HOw to open .GED, .BAK and PAF using family search?

Mel Leavitt · January 3

I have .GED, .BAK and .PAF files from very very long time ago. Am I able to open these files in familysearch? If so, how do I do that? If not, is there a program that I need to get to open these files?

Thanks

Mel

Áine Ní Donnghaile · January 3

Short answer - no, you cannot open those files in the FamilySearch website.

Brett . · January 3

@Mel Leavitt

Mel

I am just another 'lowly' User/Patron ...

Just in passing ...

Ah ... the OLD "PAF" days ...

Short Answer ('Question' 1): 'No', NOT, "Open" in 'FamilySearch' per se ...

Short Answer ('Question' 2): Depending on the "Age" of those "Files", Possibly, in the likes of "Ancestral Quest"

There are others ...

"Ancestral Quest", is one of the "Third Party" Programmes/Applications, that is "Certified" to work with "Family Tree", of 'FamilySearch'.

And, in fact, the "Creators" of "Ancestral Quest", basically, passed on the "Coding", that was the basis, for "Personal Ancestral File" (PAF), to the Church.

These days, "Ancestral Quest", can be considered; as, an 'upmarket'; and, 'up-to-date', version of PAF.

IF, you are used to PAF; THEN, one might consider "Ancestral Quest"; as, a ... NEXT Generation

There is a FREE "Basic" version, which is acceptable to most Users/patrons ...

And ...

There is a Paid/Subscription "Premium" version, for power User/Patrons, at a very nominal/reasonable cost.

"Ancestral Quest" can be found in the "Solutions Gallery" of 'FamilySearch':

https://partners.familysearch.org/solutionsgallery/s/

There are BOTH, a "Windows" version; and, a "Mac" version ...

Windows

Ancestral Quest Basics

https://partners.familysearch.org/solutionsgallery/s/gallery-profile/a2Rf10000079nO3EAI/00034

Ancestral Quest

https://partners.familysearch.org/solutionsgallery/s/gallery-profile/a2Rf10000079nO8EAI/00035

Mac

Ancestral Quest Basics (for Mac)

https://partners.familysearch.org/solutionsgallery/s/gallery-profile/a2Rf10000079nNtEAI/00032

Ancestral Quest (for Mac)

https://partners.familysearch.org/solutionsgallery/s/gallery-profile/a2Rf10000079nNyEAI/00033

Good luck.

I hope, that this may help/assist, somewhat.

Brett

ps: Please be aware ...

.... That there are other programes/applications, that should be able to open, those "File" Extensions.

.... "Ancestral Quest" is just ONE that I know of, that should; and, there is a FREE version.

Mel Leavitt · January 3

Thanks for responding. especially with the links.

Thanks again

Mel

Brett . · January 3

😀

davidleelambert · January 17

I'll also add that, if you can find a copy of the PAF 5 installer, it runs just fine on Windows 7 or Windows 10, and tolerably well on Linux using Wine. That will probably open your .PAF and .BAK files, and be able to import your .GED files.

And the open-source program GRAMPS should also be able to import your .GED files; downloads are available for Windows and MacOS, and it's available in the package archive of several Linux distributions.

HOw to open .GED, .BAK and PAF using family search?

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