Q. I only have about 2500 names in my family file but my data diskette is almost full!
A. Name records are each 100 characters so it is possible to have up to 3600 name records on a 360k diskette. However, birth & death place records, marriage records, and comment lines each require a 50 character record in the ".OTH" dataset, and each address places a 108 character record (152 characters for the long format) in the ".ADR" dataset. Therefore, if you keep all of your datasets on a single diskette, you will not be able to get the maximum number of name records into your family file.

If you have two diskette drives, you can ease the situation some by "splitting" your family file datasets between two data diskettes. For instance, you may place the ".NAM" dataset on a diskette which you will keep in the "B" drive and place the ".ADR" and ".OTH" datasets on a second diskette which will share time in the "A" drive with the program diskette. The program diskette is required only when you are starting the system and when you are going back and forth between the Main Menu and the option processing programs. At all other times, you may remove it and replace it by a data diskette. If you do this, then you should always wait until you are prompted to replace the program diskette when you are returning to the Main Menu. This assures that your family file is properly "closed" and all updates written before you remove the data diskette.

By following this procedure of employing two diskettes for your family file, you should be able to approach the maximum number of name records for your family file on the size diskettes that you are using.