Newsletter, LDS tools, and Sacrament Programs

Discussions about the Newsletter Tool at LDS.org.
ag_boy
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Re: Newsletter, LDS tools, and Sacrament Programs

#21

Post by ag_boy »

sbradshaw wrote:One show-stopping limitation for me in using Google Docs for a sacrament meeting program is the lack of leader dots for right-tabbed items. They are difficult to do in HTML also. There are workarounds for getting leader dots and right tabs in HTML, but all of them make it nigh impossible to get a clean copy/paste into another program.
What are leader dots? I have to admit ignorance on that one.

As far as the bishop/clerk tools, web administrator does not have access to those areas.
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sbradshaw
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Re: Newsletter, LDS tools, and Sacrament Programs

#22

Post by sbradshaw »

The leader dots are the ..... that appear with tabs. For example:

Opening Hymn............................................Redeemer of Israel, #6
Opening Prayer.........................................................Brother Brown
Samuel Bradshaw • If you desire to serve God, you are called to the work.
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aebrown
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Re: Newsletter, LDS tools, and Sacrament Programs

#23

Post by aebrown »

sbradshaw wrote:Leader and Clerk Resources queries the calendar for the "Schedule" box on the left side of the page. So that part of gathering information together is already feasible.
agrapha wrote:As far as the bishop/clerk tools, web administrator does not have access to those areas.
Note that the Agenda view built into the Calendar provides a similar list format (and it is available to everyone). It requires a bit of manual cleanup after you paste it, but it might be an option to consider.
ag_boy
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Re: Newsletter, LDS tools, and Sacrament Programs

#24

Post by ag_boy »

Here is a link to the google doc I have created. I use tables to control the placement, and have a fixed leader dot. If Google allows you to modify it, please do not. Copy it to mess around with it

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sQw ... cslist_api

This can be saved down to a Word doc,mgmt I have not seen what that looks like. The advantage of using this remote collaboration tool for leadership who are dispersed is huge.
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sbradshaw
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Re: Newsletter, LDS tools, and Sacrament Programs

#25

Post by sbradshaw »

Not bad at all, given the limitations of Google Docs – nice job.
Samuel Bradshaw • If you desire to serve God, you are called to the work.
ag_boy
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Re: Newsletter, LDS tools, and Sacrament Programs

#26

Post by ag_boy »

Saving the google doc sacrament program to an MSword doc does not maintain formatting. I will build a word doc directly that has the same layout, and post it as well.

The Google doc and a downloadable format are hopefully an interim step.

You can currently upload documents to the newsletter, and the PDF with active links to songs is getting some positive feedback. It's still too early to tell. The newsletter is a good adjunct to your program announcements - adding more detail. Furthermore, there are space and content restrictions to the program that are relaxed online. And yet it is nothing more than a very simple bulletin board, and should grow.

The goal is to map out a a hybrid Sacrament Meeting program that has extended use. The challenge is that this kind of functionality is tied to the ability of the person. That is why it has started and stopped so many times, and comments like "no one looks at it" exist. This kind of tool has use for baptisms, primary programs, and general meetings as well — with many templates there are many possibilities.

Hopefully this discussion will end with a simple, interoperable system anyone can easily use.
ag_boy
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Re: Newsletter, LDS tools, and Sacrament Programs

#27

Post by ag_boy »

The online hotlinkable PDF uploaded to the newsletter brought an interesting response: I was asked if I was using a tool on the LDS church website to make the sacrament program, and have it online? It is interesting that people assumed the church already had a tool for this.

There is a need for this kind of document support. Auxiliaries are already using email and supporting software like Google docs. As simple as a Sacrament program seems, if it is the design of the Church to use more technology it should make it as efficient as possible.
ag_boy
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Re: Newsletter, LDS tools, and Sacrament Programs

#28

Post by ag_boy »

There was initially some resistance by the Bishopric to using Google Docs as the source of the Sacrament program. However, that tune is changing as they see the flexibility of last minute changes we are able to incorporate, as well as the hot-linked PDF form on the newsletter. So there is some nice movement there.

The basic image processing tools are also nice to have, as photocopy reproduction is often poor quality — especially when the copy source is color. As computer printers evolved, greater resolution, and near continuous tone were the result. Generally Xerography is a monochrome reproduction, with enhanced contrast. Though this does not necessarily damage the purpose of a program, a good looking image reproduction is an enhanced experience.

With the Google basic image processing, we have better results by converting it to grayscale, and slightly bumping up the brightness. We're it possible to pre-halftone the image, that would make it better, but this is one way to improve quality of the product.

Included with this mail are the original digital image, and a photo of the final reproduction on paper in the sacrament program.
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ag_boy
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Re: Newsletter, LDS tools, and Sacrament Programs

#29

Post by ag_boy »

The church music player is now Flash required. IOS devices can not view the music pages, and it occasionally does not launch the secondary App to the songbook.

If creating hotlinks to music for church Sacrament programs, go to the PDF on the page and download that link
mevans
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Re: Newsletter, LDS tools, and Sacrament Programs

#30

Post by mevans »

Note: some hymns are not available online due to copyright restrictions. You won't be able to include these in an online program, nor should you scan them out of the hymnal, as that violates copyright laws.
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