README.TXT                       PAFco (c) 1994 Chris Miksanek.

Information for unregistered users of PAFco.


Welcome to PAFco, the first PAF add-on utility which allows you to
link photos to your individual and marriage records. PAFco also gives
you the power to create reports you could never generate before.

PAFco is shareware. If you like it, and use it, please register.
Registration is painless. Send $20 to:

         Chris Miksanek
        190 Oakland Grove
    Elmhurst, Illinois  60126

I will send you the latest version of PAFco, a jumbo user's guide,
and a sample PAF database and photo repository. You'll also get one free
upgrade.


Installation
------------

To "install" PAFco, simply copy all of the files into your existing PAF
directory. PAFco and its associated files (including any photos), must
reside in the same directory as your PAF/Family Records database files
and *YOU MUST EXECUTE PAFco FROM WITHIN THAT DIRECTORY*.



Using PAFco
-----------

This is a full-functioning version of PAFco. It's quite easy to use, even
without the registered user's jumbo user's guide. Simply type "PAFCO" from
within your PAF directory. Once launched, the main menu has the following
options:

   RIN - RIN report sub-menu
   MRIN - MRIN report sub-menu
   NOTE - NOTE utilities
   LOG/NOLOG - Create a hardcopy log of your session
   WAIT/NOWAIT - Pause the display when the screen is full or autoscroll.
   Photo - Displays the RINs and MRINs with associated photos.
   EXPORT - Export RIN/MRIN data.

RIN/MRIN Sub-menus. RIN and MRIN have similar submenus which let you view an
individual RIN or MRIN (just specify the RIN/MRIN number), view all ("ALL"),
or filter the list by name (NAMEF), date (DATEF), or place (PLACEF). If you
filter by name, for example, a popup will ask you to specify a name or part
of a name. You might, for example, specify SMITH to have a report of all
Smiths in your database. Likewise, if you specify DATEF (short for Date
Filter, by the way), you can specify JAN for a list of those in 
you database born (RIN) or married (MRIN) in January. PLACEF will report on
those RINs or MRINs born or married (respectively) in the place you
specify on the popup prompt. FILTER LISTS ARE VERY POWERFUL!

NOTE Sub-menu. The note submenu allows you to specify a RIN number, "ALL,"
or a "FIND STRING." Find string is unique in that it will search all notes
for the specified string. You might ask, for example, "who *WAS* it who
was in the Marines," and rather than look through your RIN notes one by one
simply invoke a find for "MARINE" and the note(s) which contain that string
will be displayed.


Photo Quick Start
-----------------

Version 1.0 of PAFco allows you to link GIF photos to your PAF/Family
Records database. To do this, name your photo either RIN# or MRIN# where
"#" is the RIN or MRIN of the associated photo. For example, if you have a
photo of grandma Betty who is RIN #117 then name her GIF photo RIN117.GIF.
If you have a great old wedding photo of your great-grandparents and their
MRIN is #42 then name their GIF photo MRIN42.GIF. It's that simple. When you
display either the RIN or MRIN record summary in PAFco the associated photo
(if any) will display as well. Press ESC to exit from the photo display.

The next version of PAFco will introduce more powerful photo features
including the ability to link different photo types.


Export Jump Start
-----------------

The EXPORT submenu is quite obvious. Type RIN or MRIN to export your RIN or
MRIN data. You should have your log enabled to capture your data. You'll
note that some of it is truncated on the display. This is OK, it's the log
you care about when exporting.

Take your exported data and copy it into a spreadsheet or database (refer
to your spreadsheet or database user's guides for more info), from there,
your imagination's the limit as to what you can do. Chart the average age
of your ancestor's in the spreadsheet, for example.


The Parameter File
------------------

A few of the parameters for running PAFco can be tailored to your needs.
Refer to the documentation in the PAFCO.PRM file for more information. NOTE:
if you edit the file to change it, it must be saved as an ASCII text file.


What's Ahead
------------

Well, I hope you'll tell me. What would you like to see in the next version
of PAFco? If user response is encouraging (it's been for the Macintosh
version of this program, by the way), there'll be a significant upgrade
with version 2.0 (free for registered users). Version 2.0 will include full
export ability, the ability to maintain additional photo formats (BMP,
etc...), and a host of other goodies. Are you a Windows users? Would you
like a Windows version? Are you a DOS user? Do you apperciate that people
are still developing DOS software? Are you an OS/2 user? Would you like to
see an OS/2 version?

Talk to me.





That's it for now. Thanks for trying PAFco. Please share unregistered copies
with your friends, associates, user group, and local BSS.




(c) 1994 Chris Miksanek * 190 Oakland Grove * Elmhurst, Illinois  60126

                    INTERNET ID: chrismik@aol.com


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