Ancestral File. A computerized database of some 35 million lineage-linked names of living and deceased individuals organized into family groups and pedigrees. This database is no longer active.
AFN
Ancestral File Number. Each person in the Ancestral File is assigned a AFN. An example number in the Ancestral File is: AFN 53GW-RH.
The LDS Church's automated system of family history information available online at (www.familysearch.org).
FHLC
Family History Library Catalog. An automated catalog that describes the holdings of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. It is available online at FamilySearch Internet (www.familysearch.org).
Focus List
A group of individuals stored in your PAF database. You can use the Advanced Focus/Filter feature in PAF to create and print focus lists. For example, you can view and print lists of individuals born in the same locality or view and print notes with certain words.
Genealogical Data Communications. A computer format that permits one software program to read genealogical records in another program. GEDCOM files end with a ".ged" file extension.
International Genealogical Index. A computerized index to some 750 million names of deceased individuals from throughout the world extracted from various records or submitted by LDS Church members. There are two views of the IGI-one available to anyone at FamilySearch Internet (www.familysearch.org), and another view for LDS Church members who register with a user name and password.
A method of merging duplicate records in your PAF database (your .paf file). You can manually select and merge two individuals, or have the program merge duplicates for you.
An index, dated January 2000, available at family history centers in an older DOS version of FamilySearch under "LDS Options." It has been replaced by the online IGI.
Personal Ancestral File. A Windows-based genealogy software program developed by the Family and Church History Department in Salt Lake City. The latest version is 5.2. It helps you create and organize your own family database on a personal computer.
PAF Companion
A software program that works with PAF. It prints various charts and forms, including color charts (requires a color printer). It also checks your PAF database against the PRF Master Index.
PDF
Portable Document Format (such as Adobe® PDF file).
PRF
Pedigree Resource File. A growing computerized database of genealogies of records that have been submitted online through FamilySearch Internet (www.familysearch.org). The lineage-linked pedigree and family group records are available on compact discs (CD-ROMs). The PRF contains over 115 million names. An index and abstract to the compact discs is available online at (www.familysearch.org) under Search-Pedigree Research File.
A computer program that helps LDS Church members prepare names for temple ordinances for their deceased ancestors. TempleReady checks the older DOS Ordinance Index to check for duplicates. It does not check the online IGI.