any known ways to efficiently print a ward directory?

Are there any known ways to print a ward directory efficiently in terms of number of pages?

Some years ago, the dialog for printing a ward directory had several options, including how many columns. A fair-sized ward could be printed on a small number of pages, even with a fairly decent font size.

How, there aren't nearly as many options, and there is a lot of (wasted) white space. Depending on options for what individual contact information to show, and with only street address, my ward takes 17, 35, or 40 pages.

Someone at the church acknowledged printing is a problem and said there are plans to fix it. We have no idea how long this will take. We don't know development is prioritized. If they make decisions based on the amount of Feedback received, submitting your concerns via the Feedback link might be helpful.

Thank you, mevans, for the information that help might be on the way sometime. I just sent feedback.

In addition to the format, there's a concern over privacy.

Presumably one of he major reasons for printing it is to hand out to someone who isn't "connected". If printed by someone in a leadership position, it will include individuals whose privacy setting should hide them from the general membership.

russellhltn wrote:Presumably one of he major reasons for printing it is to hand out to someone who isn't "connected". If printed by someone in a leadership position, it will include individuals whose privacy setting should hide them from the general membership.

We're "connected" but still like being able to print directories. We would periodically print an updated directory for emergency preparedness scenarios. Sometimes it was handy for the quick photo reference of ward members. Sometimes it's just handy when you don't want to deal with devices, computers, etc.

mevans wrote:Sometimes it's just handy when you don't want to deal with devices, computers, etc.

For example, when the electricity is off for several hours after a rip-roaring thunderstorm..

... or when one of my wife's friends (in a nursing home, apparently without internet access) asks for a paper directory so she can call her other friends in the ward. My wife has no 'special' callings, so she can print without privacy issues.

Speaking of privacy issues, it would be a good idea to have an option in the print dialog to drop access to privileged contact information when printing. I'll send that in via the Feedback link/button.

rmrichesjr wrote:Speaking of privacy issues, it would be a good idea to have an option in the print dialog to drop access to privileged contact information when printing. I'll send that in via the Feedback link/button.

Along the same lines, it would be good if there was an icon that signified if it was private. That way, a leader consulting the printed copy would know if it was wise to read off a requested item.

russellhltn wrote:Along the same lines, it would be good if there was an icon that signified if it was private. That way, a leader consulting the printed copy would know if it was wise to read off a requested item.

On screen, private info is in orange. Inkjet printers would show the color, but a monochrome laser printer would not (but would likely make the text look less black).

rmrichesjr wrote:On screen, private info is in orange. Inkjet printers would show the color, but a monochrome laser printer would not (but would likely make the text look less black).

Which is why it should be something more identifiable. Like an icon.

russellhltn wrote:Presumably one of he major reasons for printing it is to hand out to someone who isn't "connected". If printed by someone in a leadership position, it will include individuals whose privacy setting should hide them from the general membership.

I found a new reason that a printed directory is useful: when the church implements a new authentication system that doesn't work and you have no way to get in to the online directory anymore. I'll have to try the Member Tools mobile app and see if that's still working.

mevans wrote:I found a new reason that a printed directory is useful: when the church implements a new authentication system that doesn't work and you have no way to get in to the online directory anymore. I'll have to try the Member Tools mobile app and see if that's still working.

In some ways, paper is the ultimate backup. (However, there is some debate between papyrus vs. clay tablets.)

Best of luck with the authentication system. I hear deleting all cookies is sometimes/often helpful.