Tech Forum

I have encountered issues with the computer software MLS we are currently on windows XP and most of the work I have to do at home on W7 cannot be read. we need the right tools to do a job. I am sure the Lord wants that as his house is a house of order
we are on dial-up and as a result connecting, transmitting and the use of the system is archaic. many issues have arisen with information submitted to the service centre, which does not get through including ordinations submitted not being recorded. at times a simple send/receive can require up to six connection attempts to connect. this is very frustrating in trying to magnify your calling and frequently holds up Bishopric and Ward Council meetings etc.
The latest I have encountered is printing off a ward directory, where we previously had 15 pages, there are now 26 pages involved as two more columns have been added for telephone and email addresses. this does not seem very eco friendly to me. there is a telephone directory option which displays email and it is only 2 and a bit pages (a saving of about 10 pages) every update of MLS seems to have a glitch. Hope you can take this on board
Thanks
Guy MacBeachen

Guymac wrote:I have encountered issues with the computer software MLS we are currently on windows XP and most of the work I have to do at home on W7 cannot be read. we need the right tools to do a job. I am sure the Lord wants that as his house is a house of order

It's not clear to me how work that you do at home on your personal computer running Windows 7 would need to be read on the computer at church that runs Windows XP. But in any case, I would note that MLS 3.3 (which it seems you are referring to in your last point) does run on Windows 7. That won't make any difference to you until your ward's computer is upgraded to Windows 7, but whenever that happens, you can rest assured that MLS will work properly with Windows 7.

Guymac wrote:we are on dial-up and as a result connecting, transmitting and the use of the system is archaic. many issues have arisen with information submitted to the service centre, which does not get through including ordinations submitted not being recorded. at times a simple send/receive can require up to six connection attempts to connect. this is very frustrating in trying to magnify your calling and frequently holds up Bishopric and Ward Council meetings etc.

I know it can be frustrating to have challenges making these connections, particularly as new technology makes it even more important that we send and receive updated data regularly.

The Church is moving to implement broadband Internet connections for individual units, which is much faster and more reliable than dialup connections. I would recommend that you contact your stake technology specialist and ask what the plan is for your stake, and particularly for your building. Specific policies do vary in different parts of the world, and your stake president is also involved in making such decisions for your stake. But if you explain your needs, perhaps your stake can work towards implementing a better Internet connection for your building.

Guymac wrote:The latest I have encountered is printing off a ward directory, where we previously had 15 pages, there are now 26 pages involved as two more columns have been added for telephone and email addresses. this does not seem very eco friendly to me.

Although the ward directory now has the option for columns for personal telephone and email addresses, please note that these are only options. You can check the "Customize..." link in the upper right corner of the Directory of Members screen. That will allow you to select your options for the report. If you uncheck the boxes by "Show personal phone" and "Show personal e-mail" then the report should format more like you are used to.

Guymac wrote:Hope you can take this on....

Welcome Guy,
The men and women here are smart and dedicated, so throw those question to them. We're all in the "learning curve" along with you, and these are monumental changes- the "house of order" will come...

Guymac wrote:I have encountered issues with the computer software MLS we are currently on windows XP and most of the work I have to do at home on W7 cannot be read.

I may be misinterpreting what you are saying but I believe you are saying you have MLS installed on your computer at home. Is this correct? I am extrapolating information from your statement that you are taking the database home to do work in MLS there. Is this correct?

If all my understanding is correct then we have more to discuss. If it is not correct then disregard.