MLS save bug

[smooth-p40]

We are using MLS 3.1.2 and I have clerks who have been updating data associated with ordinances that is not saving. Is anyone else having this problem and is their a solution being worked or a work around for it.

Here is what one of the ward clerks provided on this situation:

Update on computer problem, as you know our stake computer specialist was over and removed and reinstalled MLS programs. This didn't solve the problem. I'm working with Caleb at Membership in SLC. We downloaded files and they checked them out and found that indeed there is a problem with the programming. This problem has been sent to the programmers and they are working on a fix.

The problem seems to be with edits, they are not saved on ward computers, nor do they stick after send/recieve in either computer. This has happened with a convert baptism (dropped his member number), 2 or 3 or more baptisms (dropped dates) and many, many lines of authority (who ordained). This has all happened since we upgraded the software around Dec. 11. I asked Caleb if the 10th ward was the only one that had this problem and he told me it is throughout the network, all of those that have been updated. He wasn't sure what if any notice would go out to stake or wards as that is not his decision but it would seem that any change or edit should be checked since systems were upgraded. He wasn't sure with the holidays and all when they would be fixing the upgrade! I have several changes that I will make sure stuck and several changes I know that didn't stick once they get us functioning correctly.

[aebrown]

We are using MLS 3.1.2 and I have clerks who have been updating data associated with ordinances that is not saving. Is anyone else having this problem and is their a solution in being worked or a work around for it.

One of the membership clerks in my stake reported something like that. He said:

I have tried twice to re-enter the name of the person preforming a Melchizedek Priesthood ordination. The names seem to be accepted at the time of entry and are transmitted and acknowledged successfully to the church but when I check a week later they are missing again.

In response, I asked him some questions, which I would now pose to you:

When exactly do the names disappear? There would be three possibilities, which shouldn't be too hard to narrow down:

1. Immediately after saving. You can test this by going right back into the record after saving to see if the name is still there.
2. After making the change and doing a Send/Receive. You can test this by going right back into the record after the Send/Receive is finished to see if the name is still there.
3. After the change has been processed by CHQ and sent back to you. You should carefully examine any Membership transaction reports that are sent to your ward in the next couple of days after you send a change to see what updates are sent to you. And of course also check the record to see if the name is still there.

I haven't heard back from that clerk yet, but your experience along with his would seem to indicate that this is not an isolated occurrence.

[mkmurray]

I'll try to double-check my "person performing Melchizedek Priesthood ordination" entries that I have been doing the past few weeks to see if mine have been sticking or not.

[smooth-p40]

I believe the data is deleted during the send/receive.

[ffrsqpilot]

I checked on the stake computer this morning for one of our recent Elder Ordinations. I know the Ward Clerk in the Elders ward entered it but when I checked this morning, not only was the MP Ordination absent but all notice of any priesthood was missing. No MP or AP on the individuals record but he was a Priest prior to the ordination.

I do not know when it was deleted as the ordination took place on the 13th but it no longer shows as having been completed. Apparently there is a problem with either send/receive or with the newest version of MLS not saving items that it should - in this case - ordinations.

[aebrown]

Apparently there is a problem with either send/receive or with the newest version of MLS not saving items that it should - in this case - ordinations.

I would note that this problem was first reported to me with MLS 3.1.2, so it's a bit earlier than "the newest version of MLS" (3.1.3). But I do appreciate hearing that it is not an isolated problem.

The clerk who originally reported this to me has given me an update with some details. He says:

The newly recorded ordination information is there during, and after the initial send/receive and an immediate additional send/receive. After about two hours it was still in the record before a send/receive but not after. CHQ also sent us a change confirmation with the affected name blank with that send/receive.

So it appears that the problem is either in the processing the Church does or in what is sent back, or how MLS processes what is sent back.

[mkmurray]

I'll try to double-check my "person performing Melchizedek Priesthood ordination" entries that I have been doing the past few weeks to see if mine have been sticking or not.

I cannot confirm this error. All of the "person performing Melchizedek Priesthood ordination" entries that I have entered during this month are on the records. We are on MLS 3.1.4 though, so maybe something is fixed? Likely not though.

I do know of another bug that my stake clerk told me about. Apparently in some cases "sealed to prior spouse" info doesn't show in MLS when it used to. My stake clerk works at the Church and was able to speak with an MLS developer to figure out that the data was not lost in CMIS (it appeared that could be the acronym for the official Membership system at CHQ; "Church Membership Information System" was the best guess). MLS interfaces with CMIS via some export system. Apparently this bug is in that export, in that the data is missing from the export. MLS then just receives and displays what it gets from that export. A fix to the export, and MLS would work with no changes. This is all from the conversation with my stake clerk and the MLS developer, as he relayed it to me.

I bring this up because I wonder if it could be related. There is a chance that it is not though.

[WE8U-p40]

I just received a call this morning about this very issue. It has been happening for sometime now on one of the ward computers. It is not saving entered information, at least not all of the data. I need to double check what version we are on, its one of the newer releases, but he said it has been consistently happened over longer period of time.

So this is a software bug? What should I tell the clerk in this case, just be patient and backup?

[jdlessley]

So this is a software bug? What should I tell the clerk in this case, just be patient and backup?

Contact Local Unit Support. Have as much detail and history of the issue as possible to help them track down the problem.

The latest MLS release is 3.2. If the computer with the issue has not been upgraded to that version I would get that done. Some send/receive issues were resolved with that release.