.PAF File Extension

You can open PAF files with Personal Ancestral File. However, FamilySearch discontinued the program on July 15, 2013.

Some alternative genealogical applications for opening PAF files include RootsMagic and Incline Software Ancestral Quest. For example, you can select File → Open... to open a PAF file with Ancestral Quest.

FamilySearch Personal Ancestral File can convert PAF files to the GEDCOM format (.GED files). To convert a PAF file with Personal Ancestral File, select File → Export.

Alhough Ensoniq PARIS is now discontinued, the software and the PAF format continue to be used by some audio enthusiasts. The format is supported by several audio programs, including Winamp, WaveLab, and Reaper (with libsndfile wrapper installed). You can also convert the format to the more common .WAV format in PARIS if you have access to the program.

PAF files are rare since they are only used in the Heart of Darkness game developed by Amazing Studio. You will most likely only encounter a PAF file if you dump it from a Heart of Darkness game disc.

After dumping the game contents onto your computer, you will find a large hod.paf file that stores a large number of individual PAF files linked together. Each of the PAF files stores uncompressed audio data interleaved with video data.

There is no known program that can open and play PAF animations. However, you can convert the animation in a PAF file to a more common video file type with FFmpeg. After converting the file, you can play it with a media player, such as Microsoft Windows Media Player or Apple QuickTime Player.