Windows does not always finish copying data to the flash drive, unless you use the official "Eject" or "Safely remove mass storage device" process. Otherwise, the last few bytes of data may still be held up in the data transfer buffer, which means that if you unplug the flash drive without going through the Eject process, the file on the flash drive may be incomplete and unusable. Newer versions of Windows (Vista and 7) seem to have fewer problems in this regard than older versions, but always use the Eject process anyway. It only takes a few seconds. Bill Buchanan On Wed, Jan 26, 2011 at 12:08 PM, Suzanne Walker <swalker7736@yahoo.com>wrote: > On a side note, if you're using a thumb drive to work on your PAF file, I > would caution against it. I have twice now ended up with major database > corruption keeping my PAF file on a USB drive so that I could work on > different machines. I've switched to using dropbox, which synchronizes > files over an internet connection (it also serves as backup, and has > version > recovery capabilities). > > Best, > Suzanne > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > > Message: 1 > > Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2011 14:42:23 +1000 > > From: "Col Paterson" <banjo1@bigpond.net.au> > > Subject: [PAF-5] USB memory stick. > > To: <paf-5-users@rootsweb.com> > > Message-ID: <001501cbbd13$6c840210$458c0630$@net.au> > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > > > G'day Friends, Happy Australia Day. May I ask of the many people on this > > list who use these USB Thumb Drives, Flash drives whatever you may call > > them, ever been able to secure the information on one by way of a P.I.N > or > > Password. I have been told that one must buy a particular brand that > comes > > with a software disc to enable just this and also to partition the drive. > > Presumably there will be an extra cost for this it's a thought that > > occurred > > to me when mine fell off my keyring into the river, as it had previously > > been through the washing machine cycle and survived I'm now a little > > concerned that if anyone finds it they will have no trouble reading my > > content. > > > > Allabest > > > > Col > >

When I got my first thumb drive I made a big mistake. I loaded my PAF database on it for the same reason others do - to work on it on different computers, at a FHC or the FHL, etc. I made a number of additions to my desktop database then saved it on my thumb drive. I'm not sure what I did wrong but I ended up with duplications of every single name (instead of approximately 10,000 names I have 20,000 names). It took me two days to delete all the duplications. What did I do worng when I saved my database? I thought I would automatically write over the existing database. Connie

On a side note, if you're using a thumb drive to work on your PAF file, I would caution against it. I have twice now ended up with major database corruption keeping my PAF file on a USB drive so that I could work on different machines. I've switched to using dropbox, which synchronizes files over an internet connection (it also serves as backup, and has version recovery capabilities). Best, Suzanne > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2011 14:42:23 +1000 > From: "Col Paterson" <banjo1@bigpond.net.au> > Subject: [PAF-5] USB memory stick. > To: <paf-5-users@rootsweb.com> > Message-ID: <001501cbbd13$6c840210$458c0630$@net.au> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > G'day Friends, Happy Australia Day. May I ask of the many people on this > list who use these USB Thumb Drives, Flash drives whatever you may call > them, ever been able to secure the information on one by way of a P.I.N or > Password. I have been told that one must buy a particular brand that comes > with a software disc to enable just this and also to partition the drive. > Presumably there will be an extra cost for this it's a thought that > occurred > to me when mine fell off my keyring into the river, as it had previously > been through the washing machine cycle and survived I'm now a little > concerned that if anyone finds it they will have no trouble reading my > content. > > Allabest > > Col

There are a number of flash drive encryption programs available. TrueCrypt is a free program that is available at truecrypt.org. Aloha, John On Jan 25, 2011, at 6:42 PM, Col Paterson wrote: > G'day Friends, Happy Australia Day. May I ask of the many people on this > list who use these USB Thumb Drives, Flash drives whatever you may call > them, ever been able to secure the information on one by way of a P.I.N or > Password. I have been told that one must buy a particular brand that comes > with a software disc to enable just this and also to partition the drive. > Presumably there will be an extra cost for this it's a thought that occurred > to me when mine fell off my keyring into the river, as it had previously > been through the washing machine cycle and survived I'm now a little > concerned that if anyone finds it they will have no trouble reading my > content. > > Allabest > > Col > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to PAF-5-USERS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Harriet, You can merge A and B. Unlink the child from B. (write down the RIN nr.) then you delete the unknown wife and delete the marriage for B and unknown wife. Last step add the unlinked child to A and known Wife (add existing individual) enter the RIN nr. Everything that is linked to that child comes with it. Hope this explains it. Henny ----- Original Message ----- From: "Harriet" <harcardinal@earthlink.net> To: <paf-5-users@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, January 24, 2011 1:38 PM Subject: [PAF-5] Merging individuals > I'm hoping someone can help me. I need to merge two individuals. Male A > is entered with ancestors, a wife and two children, which all include > many notes and sources. When I originally entered data, I did not > realize that he is the same individual as Male B. > > Male B is entered with wife "unknown" and one child and a downline of > many individuals with notes and sources. There are no ancestors entered > for Male B. > > I've been thinking that I should use Male B as the "Primary Individual" > and Male A as the "duplicate individual." - The problem is that the > child for Male B does not show when Male B is selected. I don't want to > lose the complete downline. > > I have backed up. > I look forward to your suggestions. > Thank you, Harriet > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > PAF-5-USERS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

And always take 5 minutes to do a backup with a new name before any Merge, so that if something does go wrong, you can return to where you were before the merge with no harm done. -- Bill Buchanan website: http://billbuchanan.byethost17.com blog: http://billbuchanan.blogspot.com On Mon, Jan 24, 2011 at 1:37 PM, Earl Park <parkj052@hawaii.rr.com> wrote: > Just a thought...I think you want to check your settings on the merge page > to make sure the notes, sources, etc. come along with the people. > Earl > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "AH CARLISLE" <LCARLISLE1@nc.rr.com> > To: <paf-5-users@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Monday, January 24, 2011 10:29 AM > Subject: Re: [PAF-5] Merging individuals > > > > Harriet, > > > > You can merge A and B. Unlink the child from B. (write down the RIN nr.) > > then you delete the unknown wife and delete the marriage for B and > unknown > > wife. > > > > Last step add the unlinked child to A and known Wife (add existing > > individual) enter the RIN nr. Everything that is linked to that child > > comes > > with it. > > > > Hope this explains it. > > > > Henny > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Harriet" <harcardinal@earthlink.net> > > To: <paf-5-users@rootsweb.com> > > Sent: Monday, January 24, 2011 1:38 PM > > Subject: [PAF-5] Merging individuals > > > > > >> I'm hoping someone can help me. I need to merge two individuals. Male A > >> is entered with ancestors, a wife and two children, which all include > >> many notes and sources. When I originally entered data, I did not > >> realize that he is the same individual as Male B. > >> > >> Male B is entered with wife "unknown" and one child and a downline of > >> many individuals with notes and sources. There are no ancestors entered > >> for Male B. > >> > >> I've been thinking that I should use Male B as the "Primary Individual" > >> and Male A as the "duplicate individual." - The problem is that the > >> child for Male B does not show when Male B is selected. I don't want to > >> lose the complete downline. > >> > >> I have backed up. > >> I look forward to your suggestions. > >> Thank you, Harriet > >> > >> ------------------------------- > >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > >> PAF-5-USERS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the > >> quotes in the subject and the body of the message > >> > > > > > > > > ------------------------------- > > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > > PAF-5-USERS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > > > > ----- > > No virus found in this message. > > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > > Version: 10.0.1191 / Virus Database: 1435/3400 - Release Date: 01/24/11 > > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > PAF-5-USERS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

I'm hoping someone can help me. I need to merge two individuals. Male A is entered with ancestors, a wife and two children, which all include many notes and sources. When I originally entered data, I did not realize that he is the same individual as Male B. Male B is entered with wife "unknown" and one child and a downline of many individuals with notes and sources. There are no ancestors entered for Male B. I've been thinking that I should use Male B as the "Primary Individual" and Male A as the "duplicate individual." - The problem is that the child for Male B does not show when Male B is selected. I don't want to lose the complete downline. I have backed up. I look forward to your suggestions. Thank you, Harriet

Just a thought...I think you want to check your settings on the merge page to make sure the notes, sources, etc. come along with the people. Earl ----- Original Message ----- From: "AH CARLISLE" <LCARLISLE1@nc.rr.com> To: <paf-5-users@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, January 24, 2011 10:29 AM Subject: Re: [PAF-5] Merging individuals > Harriet, > > You can merge A and B. Unlink the child from B. (write down the RIN nr.) > then you delete the unknown wife and delete the marriage for B and unknown > wife. > > Last step add the unlinked child to A and known Wife (add existing > individual) enter the RIN nr. Everything that is linked to that child > comes > with it. > > Hope this explains it. > > Henny > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Harriet" <harcardinal@earthlink.net> > To: <paf-5-users@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Monday, January 24, 2011 1:38 PM > Subject: [PAF-5] Merging individuals > > >> I'm hoping someone can help me. I need to merge two individuals. Male A >> is entered with ancestors, a wife and two children, which all include >> many notes and sources. When I originally entered data, I did not >> realize that he is the same individual as Male B. >> >> Male B is entered with wife "unknown" and one child and a downline of >> many individuals with notes and sources. There are no ancestors entered >> for Male B. >> >> I've been thinking that I should use Male B as the "Primary Individual" >> and Male A as the "duplicate individual." - The problem is that the >> child for Male B does not show when Male B is selected. I don't want to >> lose the complete downline. >> >> I have backed up. >> I look forward to your suggestions. >> Thank you, Harriet >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> PAF-5-USERS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >> quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > PAF-5-USERS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > ----- > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 10.0.1191 / Virus Database: 1435/3400 - Release Date: 01/24/11 >

I just thought I'ld share what I have accomplished regarding running PAF on a Macintosh (without having to run Windows in a virtual PC) http://www.ParowanSoftware.com/PAFonMAC/PAFonMac.html

Thanks Rollei, jobs done using 'Unlocker' Regards Col (also in Oz busy with the rain)

Rollei (in Australia) Researching: LITTLE, Hibbard, Labies, Harmegnies, Gilbert, Bickford, Lee (and a few others) Simple, Drop to DOS , locate the file and type DEL 'file name.' without the quotes.

Thanks Bill, 'Unlocker' worked fine, problem solved, thanks again Col

Thanks Cheryl, I've tried that but as soon as I close the Dialogue box re another programme might be using it, it immediately opens PAF 5. I have opened the file in Notepad but it tells me nothing of importance. Col

Col Paterson wrote: > Thanks Cheryl, I've tried that but as soon as I close the Dialogue box re > another programme might be using it, it immediately opens PAF 5. I have > opened the file in Notepad but it tells me nothing of importance. Hmmm ... I just deleted a .pal file with the .paf file that writes to it open. I opened Windows EXPLORER. Used the FIND feature to find .pal files. Cursored over each one it found, RIGHT CLICK, selected DELETE. Message popped up asking if I were SURE I wanted to do that, I said yeah, and it vanished. However, if you can open it in Notepad, do a select-all, hit dele and save. /Should/ work, does for me at least. If neither of those do it, I dunno. Cheryl

G'day Specialists, On my Desktop there has appeared an Icon labelled 'Paterson120510.pal' and I can't get rid of it. It is only 501 bytes, but when I click on it to open it says it "Cannot open as it may be in use by another programme. Close any other programme and try again." I looked in the help files and that told me it is a "Log File and if not required may be deleted". Which brings me back to where I started, trying to get rid of it. Happy New Year Col Paterson

Hi Listers  I've made several attempts to send this message, the latest on New Year's Eve:- My recent problems concerning four tasks were these:- 1. Open file from cousin. I notice that this is called New RJCW ...FTW (his initials are RJCW)result - unsuccessful. 2. Send cousin a Gedcom file Thanks to your goodselves now successful. 3. Restore Main File (very important) which was wiped clean during efforts to do ' 1.'Successful, but it was replaced by an old version, so tried again. 4. See 3. Eventually 'cheated' by replacing old version with copy of latest version from PC via flashdrive. Successful - but I'm not happy about the way I did it!! This leaves me with an unaccomplished task - as in 1 above. As I'm having to do this by baby steps, is there anything I need to know before trying to open this yet again? For example, it is not labelled GED. Sorry to be a complete pain, but will Do Better as from tomorrow. . . . Kind regards Joy

Col Paterson wrote: > G'day Specialists, On my Desktop there has appeared an Icon labelled > 'Paterson120510.pal' and I can't get rid of it. It is only 501 bytes, but > when I click on it to open it says it "Cannot open as it may be in use by > another programme. Close any other programme and try again." I looked in the > help files and that told me it is a "Log File and if not required may be > deleted". Which brings me back to where I started, trying to get rid of it. Close PAF. That'll close the pal file, and then you can delete it. CAUTION - CAUTION - CAUTION -- The pal file tells you whose data you worked on when. This info can be helpful in the event of problems with the database. CAUTION - CAUTION - CAUTION IF you decide you can live with the risk, go into PAF, open PREFERENCES and untick the Create Log File opton. Cheryl

Joy Hungerford wrote: > > Hi Listers > I've made several attempts to send this message, the latest on New Year's Eve:- > > My recent problems concerning four tasks were these:- > > 1. Open file from cousin. I notice that this is called New RJCW ...FTW (his initials are RJCW)result - unsuccessful. > 2. Send cousin a Gedcom file Thanks to your goodselves now successful. > 3. Restore Main File (very important) which was wiped clean during efforts to do ' 1.'Successful, but it was replaced by an old version, so tried again. > 4. See 3. Eventually 'cheated' by replacing old version with copy of latest version from PC via flashdrive. Successful - but I'm not happy about the way I did it!! > > This leaves me with an unaccomplished task - as in 1 above. As I'm having to do this by baby steps, is there anything I need to know before trying to open this yet again? For example, it is not labelled GED. > > Sorry to be a complete pain, but will Do Better as from tomorrow. . . . Not /your/ fault here, Joy, so chill-out. (g) What your cousin has sent you is a COPY of his FTW (Family Tree Windows) file. He has NOT sent you a GEDcom file. IF he's teachable (your call, I don't know him), I can give you the drearily-detailed steps for him to do what you need him to do. IF he's not-teachable (still your call, I still don't know him) perhaps someone here can open the file for you. OR -- go to the Family Tree Maker site and see you can find their Archive Viewer program; if you can, d/l it, it's free. It'll open _most_ FTW files. (FTM was originally a DOS-based program; when they put out a windows version, they changed the .ftm to .ftw; I'm pretty sure they switched back to using .ftm somewhere around Win98.) Any help (or least comfort?) here? Cheryl

Joy, It may be a file from Family Tree Maker for Windows. You cannot open a FTW file in PAF or most other genealogy programs. But apparently the free Family Tree Legends software can import FTW files. http://help.familytreelegends.com/Importing_FTW_Files.htm To download FTL, see this page: http://download.cnet.com/Family-Tree-Legends/3000-2127_4-10168652.html Cnet is a safe download site. Once it is open in Family Tree Legends, you should be able to export the data as a gedcom file, that can be imported into a PAF file. I suggest that you create a new PAF file (with a new name) for this purpose, rather than importing unknown data into your main file. Let us know how it went. -- Bill Buchanan website: http://billbuchanan.byethost17.com blog: http://billbuchanan.blogspot.com On Sat, Jan 8, 2011 at 8:09 AM, Joy Hungerford <m.hungerford@ntlworld.com>wrote: > > Hi Listers > I've made several attempts to send this message, the latest on New Year's > Eve:- > > My recent problems concerning four tasks were these:- > > 1. Open file from cousin. I notice that this is called New RJCW ...FTW (his > initials are RJCW)result - unsuccessful. > 2. Send cousin a Gedcom file Thanks to your goodselves now successful. > 3. Restore Main File (very important) which was wiped clean during efforts > to do ' 1.'Successful, but it was replaced by an old version, so tried > again. > 4. See 3. Eventually 'cheated' by replacing old version with copy of latest > version from PC via flashdrive. Successful - but I'm not happy about the way > I did it!! > > This leaves me with an unaccomplished task - as in 1 above. As I'm having > to do this by baby steps, is there anything I need to know before trying to > open this yet again? For example, it is not labelled GED. > > Sorry to be a complete pain, but will Do Better as from tomorrow. . . . > > Kind regards > > Joy > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > PAF-5-USERS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

Col, Try deleting it on boot-up, before starting any programs. There is also a free "Unlocker" utility you can download if that doesn't work. I haven't used it, but I would if I could not delete a file. www.scanwith.com/download/Unlocker.htm -- Bill Buchanan website: http://billbuchanan.byethost17.com blog: http://billbuchanan.blogspot.com On Sat, Jan 8, 2011 at 1:31 AM, Col Paterson <banjo1@bigpond.net.au> wrote: > G'day Specialists, On my Desktop there has appeared an Icon labelled > 'Paterson120510.pal' and I can't get rid of it. It is only 501 bytes, but > when I click on it to open it says it "Cannot open as it may be in use by > another programme. Close any other programme and try again." I looked in > the > help files and that told me it is a "Log File and if not required may be > deleted". Which brings me back to where I started, trying to get rid of it. > > Happy New Year > > Col Paterson > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > PAF-5-USERS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >