is saved has >been changed from the A: drive to some other place. When you tell PAF to >backup your data and the little screen comes up with the name of the file >you want backed up, look at the top of the screen and see where the file >is going. I suspect it is being saved to the hard drive (C:) instead of >to the A: drive. Go to tools, preferences, folders and see where it says >the file is going. If you want it to go to A: then type A:\ in the backup >block. (I save my backups to the F: drive which is my USB memory stick) >Alan B.

Hi Richard. What a neat idea! Thanks for suggesting it, and also, for the detailed instructions to use it. Yes, I am using Win XP Home. I have never done much with Windows Explorer, although I did know it was there. You've opened new doors for me! You listers are the best ... Grace in Georgia, USA In God We Trust ----- Original Message ----- From: "Richard Rands" <rrands@cfmc.com> To: <PAF-5-USERS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2005 12:22 PM Subject: Re: [PAF-5] Backup files > Hi Grace, > There is one additional "best practices" item for backing up that has not > been mentioned in this thread. You should also keep some kind of log that > identifies in general terms what is different about each backup. For > example, you might have a log that contains entries for Date, Filename, > Comments with entries something like: > > July 14, 2005 Inman-2005-07-14 Completed Match/Merge for Millar line > July 16, 2005 Inman-2005-07-16 Corrected errors in Connecticut place > names > July 18, 2005 Inman-2005-07-18 Added birth of Georgina Helen Inman > July 20, 2005 Inman-2005-07-20 Added GEDCOM from Robert White > (rwhite04.ged) > > and so on. If you ever had to go back and restore from a back up, this > log of information about each back-up will be a great help in deciding > which backup to restore from. > > If you happen to be running Windows XP, there is a way you can do this > directly in the backup file. You will need to be familiar with Windows > Explorer to do it. This is not the Internet Explorer that you use to surf > the Internet. It is a utility program that comes with Windows that allows > you to navigate and work with your files on your system. To run Windows > Explorer, right click on the START button and select the Explore option. > That will pop up the Explore window showing the usual Windows file system > with folders listed on the left side and the folder contents on the right > side. > > With your mouse, click on the folder where your backup files are located. > You may have to click on more than one folder to "drill down" to your > specific backup folder. Once you have highlighted the backup folder on > the left, you should see your back-up file listed on the right. With your > mouse pointing to the backup file name, right click on it. That will pop > up a new dialog box with a Properties option at the very bottom. Once in > the Properties pop-up box, select the Summary tab. There you will find a > variety of fields you can use to enter information about your file. I > suggest you enter the comments about the file in the Comments box at the > bottom. Click OK. > > You now have saved the log information with the file itself. To show that > info on your screen, you will need to use the Windows Explorer program > again. So before you close it, click on the View pull down menu at the > top of the Explorer window. Select the option Choose Details. In the > list of details to be displayed, check the box for Comments and then click > OK. Now every time you use Windows Explorer, and navigate to your backup > folder, you will be able to view the comments with each backup file. I > recognize that this sounds complicated at first, but once you do it a few > times, it will become second nature. > > Good Luck, > > Richard Rands > > > > > > At 05:07 AM 7/21/2005, Grace Inman wrote: >>Hi Stewart. Your method looks good. It's easy to do and seems to cover >>all the bases. As mentioned in another email, I'm waiting for a tech to >>replace my CD and DVD drives, which should happen in a few days. Right >>now, they're both unusable. After they're replaced, I plan to do the CD >>backups you describe, plus send my PAF file to my husband's PC for >>additional protection (if he'll let me. :^ ) That thought occurs to >>me, though ... you've gotta have a friend or relative who has the >>available space on their PC, and is willing to use it for you. Thank you >>so much. I really appreciate the help I get from this list. God bless you >>folks in the U.K. Many prayers and petitions have gone up for you. >>Grace in Georgia, USA >> >>----- Original Message ----- From: "Stewart Millar" <sm999@tiscali.co.uk> >>To: <PAF-5-USERS-L@rootsweb.com> >>Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2005 4:27 AM >>Subject: RE: [PAF-5] Backup files >> >> >>>Grace, >>> >>>Good Question! Despite backups being an essential safety net, over the >>>years >>>I have seen great confusion and actual loss of data because of the way in >>>which backups have been handled. >>> >>>The steps that I teach and advocate are as follows: >>> >>>1. In Tools > Preferences > Folders set up a specific folder for your >>>back-up files. This would be somewhere on your hard drive - mine are kept >>>in >>>C:\........\My Documents\PAF\Backup. >>> >>>2. When selecting or requested to do a backup - the suggested name of >>>the zipped backup is your PAF database name - this should be changed to >>>include the date of your backup - for example, my database is millar.paf, >>>which for a backup (today) I would change the suggested name to >>> >>>millar-2005-07-21 (the .zip extension will be added automatically for >>>you) >>> >>>This example of course is using the reverse European date system (Y-M-D) >>>which is recommended for keeping a series of files in date sequence. >>> >>>For any time where you have multiple backups on the same day - for >>>instance, >>>where you create a backup to take to a FHC or on a research trip - add >>>some >>>data at the FHC - then create a backup at the FHC to take home - simply >>>add >>>an additional version number at the end of the second backup file name, >>>for >>>example: >>> >>>Millar-2005-07-21-2 >>> >>>3. The backed-up file should then - for security reasons - either - be >>>burned onto a CD - copied to a floppy disc (if your PC still has a floppy >>>disc) - copied to a USB memory stick - attached and emailed to a friend - >>>uploaded (ftp) to a secure internet site. Whatever suits your off-site >>>storage arrangements. >>> >>>Using this approach you will then have a series of past backups - all >>>date >>>marked. >>> >>>Periodically you would delete the older backup versions. >>> >>>This way, any restored backup will create a PAF file with the same name >>>that >>>has the date incorporated in it. From any restored backup, you can then >>>make >>>the deliberate choice to rename the restored backup as your main file >>>(using >>>Save-As). >>> >>>Backups are not only a safety net for restoring a lost file but used in >>>this >>>way can allow you to open up (restore) a past back for a specific date >>>and >>>compare it with your current database to track any changes that you may >>>have >>>made. >>> >>>Good luck, >>> >>>Stewart >>> >>> >>>-----Original Message----- >>>From: Grace Inman [mailto:Grace@eufaula.rr.com] >>>Sent: 21 July 2005 04:03 >>>To: PAF-5-USERS-L@rootsweb.com >>>Subject: [PAF-5] Backup files >>> >>>Could someone please explain to me in real simple baby steps how to make >>>the >>>best kind of backup files? When I click "Backup" on the File menu of >>>PAF.5, >>>I always tell it to overwrite the current file. Is that the way I should >>>do >>>it, or not? If not, how should I be doing it to provide the maximum >>>protection for my file(s)? Please and thank you very much. >>>Grace in Georgia, USA >>> >>>In God we trust. >>> >>> >>>==== PAF-5-USERS Mailing List ==== >>>PAF @ FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service >>>http://www.familysearch.org/eng/paf/ >>> >>> >>> >>> >>>==== PAF-5-USERS Mailing List ==== >>>FreeBMD - Free Access to England and Wales Civil Registration Index >>>Volunteer as a Transcriber Today! >>>http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/ >>> >> >> >> >>==== PAF-5-USERS Mailing List ==== >>PAF-5-USERS Mailing List >>http://www.ausbdm.org/p5uindex.php > > > > > ==== PAF-5-USERS Mailing List ==== > PAF-5-USERS Mailing List Search > http://searches2.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl?list=PAF-5-USERS > >

I think I have enough info to set up my files and backups for the max usage and protection. Unless someone else has an idea that hasn't been mentioned :^ ) ..... My gratitude to all who took time to help me out ... you are much appreciated. (In case you're wondering why I say "USA" it's because there's also a nation named Georgia in Europe, and that's NOT where I live!) Grace in Georgia, USA In God We Trust