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Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2007 6:22 pm
by Moroni-p40
Open source MLS would be awesome.

My bishopric would like a visual layout of the ward, currently they put it on a white board, but they have expressed that it would be nice if we could have the computer print out the visual (bird's-eye view) of the ward. You could also click on the house and it would jump you to that person’s household record. (When on the computer)

This is a feature I could add if MLS was open ;)

Use Google Earth

Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 12:13 pm
by ronald_schoedel-p40
You can map your ward out on Google Earth really easily. The homes of ward members will then show up as dots on the map, that you can click for address and phone info, and use the Google Earth program to generate directions, routes, etc.

Your bishop would probably enjoy seeing the ward mapped out on Google earth, and it is just as simple as taking the .csv file off the ward website and importing it thru batchgeocode.com, export as a kmz file, bring the kmz file into Google Earth, and voila...all done.

Ronald Schoedel
Anchorage, Alaska

Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 7:26 am
by Moroni-p40
Thanks Ronald, I'll have to check that out.

Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2007 4:02 am
by russellhltn
ronald_schoedel wrote:Your bishop would probably enjoy seeing the ward mapped out on Google earth, and it is just as simple as taking the .csv file off the ward website and importing it thru batchgeocode.com, export as a kmz file, bring the kmz file into Google Earth, and voila...all done.
Question: Where is the data stored and/or processed? Is it kept on the local machine or is it uploaded to Google at all? I think there would be some concern if any part of the data was uploaded. Otherwise, I think it would be a great idea.

Local

Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2007 12:40 pm
by ronald_schoedel-p40
RussellHltn wrote:Question: Where is the data stored and/or processed? Is it kept on the local machine or is it uploaded to Google at all? I think there would be some concern if any part of the data was uploaded. Otherwise, I think it would be a great idea.
There is no uploading to Google involved in this at all. Google Earth is NOT the same thing as Google Maps. Google Earth is a local application that allows you to use network mapping resources with local data. So, the data files are only ever stored on your local machines, and in fact you could even email the .kmz file (or maybe .kml...I forget) to the bishop and his counselors, or the assistant clerks, etc. and it is all self-contained in that file. There is no uploading to anyone, anywhere, in the process I mentioned.

Even the batchgeocode.com website that I suggested does everything clientside in Javascript, on your local machine.

I am certain this is no less secure than hard copies of ward rosters that are handed out in thousands of wards, all the time.

Hope this helps.

Ronald Schoedel

Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 12:24 am
by thedqs
An idea is that this could be used for organizing home teaching assignments. Great for reducing travel if you are in a less Mormon dense area.

Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 9:15 am
by sochsner
@ thedqs

Our ward resides in half Las Vegas and Half Henderson(The neighboring neighborhood) and we meet in a chapel that isn't even part of our stake!

This Google Earth idea will really help plot out routes, and all of that stuff.

@ronald_schoede

That is sooo cool! I will have to show my Bishopric.

Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2007 3:25 am
by russellhltn
ronald_schoedel wrote:There is no uploading to Google involved in this at all.
Thanks for the reply. I wanted to check but didn't have the time to research.

Thanks again.

Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 5:04 am
by russellhltn
ronald_schoedel wrote:There is no uploading to Google involved in this at all.
Sorry, follow-up question: what about http://www.batchgeocode.com? Given the recent request not to upload data to websites, how does that play out? Or is there another way to geocode on one's own computer without uploading?

Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 6:24 pm
by thedqs
I have looked at the geocode's code (It is just javascript) and from what I can tell it doesn't submit anything to a server except the point which centers the map, the rest is processed client side in the script. But in keeping with the spirit of the rule, I would advise not to use it, but I would like to see someone make a client side version and I am sure you would be able to use that.