Computer Genealogy Specialists

Using The Pedigree Resource File

(Article 31)

The Pedigree Resource File contains GEDCOM files from PAF, Family Tree Maker, Family Origins, Legacy, and other genealogy software that people have given to the LDS Church to publish on CDs. The files may contain as little as a single individual, a couple, a family, or an entire pedigree. The submissions may contain a variety of events, notes, sources, ancestors, descendants, or very little data. Generally, information about the living has been removed. Each disk contains the above information along with an index for that disk. The Master Index covers the all data disks and shows the principal, a relative, and what types of information are available about each entry, including whether a GEDCOM file may be offloaded from the CD for personal use.

Master Index

Place the Master Index CD in the drive and start the program (double-click the Pedigree-Resource-File-icon on the desktop or use Start, Programs, Family History, Pedigree Resource File).
Select Master Index from the main screen.
Fill in the form as desired (Surname, Given Names, From Year, To Year, Place, the number of index entries to search for {10, 50, 100, 500, All}, or the time limit of the search). Use the Tab- key or the mouse curser to move between fields. The Enter-key starts the search. The more fields you enter, the fewer number of records will be in the research results.
Click Search (or press the Enter-key) to begin the search and view the index Research Results.
Each page of the index Research Results may be printed using the Print-icon (or use File, Print) in the upper-left. You may also use the forward and backward page arrows in the upper left to advance or go-back a page/screen. The Home-icon returns to the beginning search screen.
The index Research Results shows the line-number, name, event-year, place, and the CD-number where the entire submission may be found. If the report continues for more than one page, use the forward or backward page arrows in the upper-right of the screen.
Click on the Line-number in front of the name to display a Details window. The Details window contains event-type and year, place, spouse/parent-name, and whether the submission contains ancestors, descendants, notes, sources, other events, and/or a GEDCOM export file that may be offloaded for your personal use.
From the Details Window you may click on the Pedigree-icon in the upper-right to have the system prompt you to load the appropriate pedigree CD and display its index Names List (see item 5 below).

Pedigree Resource File Disks

Place the desired Pedigree Resource File data CD (1-5) in the drive and start the program (double-click the Pedigree-Resource-File-icon on the desktop or use Start, Programs, Family History, Pedigree Resource File).
Select Pedigree from the main screen.
Fill in the Surname and Given Names as desired and click OK to begin the search. Use the Tab- key or the mouse curser to move between fields. The Enter-key starts the search. The more data you enter, the fewer number of records will be in the search results.
You may change the fields that appear in the Name List by changing Show in the upper-right. You may select from the Show drop-down menu Individual with any one of the following: PIN, Date, Spouse or Parent. These do not limit the data available, only the data that is currently displayed.
You may return at any time to the Name List by clicking the Names-icon at the screen top-left.
You may define additional fields to search by clicking the Search-icon at the top of the screen. The Search window allows you to search on males, females or kin by name and title, plus specific event types, places and dates, and/or keywords in notes. The results of this search is presented in a Match List of names. Click on a name from the Match List, then click Select to display a Family record.

(Note: When the Family record is displayed, there are forward and backward Matches-arrows at the top of the screen which will display the Family record for the other names in the Match List. Any time one of these arrows is selected, the Family record is displayed regardless of what previous view {Ancestors or Descendants} was last displayed).

Display the Family record for any selected individual by clicking the Views-Family-icon at the top of the screen. The individual you selected is displayed at the top of the Family record in a shaded yellow area. This individual will be the "primary" individual if you request an Ancestors view (pedigree chart), or Descendants view from the icons at the top of the screen. Other members of the family may become the "primary" individual by double-clicking their name.
Display the Ancestors (pedigree chart) for any selected individual by clicking the Views-Ancestors-icon at the top of the screen. Before displaying the Ancestors chart, an Ancestor View Options window is displayed that determines the contents, layout and box style used for the Ancestors chart. Try a few variations to see what looks good on your computer. The system remembers the settings for subsequent displays. Clicking on an individual within the display causes that person to become the "primary" individual for the same type of display. Clicking on the extension arrows at the far left or right is generally the same as clicking on the name immediately adjacent to the arrow (i.e., they become the "primary" individual of the next display).
Display the Descendants for any selected individual by clicking the Views-Descendants-icon at the top of the screen. Before displaying the Descendant chart, an Descendant View Options window is displayed that determines the contents, layout and box style used for the Descendant chart. Try a few variations to see what looks good on your computer. The system remembers the settings for subsequent displays. Clicking on an individual within the display causes that person to become the "primary" individual for the same type of display. Clicking on the extension arrows at the far left or right is generally the same as clicking on the name immediately adjacent to the arrow (i.e., they become the "primary" individual of the next display).
Each of the three views Family, Ancestors, and Descendants may also be printed by selecting the corresponding report-icon at the top of the screen.
Once you have an individual selected as the "primary" individual of a display (Family, Ancestors, or Descendants) you may create a GEDCOM file by clicking on File, Export GEDCOM from the menu in the upper-left of the screen. The system displays the Export to GEDCOM File window where you can enter the number of generations to be included in the file for either descendants or ancestors of the primary individual. If you are intending to use the file with PAF, leave the character set as ANSEL. Click Export to continue. On the Create GEDCOM File window:

(A) Enter the file name {up to 8 characters} in place of the asterisk (example: Rjones.ged).

(B) Select the drive letter at the lower-left of the window.

(D) Click OK to create the GEDCOM file.

(E) When the file creation is complete, you may select Print (a summary report) or Continue.

You may click on the PAF-icon to start PAF (e.g., to import the GEDCOM file you have just created), or Master-Index-icon to begin another search using the Master Index CD.

For a printer friendly version of this document contact CGS by email and request this document by number and title. It will be returned to you by email as soon as possible.

31 Using The Pedigree Resource File