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Ancestral Quest
List of Features
Special Features for LDS Users
Incline Software has always recognized the importance of Genealogy and Family History to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And we have always worked hard to provide the best support possible for LDS users. This is one reason we allowed the LDS Church to use Ancestral Quest as the core of its Windows versions of Personal Ancestral File (PAF), versions 4 and 5. The result is the amazing comparability between the two programs.
These are some of the special features we have developed to help LDS users with their genealogical needs -- most of these can be turned on or off in the program based on a setting in Preferences:
- Compatibility with the Personal Ancestral File (PAF) program
- Record LDS Ordinances -- Baptism, Confirmation, Initiatory, Endowment, Seal to Parents, Seal to Spouse
- Synchronize the records in your own database with those found on FamilySearch Family Tree
- Update ordinance information directly from FamilySearch
- Submit names to FamilySearch to perform temple work
- Update ordinance information from FamilySearch
- Export names to FamilySearch
- Reports for missing LDS ordinances
- Search filters for LDS ordinances
- Direct lookups on FamilySearch.org
- Prequalifying of individuals for temple work submissions
- Ordinance information can be printed on many reports
- Training is accessible online and may be available in some Family History Centers
Details on LDS Features in Ancestral Quest
Below, you will find detailed descriptions of the LDS features in Ancestral Quest that are listed, above.
Compatibility with PAF
Incline Software received permission to use the .paf database created for PAF 3 by the LDS church, and then engineered the enhancements to the database used later by PAF 4.
Ancestral Quest can directly work with a PAF 5 database, and produce reports and do online lookups and directly convert the PAF 5 database to AQ's own database format.
Find out more about AQ's options to work with PAF.
Record LDS Ordinances
Record LDS Baptism, Confirmation, Initiatory, Endowment, Seal to Parents and Seal to Spouse ordinances. Select Temple codes from a current list of temples. For baptisms performed outside of temples, record the normal place.
Obtain Ordinance information from FamilySearch
Use the Temple Mode capability to quickly see if LDS Ordinances have been completed for individuals that you have linked to FamilySearch Family Tree.
Submit Names to the Temple or Print Temple Cards
Using Ancestral Quest's Ordinance Reservation and Tracking System you can submit names to the temple or print the temple cards and take the names to the temple to complete the work.
Update Ordinances from FamilySearch
Once you have lionked record in your databse with the corresponding records on FamilySearch Family Tree, you can then update your file with the completed ordinances. This can be done record by record, or you can have them updated automatically. The ordinance data will go directly into the records of your AQ database.
Submit Names to FamilySearch
If you have names in your database that are not yet on FamilySearch, you can Link/Upload Groups of names to Family Tree through AQ.
Reports of Missing LDS Ordinances
Incline Software has developed reports with several options to help you identify individuals and marriages that need to be further researched and/or reserved to do temple work.
Search Filters for LDS Ordinances
Ancestral Quest has some special predefined filters in its search engine to help you identify and select names for ordinance processing.
Direct Lookups on FamilySearch.org
Just click on any name in the Pedigree, Family, or Name List views then start a search for that person on the FamilySearch.org website.
PreQualify Individuals for Temple Work
During the selection process to prepare names for temple work, AQ will help you know whether names are ready, or whether you need to do more research first.
Print Ordinance Information on Many Reports
Many of the reports, such as Pedigree Charts, Family Group Sheets, and others, allow you to print LDS Ordinance information for each person on the chart.
Training on AQ's LDS Features
Incline Software has developed several Training Materials that will help you learn to use the LDS Features available in Ancestral Quest. Our AQ Tutorials page has videos about the FamilySearch Features in AQ, as well as Training on the LDS Temple Ordinance Reservation and Tracking System (ORTS).
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints often provides training on FamilySearch.org, both in Sunday School "Family History" classes and at Family History Centers, around the world. In Family History Centers, volunteers are encouraged to learn all of the third-party programs that work with FamilySearch. Because Ancestral Quest is one of those programs, you may find someone that is familar with it.