Bill, That is exactly what I get. I confirm to create the new PAF file and out it comes. I have done it on XP, VISTA, and Windows 7, though on the latter I had to setup the file association (apparently it did not get set with the installation as in the previous versions -- may have to do with the different registry structure of Win 7). When I select a GEDCOM, PAF opens and the first message is: In order to openC:\...\Allison.ged you must create a new PAF file. [OK] I select the OK and then get a file name save menu, and typically I just use the same file name, Allison in this case -- you may have to add the extension or PAF will put in ged instead. Then I select SAVE. The next menu that comes up is The Preferences with the Prepared By tab open. I typically select OK again, though you could change the info at this point if you wish. The final menu is one that asks about the import as 1. Import Notes 2. Include listing file in notes 3. Reuse deleted records The latter is not needed for a new data file since there are no deleted records. I generally import notes. I have never found item (2) to do anything. I have never seen anything in the notes. I just repeated those steps on my XP machine (where I got them for this mail). They are the same steps I did on VISTA and Win 7 earlier today. That is the only reason I made the comment. I think the first time I did this I had just happened to double click on a GEDCOM and PAF came up with all these questions. I found it to be neat. I did give the WARNING about doing it when PAF is open with a data file. In that case the GEDCOM will be imported into the current data file that is open -- possibly bad news as was mentioned by others. Yes, I did it once and it took some time to fix. Fortunately I used the RIN numbers to remove things at the end of my database. Bill From: Bill Buchanan <genealogistbuchanan@gmail.com> > > That is interesting, it doesn't work for me. I have the file association for > GEDCOM set to open in PAF, but when I double-click the GEDCOM file, PAF > gives me an error message: > > "In order to open C:\Users\Bill\Desktop\Waller.ged > you must create a new PAF file." > (which it then offers to do) > I am using Windows Vista (32 bit) and PAF 5.2.18.0. >