Mls 2.9

[pete_arnett-p40]

From: MLSSupport [mailto:MLSSupport@...]
Sent: Friday, August 22, 2008 4:58 PM
Subject: MLS 2.9

Dear Stake Clerk and Stake Technology Specialist:

We have produced new Member and Leader Services (MLS) software, version 2.9.
It is currently being field tested. This version of the software will be
sent down to your units beginning the weekend of August 29th. It will take
approximately 20-30 minutes to download. If you would like to download it
ahead of time from the MLS website, and install it to avoid the MLS download
times, you can go to http://mls.lds.org and log in with your unit number.
The password is <deleted for security reasons>.

Please read the release notes for MLS version 2.9 after you have downloaded
it. Please pay particular attention to the user rights area of MLS 2.9.
MLS security is being enhanced.

Thank you for your assistance.

Local Unit Support

[aebrown]

Suggestion - use the build under found in the Help > About

Because the units in the early testing automatically get the updates and we only know MLS version by thier build number

MLS 2.9.0_14316

It's unfortunate that we have to use such a clunky way of referring to beta releases. With previous releases, the builds were clearly labeled something like 2.8b4, both on the installer and in the MLS interface. Now we can't see the beta number from the MLS application. I guess that's progress . I'll try to give a more complete reference to beta versions in subsequent posts.

In any case, just to clarify exactly what has been referred to, here are the three beta builds I have seen (there was probably a Beta 1, since 1 comes before 2, but I never saw it):

• Beta 2: Build 14262: 06 Aug 2008
• Beta 3: Build 14289: 14 Aug 2008
• Beta 4: Build 14316: 21 Aug 2008

Note also that the date listed on the mls.lds.org website for beta releases (the "Updated" date) is often one day after the date of the actual build. For example, 2.9.0_14316 has a build date of 21 Aug, but on mls.lds.org it says "Updated 22 August 2008."

[techgy]

Our stake will be updating to the 2.9 version of MLS later this week since we don't prefer each ward to have to deal with the slower downloads. I noticed that this coming weekend the download will occur automatically (8/29). I am assuming then that sometime this week that 2.9 will take on a final status and move away from the BETA.

I'm curious as to when the switch to a final status will occur so that I can plan to do the install manually.

One additional question. Earlier in this thread a mention was made by someone who installed the full version of 2.9 and also the test data. What test data? I'd suggested this some time ago, that a test database would be helpful in training. Has this happened?

Thanks

[mkmurray]

Yes, this has been in place for quite a while now. Here is a post with with Test Unit information:

http://tech.lds.org/forum/showthread.ph ... 2#post8122

[SmithGW]

The next beta version of MLS 2.9 may have been released this weekend. In that one, two administrators are allowed, and they are called "Out-of-Unit Administrators." These could be from the stake, the mission (for a branch), or from the administration office (for some international areas). However, two is the limit due to security concerns. If you want a previous stake administrator to keep his password, he can call up his user information in a ward's copy of MLS and click the "Out-of-Unit Administrator" radio button. He will then retain his username and password.

[aebrown]

The next beta version of MLS 2.9 may have been released this weekend. In that one, two administrators are allowed, and they are called "Out-of-Unit Administrators." These could be from the stake, the mission (for a branch), or from the administration office (for some international areas). However, two is the limit due to security concerns. If you want a previous stake administrator to keep his password, he can call up his user information in a ward's copy of MLS and click the "Out-of-Unit Administrator" radio button. He will then retain his username and password.

I would add that any MLS administrator can do this (the stake admin doesn't have to do this personally). For stakes that are spread out, it might be difficult for a stake administrator to get to each building in the near future to change his user account to "Out-of-Unit Administrator".

Once a unit upgrades to MLS 2.9, they will start getting persistent reminders that the stake administrator account is not associated with a member. But in this case, a ward MLS administrator can go into that stake admin's user account, click the "Out-of-Unit Administrator" radio button, and click Save. That way the stake admin's username and password will be preserved, the reminder messages will go away, and the stake admin doesn't have to travel to each building just to change this setting.

[techgy]

Yes, my stake participates in beta testing MLS, so we got 2.9 downloaded automatically. I also downloaded the full 2.9 and installed it on my own computer with the test data.

You have my attention. What "test data" are you referring to? I had made the suggestion several months ago to HQ that it would be helpful if a test database were available that clerks could use for training. Has this happened?

[mkmurray]

You have my attention. What "test data" are you referring to? I had made the suggestion several months ago to HQ that it would be helpful if a test database were available that clerks could use for training. Has this happened?

I answered your question 3 posts ago...

Yes, this has been in place for quite a while now. Here is a post with with Test Unit information:

http://tech.lds.org/forum/showthread.php?p=8122#post8122http://tech.lds.org/forum/showthread...=8122#post8122

[russellhltn]

The test data has been there all along. Someone didn't get word back to you. See this post.

[techgy]

I answered your question 3 posts ago...

My apologies. I missed it. Thanks for the info.