This page describes the MlsRpt program, written by Bill Pringle, which reads information from your unit's MLS program, and produces a number of reports that can be used with word processors, Palm Pilots, spreadsheets, and databases. This program is a replacement for the original WardList program that worked with the old MIS system.
Like WardList, MlsRpt provides a series of files that can be imported into databases and spreadsheets, as well as converted into Palm Pilot and other PDAs as well as MS-Word documents, and web pages. This program handles the new MLS program that replaced the MIS system that WardList supported.
To set up your PC for the MlsRpt program:
C:\mlsrpt
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Once you have done the above, each Sunday you can do the following:
I originally wrote the MlsRpt program to meet my needs, but have made various changes to meet the needs of others. If there are any features you would like added, submit suggestions on features that should be included in the MlsRpt program.
The MlsRpt program reads input files from your unit's MLS system, as well as an optional auxillary program that can be used to overcome some of the restrictions of the current MLS program. There are two types of files that can be read by MlsRpt: CSV files that can be obtained using the File/Export menu option of MLS, or using copy on various MLS reports and pasting the information into text files. In order to export files, you must be an MLS administrator, typically restricted to members of the Bishopric or a clerk. Exporting is much easier and faster, and has more information, but copying MLS reports is available to anyone who has an MLS account.
These files can be created by doing an export from your MLS program. You will need an account on that system, and will need to either have permission to export files, or have an administrator confirm each export.
There are a series of Palm CSV files that can be exported from MLS as well. My program doesn't use these. They are formatted for a direct import into the address book of a Palm Pilot. Personally, I recommend that you don't import these files into your Palm Pilot, since once you have done that, it won't be easy to update the entries.
If you are a Stake Clerk, then your output CSV files will be slightly different than those of the wards and branches. Your records will have additional fields to indicate what unit the record belongs to. The MlsRpt program will automatically detect that you are using Stake input files, and produce a stake report instead of a unit report.
Tyypically, administrator accounts are only granted to the Ward Clerks, members of the Bishopric, and the Executive Secretary. Leaders such as Elders Quorum and Relief Socity President, High Priest Group Leaders, etc. usually have their own user accounts, but not administrator access. If you do not have an administrator account on MLS, you can get access to a collection of reports that provide much the same information. The big difference is that you would not be able to create the private report, since you don't have access to that information.
Exporting the individual reports takes a bit more time, but can still be done fairly quickly. In order to export an account, you will need to have a notepad window open. Here are the steps to exporting individual reports:
You can save your report files to a flash drive, and then put them onto your hard drive at home. Copy the report files into the directory with the mlsrpt program. If the mlsrpt program can't find the Export CSV files, it will look for the individual report files and process them. Here are the names of the reports and what files they should be saved as:
If a file named mlsaux.txt is present, the MlsRpt program will read that file and add the information to what it reads from MLS. The MLS system allows a second phone number and an e-mail address, but it is for the entire family, not individual members. Since many families have a home phone and several cell phones, plus many e-mail addresses, this file will let you bypass the MLS restrictions.
The mlsaux.txt file can contain additional information such as cell phone numbers, work numbers, e-mail address, as well as "post-it" type notes about individual members. Another use for this file is to enter information about "out of unit" members: members of other wards or branches that are serving in your unit. These individuals are not exported by MLS, which is a "bug" they are aware of, but no work-around exists (other than this file.) This file can be used to provide the same information as should have come from MLS. This file can also let you control how the addresses in the condensed home and visiting teaching reports are constructed.
You may enter additional information about individual members using this file. All the additional information for a given person should be placed on a single line, with each field separated by a vertical bar (|). The first field of these lines should contain the membership record number of the person (this is the number used to register on web sites, and is written on tithing slips and temple recommends.) Each remaining field consists of a keyword and a value (e.g., "cell=222-555-1234"). Many fields can be repeated as often as necessary (for example, if somebody has multiple work numbers or e-mail addresses.)
Here are a few example lines:
In the above example,
only the street address and zip code will be displayed
in the condensed home and visiting teaching reports.
An additional cell phone and e-mail address are provided
for brother "John Doe",
along with a note that he works most nights.
We also define brother and sister Smith,
a couple from out of the unit who are serving here.
Notice that more information is needed for Brother Smith,
since his information is used to fill in the family record.
* Display options
* Controls amount of display for address (y or n)
!ShowCity=n
!ShowState=n
!ShowZip=y
*
* Sample records:
* Add info for a member
000-0000-0001|x=John Doe|cell=123-555-1234|[email protected]|rem=Works most nights
* Out of unit members
000-0000-0002|family=000-0000-0002|id=321|name=Smith, Sam|sex=Male|stat=Elder|addr=123 Main St.|city=Happytown|state=Pa|zip=12345|birth=01-Jan-1960|phone=123-555-4321
000-0000-0003|family=000-0000-0002|id=322|name=Smith, Sally|sex=Female|cell=123-555-5555|birth=01-Jan-1962
This section describes the actual fields for the auxillary file, with suggestions on how to best use this file.
The following commands can control the way addresses are displayed for the condensed HT and VT reports. If your entire unit is within the same city and state, then there is no need to display that information in the condensed report. On the other hand, if your unit stretches across different towns and even different states, then you would want that information displayed on the reports.
The following lines should appear once in the input file. Set the values as you see fit. If you want the field to be displayed, set the value to y; otherwise, set the value to n.
The following fields can be used to provide additional informaton that isn't available within MLS for individuals.
These fields can be used to provide information about out-of-unit members. With the current version of MLS, the Membership.csv file doesn't contain information about any out-of-unit members. These are members from other units where the Stake has assigned them to work in your unit.
The program creates two basic types of files: text files and CSV files. There are two kinds of text files created. Both versions contain the same information, but one set has "Book" and "Chapter" information for the mms (make my scriptures) program, which will create files that can be read on a Palm Pilot (or even a Pocket PC).
CSV files can be viewed using a SpreadSheet and/or imported into a database. The first line of the file contains the field names separated by commas. All text values containing spaces are enclosed in double quotes.
Text files can be viewed in a text editor, such as NotePad.
You can also use programs such as makedoc or makedocW to convert the text file into a Palm Pilot file that can be loaded on your PDA. Since these report files are typically formatted to take as little width as possible, they are well suited for viewing on a PDA (which was the original reason WardList was created.)
Report files can also be read or pasted into MS-Word or OpenOffice, where they can then be formatted. For example, the Phone List could be placed in a MS-Word or OpenOffice document, and then you could set the number of columns to 2, and possibly reducing the font size. This would allow you to print out the list in two columns, taking advantage of the minimal width, and saving half the number of pages.
There are also a series of report files with "mms" in their name. These are files formatted to work with the MakeMyScriptures program from SkimWare . By running that program against one of the "mms" files, you can create a document with books and chapters that can be read by their MarkMyScriptures program. Both programs can be downloaded for free from their site, but if you purchase the reader, you can get the complete LDS scriptures, including footnotes and chapter comments. If you also get MMSWeb , you can download LDS manuals, magazines, and just about anything else on the lds.org site. (I don't make anything if you buy from them; I just like the package.)
The following report files are created:
Text files can be viewed in a text editor, such as NotePad.
You can also use programs such as makedoc or makedocW to convert the text file into a Palm Pilot file that can be loaded on your PDA. Since these report files are typically formatted to take as little width as possible, they are well suited for viewing on a PDA (which was the original reason WardList was created.)
Report files can also be read or pasted into MS-Word or OpenOffice, where they can then be formatted. For example, the Phone List could be placed in a MS-Word or OpenOffice document, and then you could set the number of columns to 2, and possibly reducing the font size. This would allow you to print out the list in two columns, taking advantage of the minimal width, and saving half the number of pages.
There are also a series of report files with "mms" in their name. These are files formatted to work with the MakeMyScriptures program from SkimWare . By running that program against one of the "mms" files (using all the default values), you can create a document with books and chapters that can be read by their MarkMyScriptures program, which supports both Palm Pilots and Pocket PCs. Both programs can be downloaded for free from their site, but if you purchase the reader, you can get the complete LDS scriptures, including footnotes and chapter comments. If you also get MMSWeb , you can download LDS manuals, magazines, and just about anything else on the lds.org site. (I don't make anything if you buy from them; I just like the package.)
There are also some files with "bb" in their name. These are HTML pages that can be used with the Mobipocket converter to export files to a blackberry. Here are the steps you should take to get the reports on your blackberry: