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MLS language problems

Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 1:48 am
by donaldmkitchen
Well I've finally become frustrated enough with MLS support to come and air
my issues here, either to have them fixed for real, or get them on the
Feedback and Suggestions. We are a small Spanish branch in an English
stake and we have no clerk and our financial clerk is from another unit and
serves a third unit also. So here is our first issue.

Our MLS is in English and EVERYTHING is set to English. Several months ago
some things suddenly started being Spanish. Like, when putting in addresses
it's not possible to just type a country name, you have to choose from a
list, right? Well our list to choose from doesn't have United States. We're
required to choose Estados Unidos. So mailing labels and checks ALL come
out as 123 Main Street whatever, Estados Unidos. That's not to mention
the transaction reports all print in spanish and only a native speaker
will understand anything abnormal. Oh did I mention just about every
single time we try to move a record and type in wherever Mexico, we get
country not found...whoops, once again we forgot not to type past the M,
so that we can click on Mexico with an accent above the e, because in our
list there's no such country as Mexico without the accented e.

We've called support multiple times. Yep, MLS menus are in english, but
we read off the MLS.properties file language setting anyway. Yep, checks
are set to print in english. Someone was sure MLS read the computer setting.
Ok, we set up the OS with languages and set to english. Now the System
tray says EN. MLS still in spanish. Ok, you'll talk to the programmers?
Great. Now repeat for the last three program updates. We don't have 3.3 yet
but I'll make a prediction it's no different.

Then the CUBS transition. Now the entire financial system is in spanish,
(budget categories, etc) and the financial clerk (remember, covers three
units) doesn't understand a word of Spanish. Oh and the PDF financial
reports are in spanish now too, so not only does the financial clerk not
understand but the stake won't either. Support says sorry it's IMPOSSIBLE
to generate financial reports in english, much less in both. (Sounds more
like a program problem than just plain impossible...)

So, to MLS programmers, I suggest that the MLS addressing, financial menu,
and transaction language choice be tied to the main MLS language. Also
while you're at it, it would be nice to be able to put at least two languages
in the MLS.properties files (like "en,es") and be able choose one at the
login screen.

And someone please mention to CUBS staff that if it's not possible to choose
languages for financial reports (which could be an MLS preference) it would
at least be a good idea to detect when the unit and the stake's languages
don't match and create reports in BOTH languages.

Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 3:01 am
by russellhltn
I'm guessing that the information (lists, etc.) sent down by CHQ is in Spanish. You could try a unit refresh, but unless CHQ fixes it at their end, that won't fix anything.

Odd that support isn't able to figure it out.

Mixed language branch

Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 7:14 am
by ggllbb
Not the same problem, but similar:

We have a small, mixed language branch. This creates a number of challenges. MLS is set to english, which is mostly OK. However, our high priest group leader speaks and understands spanish and very limited english. It would be nice if there was an easier way for MLS to do some things in a language other than the default. For example, home teaching reports,etc.

Right now, the clerk or I have to exit MLS, change default language, enter MLS and hope we can navigate to the correct place since neither of us speak spanish. Then after completing the task, reverse the process.

Unfortunately, we have limited bi-lingual members. Also, I'm sure we aren't the only unit with this problem.

Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2010 2:46 am
by marianomarini
Waiting for MLS changes, you have this options:
1. Teach English to the leaders.
2. Export report in CVS, import data in a DataSheet form with Spanish label.

Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2010 7:01 am
by ggllbb
marianomarini_vi wrote:Waiting for MLS changes, you have this options:
1. Teach English to the leaders.
2. Export report in CVS, import data in a DataSheet form with Spanish label.
We are already working on option 1. For example, we are planning a 'Daily Dose' program in our community. I'm intrested in comments from anyone who has done Daily Dose.

I hadn't thought of option 2. Thank you for the suggestion. It looks like a workable solution.

Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 4:11 pm
by donaldmkitchen
marianomarini_vi wrote:Waiting for MLS changes, you have this options:
1. Teach English to the leaders.
2. Export report in CVS, import data in a DataSheet form with Spanish label.
I see this comment applies only to the other brother's situation (since I am in the reverse where the problem is that that MLS is NOT in English when it should be.)

There does not seem to be anyone disagreeing that MLS should not be behaving the way I described.

Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2010 2:20 pm
by marianomarini
Our MLS is in English and EVERYTHING is set to English
There is something that I doesn't understand (this is due to my bad English), but what do you mean with "Everything".
Did you refer also to the external configuration file (I forgot its name)?
Several years ago we has one Pc for Italian and English units so we can switch between the two trhough a batch (or VB script) lancher.

Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2010 3:56 pm
by donaldmkitchen
marianomarini_vi wrote:There is something that I doesn't understand (this is due to my bad English), but what do you mean with "Everything".
Did you refer also to the external configuration file (I forgot its name)?
Several years ago we has one Pc for Italian and English units so we can switch between the two trhough a batch (or VB script) lancher.
All the things I name later in the message. Yes the MLS.properties setting
of language=en. That makes the MLS menus be in English. Also the setting for
the language of the checks, also English. Also the Windows XP language
setting, so that it says EN down in the system tray.

Even with all that, the budget categories are in Spanish, the names of all
countries are in Spanish (among other things this means checks print with
dollar amounts listed in English but to payees in the country of Estados
Unidos), all the transaction reports print in Spanish, and also like I
said Financial Statements are in Spanish, although those are PDF and
were downloaded that way so that is a different problem (that one might
wish an MLS setting resolved).

Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 11:58 am
by marianomarini
Thank you for your clear explanation.
Tomorrow I'll be at Church and I'll do some tests.
Thank you again for your patience.
(I suppose you already try to: backup data, reinstall MLS and restore data).