Create File for Lifetouch Church Directories
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Create File for Lifetouch Church Directories
Does anyone use the Create File for Lifetouch Church Directories under Person Profiles Other Output? I have some questions that I would like to discuss related to what data is pulled and from which records in the PC database. Also have some questions related to the output record content related to multiple phone numbers, emails, etc.
I would welcome hearing from anyone who is experienced with this process.
Thank you,
Marilyn Hoeth
TVBC
I would welcome hearing from anyone who is experienced with this process.
Thank you,
Marilyn Hoeth
TVBC
Re: Create File for Lifetouch Church Directories
Marilyn,mhoeth wrote:Does anyone use the Create File for Lifetouch Church Directories under Person Profiles Other Output? I have some questions that I would like to discuss related to what data is pulled and from which records in the PC database. Also have some questions related to the output record content related to multiple phone numbers, emails, etc.
I would welcome hearing from anyone who is experienced with this process.
Thank you,
Marilyn Hoeth
TVBC
This is covered in the online help, as well as the Powerchurch manual:
Obviously the addresses come from the Family Mailing List record, along with the 'main' family phone if listed. Other information comes from the Personal Profiles.If you are having a pictorial directory created by LifeTouch Church Directories, PowerChurch Plus allows you to export a file from the Personal Profiles database to send to the directory company. This data file will be formatted according to LifeTouch's specifications.
What questions do you have about this process??
Neil Zampella
Using PC+ since 1999.
Using PC+ since 1999.
Re: Create File for Lifetouch Church Directories
Yes, I understand clearly how to create the file. I'm trying to verify that the file contains all the data that it is supposed to contain. In looking at the file in xls or in txt, the records do not contain all the selected phone numbers or the email addresses.
I have an IT background so am familiar with extracting data. I'm trying to identify the PC records/fields that are being extracted and placement in the record for Lifetouch so that I can insure that all data is being extracted properly. The data is there if I use the selection of creating a Church Directory report; however, I do not have all the same options available to me when I create the file for Lifetouch - the output seems to be missing data. If I export the created report with all the data as Excel, it is still formatted as a report and not a record layout!
So I seeking technical assistance I guess -- the manual doesn't answer the level of questions that I am struggling with.
Thanks for your response.
Marilyn
I have an IT background so am familiar with extracting data. I'm trying to identify the PC records/fields that are being extracted and placement in the record for Lifetouch so that I can insure that all data is being extracted properly. The data is there if I use the selection of creating a Church Directory report; however, I do not have all the same options available to me when I create the file for Lifetouch - the output seems to be missing data. If I export the created report with all the data as Excel, it is still formatted as a report and not a record layout!
So I seeking technical assistance I guess -- the manual doesn't answer the level of questions that I am struggling with.
Thanks for your response.
Marilyn
Re: Create File for Lifetouch Church Directories
Let me flag this for one of the techs to take a look. We've not seen anyone having a problem, at least none has been reported here, and this type of export has been in Powerchurch for a while, for LifeTouch, and for Olan Mills before they merged.mhoeth wrote:Yes, I understand clearly how to create the file. I'm trying to verify that the file contains all the data that it is supposed to contain. In looking at the file in xls or in txt, the records do not contain all the selected phone numbers or the email addresses.
I have an IT background so am familiar with extracting data. I'm trying to identify the PC records/fields that are being extracted and placement in the record for Lifetouch so that I can insure that all data is being extracted properly. The data is there if I use the selection of creating a Church Directory report; however, I do not have all the same options available to me when I create the file for Lifetouch - the output seems to be missing data. If I export the created report with all the data as Excel, it is still formatted as a report and not a record layout!
So I seeking technical assistance I guess -- the manual doesn't answer the level of questions that I am struggling with.
Thanks for your response.
Marilyn
Neil Zampella
Using PC+ since 1999.
Using PC+ since 1999.
Re: Create File for Lifetouch Church Directories
Thank you Neil.
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Re: Create File for Lifetouch Church Directories
Looking at the code, the following behaviors may not be immediately apparent, but are consistent with how PowerChurch generates other reports and Church Directory:
- The export process gives you the option of selecting one family phone type (home phone) and one profile phone (mobile) to export.
- The street address won't be included in the export if the family has "Publish Address in Church Directory" unchecked.
- If a family is currently set to use the Alternate Address and Alternate Phone, PowerChurch will use those fields.
- Phones marked unlisted won't be included in the export.
- Families with "Include in Membership Module Reports" unchecked won't be included in the export.
- If the include e-mail addresses option is checked, PowerChurch will include both family and profile e-mails, if they aren't marked as unlisted.
Re: Create File for Lifetouch Church Directories
Thank you this is very helpful ... there are some nuances mentioned in your response that might be creating an issue for me. I will check all of those.
Specifically, I would expect to see this (and it is what is printed in our current directory and on any directory I print to paper)
SMITH, Joseph (Joe*) and Sue*
9999 Street Address
My City, St 99999
joe@abc.com J
sue@abc.com S
--xxxx J
--xxxx S
--xxxx
When I create the LCD file and view it is excel or in txt I see the following
SMITH, Joseph and Sue, 9999 Street Address, My City, St, 99999, joe@abc.com, --xxxx (not necessarily in this specific order)
We were not on version 12 when we did our last directory. We are now on version 12. I do not see the options to choose formal or preferred name, etc.
So 2 specific questions -- 1) did something change in Version 12 in the options set up for the LCD; they are different than other report options for the Personal Profiles. 2) What is the best means of reading the created LCD file so that I am certain that I am viewing all of the record?
Thank you for any additional assistance.
Marilyn
Specifically, I would expect to see this (and it is what is printed in our current directory and on any directory I print to paper)
SMITH, Joseph (Joe*) and Sue*
9999 Street Address
My City, St 99999
joe@abc.com J
sue@abc.com S
--xxxx J
--xxxx S
--xxxx
When I create the LCD file and view it is excel or in txt I see the following
SMITH, Joseph and Sue, 9999 Street Address, My City, St, 99999, joe@abc.com, --xxxx (not necessarily in this specific order)
We were not on version 12 when we did our last directory. We are now on version 12. I do not see the options to choose formal or preferred name, etc.
So 2 specific questions -- 1) did something change in Version 12 in the options set up for the LCD; they are different than other report options for the Personal Profiles. 2) What is the best means of reading the created LCD file so that I am certain that I am viewing all of the record?
Thank you for any additional assistance.
Marilyn
Re: Create File for Lifetouch Church Directories
As is mentioned, the format is the one that Lifetouch specifies, it is not intended to be human readable.mhoeth wrote:Thank you this is very helpful ... there are some nuances mentioned in your response that might be creating an issue for me. I will check all of those.
Specifically, I would expect to see this (and it is what is printed in our current directory and on any directory I print to paper)
SMITH, Joseph (Joe*) and Sue*
9999 Street Address
My City, St 99999
joe@abc.com J
sue@abc.com S
--xxxx J
--xxxx S
--xxxx
When I create the LCD file and view it is excel or in txt I see the following
SMITH, Joseph and Sue, 9999 Street Address, My City, St, 99999, joe@abc.com, --xxxx (not necessarily in this specific order)
These options are only for directories created by Powerchurch, they are not options for the Lifetouch directory.We were not on version 12 when we did our last directory. We are now on version 12. I do not see the options to choose formal or preferred name, etc.
1. What was the last version you used? I just verified that it hasn't changed from 11.55. If the last version of Powerchurch you used was 10.x, it was probably changed .So 2 specific questions -- 1) did something change in Version 12 in the options set up for the LCD; they are different than other report options for the Personal Profiles. 2) What is the best means of reading the created LCD file so that I am certain that I am viewing all of the record?
Thank you for any additional assistance.
Marilyn
2. I would get with Lifetouch. I suspect they will provide a draft for you to review before any final printing.
FWIW ... there are a lot of churches who use this data export, and I've not seen any issues presented about the data export.
Neil Zampella
Using PC+ since 1999.
Using PC+ since 1999.
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Re: Create File for Lifetouch Church Directories
I went back through the code and found that there have been four significant changes since that feature was added in Version 8 (2001). Three were all just adding new fields to the export (e-mail in Version 10, family e-mail added in Version 11, head of household and spouse titles in 11.5).
The only actual file structure change was unrelated to what you are seeing, and was related to allowing multiple Personal Status codes to be highlighted as members.
The only actual file structure change was unrelated to what you are seeing, and was related to allowing multiple Personal Status codes to be highlighted as members.
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Re: Create File for Lifetouch Church Directories
Answering your e-mail here, for the benefit of others who may have this question in the future.
If you are trying to decipher the file in Excel or Notepad, here is the key to understanding it:
The far left column/character is the type of record:
0 - About the system that created the file (PowerChurch)
1 - About your church
2 - Family record (internal family ID number, name, address, phone, e-mail)
3 - Person record (internal person ID number, name, family ID number, address, mobile phone, personal e-mail, preferred name, title, etc)
4 - Legend (* = Member)
To see all the information that is "missing" you would need to look first at the #2 record for the family/household info, then look at the #3 record for each individual person with the matching family ID number. Use CTRL+F in whatever program you are using to do a text find for the person's last name, and look at all the entries related to that person/family.
If you are trying to decipher the file in Excel or Notepad, here is the key to understanding it:
The far left column/character is the type of record:
0 - About the system that created the file (PowerChurch)
1 - About your church
2 - Family record (internal family ID number, name, address, phone, e-mail)
3 - Person record (internal person ID number, name, family ID number, address, mobile phone, personal e-mail, preferred name, title, etc)
4 - Legend (* = Member)
To see all the information that is "missing" you would need to look first at the #2 record for the family/household info, then look at the #3 record for each individual person with the matching family ID number. Use CTRL+F in whatever program you are using to do a text find for the person's last name, and look at all the entries related to that person/family.
Re: Create File for Lifetouch Church Directories
Thank you. This is helpful information. And I will definitely use it. Thanks for sharing it.
I wanted to share with you screen shots from V12 and why I'm questioning the selection options. Is there a means of adding images to this string. I see the Img option above; however, I'm not exactly sure how to use that. Or do I place my image document on Google Drive and post a link here?
Thanks so much.
Marilyn
I wanted to share with you screen shots from V12 and why I'm questioning the selection options. Is there a means of adding images to this string. I see the Img option above; however, I'm not exactly sure how to use that. Or do I place my image document on Google Drive and post a link here?
Thanks so much.
Marilyn
Re: Create File for Lifetouch Church Directories
If you have a public Google Drive directory, and you can post a URL to the picture, you would use the URL tag. However, make sure that only files you want general access to are in that directory.mhoeth wrote:Thank you. This is helpful information. And I will definitely use it. Thanks for sharing it.
I wanted to share with you screen shots from V12 and why I'm questioning the selection options. Is there a means of adding images to this string. I see the Img option above; however, I'm not exactly sure how to use that. Or do I place my image document on Google Drive and post a link here?
Thanks so much.
Marilyn
Neil Zampella
Using PC+ since 1999.
Using PC+ since 1999.
Re: Create File for Lifetouch Church Directories
This URL links to a document showing the options I am presented with when I select Personal Profiles then try to print a Church Directory.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1urbs0 ... 1wqDT_YpnB
The following URL links to a document showing the options that I am presented with when I select Personal Profile and start to create the file for LCD.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1-L2Ob ... O-XRKBf5WL
As I mentioned before we are currently on Version 12. We were on Version 11 when we did the last directory and we had the same options that were available for printing a church directory. Those do not now seem to be available. That's one of my primary concerns.
Marilyn
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1urbs0 ... 1wqDT_YpnB
The following URL links to a document showing the options that I am presented with when I select Personal Profile and start to create the file for LCD.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1-L2Ob ... O-XRKBf5WL
As I mentioned before we are currently on Version 12. We were on Version 11 when we did the last directory and we had the same options that were available for printing a church directory. Those do not now seem to be available. That's one of my primary concerns.
Marilyn
Re: Create File for Lifetouch Church Directories
Marilyn,mhoeth wrote:This URL links to a document showing the options I am presented with when I select Personal Profiles then try to print a Church Directory.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1urbs0 ... 1wqDT_YpnB
The following URL links to a document showing the options that I am presented with when I select Personal Profile and start to create the file for LCD.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1-L2Ob ... O-XRKBf5WL
As I mentioned before we are currently on Version 12. We were on Version 11 when we did the last directory and we had the same options that were available for printing a church directory. Those do not now seem to be available. That's one of my primary concerns.
Marilyn
these are two different items. The Church Directory is a Powerchurch Report, the export to Lifetouch is a completely different export system.
I just verified with my copy of 11.55, the export for Lifetouch there is exactly the same as that in v12.
Neil Zampella
Using PC+ since 1999.
Using PC+ since 1999.