Tech Forum

I would like to understand whether tools access (and underlying database information) is expected to be available in other countries currently, or not.

The reason why I am asking is that I have seen that many of the tools have been translated into other languages, which would imply (and I know it's dangerous to infer things from such evidences... but please be patient with me ) that those languages will be used - justifying the resources put towards translation.

So, my particular language of interest is Russian, and since there is only one Russian-language unit outside of the Eastern-European/Asian area, I was hoping that the translation effort actually did imply that there was preparation that would allow use of these tools there.

I asked a friend to look to see if the tools were usable in Russia. The result is currently that the Study Notebook seems to be fully usable (expected), the Calendar doesn't show anything because the branch or district haven't set anything up (expected), and the directory and map tools are not currently functional (not expected), because there doesn't seem to be a link to the 'unit' data that we see here in the U.S.

For example, with the maps, the message comes back and says "We do not know which congregation is yours." The directory also comes back to show a blank screen, much like I have seen in the past, when there was a problem with languages that resulted in a failure to get the unit data returned at all. Since the default language problem has been fixed... (and in this case, the default LDSAccount language is English, just to avoid another potential issue) I can only assume this is either an issue with the account/member not being correctly associated to the unit, or the unit itself is not populated in a way that allows these tools access to the proper data, including for this member.

So, before anything else, I wanted to figure out if there is an expectation that this is supposed to work internationally... at the present time. If it is 'supposed' to work, then I am hoping that maybe we have uncovered an issue that can be investigated so that it can work properly... and be used within the branches and wards of those areas.

I'd rather not post my friend's information on a public forum, for the sake of privacy, but if someone from CHQ would like to look into this issue, I'd be happy to provide the needed details directly.

Are these tools working as expected in other international locations?

I believe everything is supposed to work internationally. With the Directory, countries inside the European Union have all member data private by default. I recommend contacting Local Unit Support.

Well, Russia is not in the EU... so I'm not sure it fits, but that is good to know. Let me ask, then, if all of the data was private, it should still show the regular Directory page, and allow you to edit your own family data, but not see anything else, correct? This is not the case here... it's just blank, showing no data or anything, except a blank screen with the same background that the directory has, and a search bar, but no text anywhere.

And I could probably contact Local Unit Support, but I'm not the one having the problem, I'm just advocating for the Russian saints here... so that it will work correctly for them, so that I can encourage them to use it. A bit of an unorthodox approach, perhaps, but it's what I have to work with... not having the benefit of living amongst those great saints over there.

I can try to go that route, and I do appreciate the information. From what you said it is supposed to work, and something isn't right. Hopefully they will be able to help figure out the issue.