Linda, The Silicon Valley PAF User's Group puts out a set of guidelines for PAF Individual and Marriage Data Entry. The version I have is dated 1993, but I am sure there are more current versions. The following was extracted from these guidelines: Surname-Given Names-General Note that even if you don't know anything about the parents of a family, it is still possible in PAF to link either or both spouses. Simply choose the spouse "not known" option in the "add family" menu. Surname: (Last name) Enter MAIDEN SURNAMES for females, or leave blank if unkown. Avoid entry of present or previous husband's surname. Given Names: /Given 1/Given 2/Given 3/ Enter first name in Given 1 field; enter middle name in Given 2 field. ... Leave unused fields blank. No Given Name: For a child or children who were documented with no given name, enter the following in the Given 1 field. Situation 1: Name not known, sex of child known: Enter the word "son" or "daughter" in the Given 1 field. Situation 2: Neither Name nor sex known, but total children documented: Enter the word "Child" (or "Child 1", "Child 2", and so on) into the Given 1 field of these individuals. **************************** Bill Minnick was one of the authors of these guidelines. He was very active in the The Silicon Valley PAF User's Group a few years ago when I met him at a Genealogical Conference. You may want to use a search engine to find his current e-mail address and ask for his advice. Also, I am sure The Silicon Valley PAF User's Group has a nice Web Site. I am not sure of its URL address. Again a search engine would be able to locate this address. In general, my advice is to include only what information is known and be consistent in your data entries. Bill Marlatt [email protected] ************************************************************** In a message dated 98-03-04 09:22:49 EST, [email protected] writes: << Subj: Unknowns..... Date: 98-03-04 09:22:49 EST From: [email protected] (Linda Knott) CC: [email protected] (Avery List), [email protected] (Knott, Knotts, Knot Variations), [email protected] (Love Family), [email protected] ([email protected]), [email protected] ([email protected]), Whitaker- [email protected] (Whitaker/Whittaker/Whiteacre Variations) I've been spending the last couple of days cleaning up my database and have come across several different entries that mean the same. Every one seems to have a different way of listing those whom they don't have the proper name. When I receive information in GEDCOM, I try to go through and make it uniform. I would like to know what the proper way to list "Unknowns" is. Maybe this will help others also. Examples below: Girl West Boy West Unknown West //West ? West Unknown Mary Unknown Mary Mary// Any suggestions would be appreciated. :-) Linda Whittaker Knott [email protected] http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Prairie/5868 WHITTAKER,LOVE,WEST,CHAPIN,MALOTT COMSTOCK,ELLIS,FERGUSON KNOTT,GOODWIN,AVERY CLARK,EVANS,MOCK,ROCHFORD,ALVEY >>