Thanks, Carmen. The article answered my question a lot better than the Distribution Center did. Tom In a message dated 11/29/2006 8:42:14 P.M. Central Standard Time, carmenmjo@cableone.net writes: I'm sorry, I phrased my comment poorly. PAF is not being discontinued but rather it will no longer being updated. Here is a copy of the article that I sent to Paul Pennington when he wanted clarification. Carmen Assistant Research Director - JFMF www.penningtonresearch.org PRA Family Group 7 Leader http://pragroup7.genheirlooms.com Paul, This is the article that was on Eastman's genealogy newsletter back in October. It will still be around, but won't be updated. Carmen ________________________ The End of PAF? Personal Ancestral File (often called PAF) is one of the most popular genealogy programs available. It is produced by the LDS Church (the Mormons) and is made available to everyone at no charge. Millions of genealogists around the world use Personal Ancestral File. There is one problem: the program hasn't had a significant update in years. In fact, it is a rather old-fashioned genealogy program by today's standards. Other free programs now offer more features than what is found in PAF. Even more features can be found in programs selling for rather low prices. Remember when PAF used to sell for $35.00? Those days are long gone. Now a senior representative from the LDS Church has confirmed the rumors that have floated around for years: the LDS Church will not expend any more funds to develop a modern version of Personal Ancestral File. LDS Church Historian, Elder Marlin K. Jensen, gave the keynote address at the October 6-7, 2006, Northern Utah Family History Conference and Symposium. He told how Personal Ancestral File was a major force in genealogy in past years. However, when the LDS Church senior executives look today at all the things that the Church could do to promote interest in genealogy and to provide resources to genealogists, it is obvious that commercial organizations are already providing excellent free and low-cost genealogy software. Any efforts by the LDS Church to "compete" with the commercial organizations will not help meet the Church's goals to promote interest in genealogy and to provide appropriate resources to aid genealogists. Instead, Jensen reports that the LDS Church's executives feel that the Church would be better served by concentrating its expenditures on the items that the Church can do best: digitizing microfilm and improving in-home access to original records, primarily via the www.FamilySearch.org web site. Comment by Dick Eastman: This strikes me as a good idea. We already have a number of excellent genealogy programs, including one besides PAF that is available free of charge. Having the LDS Church spend money to support and improve "one more free genealogy program" is not the wisest use of the Church's funds earmarked for genealogy. I'd much rather see the LDS Church spend that money on items that are difficult for other organizations to provide: convenient, in-home access to millions of genealogy- related records, improving its web-based genealogy software and promoting interest in family heritage throughout the world. To be sure, this will be disappointing to present users of Personal Ancestral File who will sooner-or-later need to switch to a newer program. (There is no need to rush, however.) However, I suspect those same users will also welcome the access to more records and the other benefits created by the re-allocation of these funds. -----Original Message----- From: pra-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:pra-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of TWilli346@aol.com Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2006 6:10 AM To: pra@rootsweb.com Subject: [PRA] Discontinuation of PAF In a message dated 11/28/2006 12:43:01 P.M. Central Standard Time, carmenmjo@cableone.net writes: "Family Origins is still out there and a good program. It has never been one that I have enjoyed using. An awful lot of genealogy programs have fallen by the wayside. PAF is being discontinued, Generations is no longer made. Legacy Family Tree is quite popular. " I contacted the LDS Church Distribution Center that provides free downloads of PAF regarding the possible discontinuation of PAF. Their response indicates to me that there is no plan to discontinue it Dear Thomas Williams, Thank you for your query regarding production or support of PAF 5. Certainly support will continue for current versions as long as practical. As equipment, technology and data availability have evolved so has PAF, now to version 5.2.18.0. Presently a vast effort is being extended in developing the New FamilySearch to make tracing family history more efficient and to eliminate duplications. The PAF record will still be a vital personal role in the total program. As to the future, we will learn the answer along with you. We hope this information is helpful with your concern, and wish you much success in your continued family history work. Sincerely, FamilySearch Support support@familysearch.org <CaseID:306498> *************************************** Please note NEW address to post to the list: PRA@rootsweb.com ************************************** For more information about the PRA including our DNA Study, visit us at http://www.penningtonresearch.org ************************************** Learn what's new at the PRA by going to http://www.penningtonresearch.org and click on the "News" link on the left side of the page. ************************************** ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to PRA-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message *************************************** Please note NEW address to post to the list: PRA@rootsweb.com ************************************** For more information about the PRA including our DNA Study, visit us at http://www.penningtonresearch.org ************************************** Learn what's new at the PRA by going to http://www.penningtonresearch.org and click on the "News" link on the left side of the page. ************************************** ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to PRA-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message