MLS 3.0 Issue: Installing on another computer

[russellhltn]

Just for clarification, it is generally permitted to install MLS on a home computer, just not any actual data from a real unit. The only data allowed to be used is "test" data, which is available by assigning "108" for a ward unit number, or "2224445" for a stake unit.

Yes, that is the information we've received in this forum. However, is at odds with the written policy. But we can all agree that loading actual data on a personal machine is a no-no.

[terrysackett]

Yes, that is the information we've received in this forum. However, is at odds with the written policy. But we can all agree that loading actual data on a personal machine is a no-no.

Okay, just so I'm clear on this...

If, for some odd reason, I want to install MLS on my home computer without any of the membership data, that's acceptable, and I can download the membership data from my ward computer onto my PDA, as long as I don't load it into the copy of MLS on my home computer, right?

[aebrown]

Okay, just so I'm clear on this...

If, for some odd reason, I want to install MLS on my home computer without any of the membership data, that's acceptable, and I can download the membership data from my ward computer onto my PDA, as long as I don't load it into the copy of MLS on my home computer, right?

The membership data that can (with proper authorization) be put on a PDA is a tiny subset of the MLS data. Also, your comment about "... as long as I don't load it into the copy of MLS on my home computer..." really doesn't make sense -- there is no way to load into another copy of MLS the MLS export files that may be used for putting data on a PDA.

There are further appropriate restrictions on downloading membership data to a PDA that you should pay careful attention to. Again, from the Policy and Guidelines for Computers Used by Clerks for Church Record Keeping, the Stake Technology Specialist:

Ensures that authorized priesthood leaders who export membership data to PDAs use passwords to protect that data in the event the PDA is lost or stolen. Reminds priesthood leaders to erase the membership data on their PDAs when they are released.

Regarding the information that can be put on PDAs, I would note:

1. The MLS export files contain quite a bit of information; I would only transfer to the PDA that information that is actually needed.
2. There are many pieces of information in MLS that cannot be downloaded to a PDA. For example, there are potentially confidential annotations on a membership record. There is also the entire realm of financial information, which should never be stored electronically anywhere but in MLS on the administrative computer.

[mkmurray]

If, for some odd reason, I want to install MLS on my home computer without any of the membership data, that's acceptable...

The "odd reason" is if you are using MLS for training purposes using the MLS Test data. There's really no other reason for having MLS on a non-administrative, non-Church computer.

[jdlessley]

...I can download the membership data from my ward computer onto my PDA, as long as I don't load it into the copy of MLS on my home computer, right?

MLS will not import data exported from another MLS export.