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Relationship between Unit Web Site and MLS

Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2009 9:27 pm
by wynnp
Can anyone tell me the fields relationship between the Unit Web Site and MLS database? An example, I think that MLS is the source for all fields in the Unit Web Site. However, I can change a person's preferred name from, say "William" to "Bill" on the Unit Web Site and it remains "Bill". Then when I download the data to my iPhone "IStake" it shows "Bill". But in MLS it will still show "William" and I think even when the Unit Web Site is refreshed from MLS, , the name remains "Bill".
-- A Stake Executive Secretary --

Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2009 9:35 pm
by aebrown
utahwynn wrote:Can anyone tell me the fields relationship between the Unit Web Site and MLS database? An example, I think that MLS is the source for all fields in the Unit Web Site. However, I can change a person's preferred name from, say "William" to "Bill" on the Unit Web Site and it remains "Bill". Then when I download the data to my iPhone "IStake" it shows "Bill". But in MLS it will still show "William" and I think even when the Unit Web Site is refreshed from MLS, , the name remains "Bill".
The relationships are detailed in the wiki article Local Unit Website.

Basically, membership record information (name, address, phone number, household relationships) in the Church's central membership database is sent to both MLS and the Unit Website. Preferred names and e-mail addresses are stored only on the Unit Website, as are callings at this point -- although similar fields are also stored in MLS, those fields are not synchronized with the website.

Why Not?

Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 11:57 pm
by brentsor-p40
Why are the callings not Synchronized? I realize this post is from 2007, but this was the only post I could find on the subject. It would be much more efficient if Ward and Stake Leadership information was only inputed through MLS and automatically posted on Ward Websites. Perhaps on MLS there could be a check mark stating: Post on Unit Website? Y/N. That would be great.

One other idea. In Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Access there is a way to require certain formatting for phone numbers. If MLS had this the phone number formatting would be much improved. Thanks!

Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 12:25 am
by russellhltn
I think the simple answer is that LUWS is pulled from the membership records. Membership records do not contain callings.

Why the connection between MLS and CHQ wasn't expanded to include the information needed to update LUWS, I don't know.

However, with the current version of MLS, the callings are being reported back to Church Headquarters. As of yet, LUWS hasn't been changed to take advantage of this information, but I'm sure it's coming - in due time.

The church works on the Lord's time - not at Internet speeds. :D

Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 4:05 am
by Mikerowaved
brentsor wrote:I realize this post is from 2007...
Actually, it's less than a month old. I think you may have glanced at Alan's join date. ;)
brentsor wrote:One other idea. In Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Access there is a way to require certain formatting for phone numbers. If MLS had this the phone number formatting would be much improved. Thanks!
Yes indeed, a selectable phone number "mask" formatted for various regions would help considerably.

Standardizing a telephone format has been kicked around a bit already on the forum, as you can see from HERE, HERE, and HERE (given in reverse chronological order) and several other threads as well. However, it looks like we missed including this in our Wiki's running list of Suggestions for MLS. :o

Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 6:18 pm
by danmcf
This thread is the closest I could find to the question at hand.

How does the unit or ward website get updated?

Example: There are no callings listed but the ward directory is there.

How can the system be unpdated?

Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 7:59 pm
by jdlessley
danmcf wrote:This thread is the closest I could find to the question at hand.

How does the unit or ward website get updated?

Example: There are no callings listed but the ward directory is there.

How can the system be unpdated?
I think you will find the answers to you questions at the LDSTech Wiki article "Local Unit Website".

The short answer is that callings are not updated automatically yet.

Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 9:23 pm
by RossEvans
LUWS can stand for Local Unit Web Site or Local Unintegrated Web Site. That is changing for the better, but such change takes time and resources.

Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 1:02 pm
by danmcf
jdlessley wrote:I think you will find the answers to you questions at the LDSTech Wiki article "Local Unit Website".

The short answer is that callings are not updated automatically yet.

Thanks but I do not see an answer there.

Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 1:15 pm
by aebrown
danmcf wrote:Thanks but I do not see an answer there.
From your original question, it appeared that you might be a clerk asking about why some information might be in MLS, but not on the ward website. If you look at the section of that article titled Connection with MLS, you will indeed find that answer.

But if you are a ward member wondering why some information might not be on the website, the simple answer is that only some of the information (such as the membership directory) is updated automatically by Church Headquarters, based on membership records. However, much of the other information has to be entered manually by a ward website administrator.

If your ward has not designated a ward website administrator, many areas of the website will be blank. Also, note that some wards have designated a website administrator, but choose not to fill in some of the areas of the website because they have alternate ways of tracking and publishing the information. You might want to ask your ward clerk or a bishopric member these questions.