This importer allows you to bring publisher information exported from NWS Desktop into Meeting Schedule Assistant. It is available from the Import menu.

Use this importer when you have a NWS Desktop CSV export containing publisher details and want to add new publishers to Meeting Schedule Assistant. Only new publishers are added; existing publishers are skipped.

What This Importer Does

The NWS Desktop Publisher importer reads a CSV file exported from NWS Desktop and imports:

  • Publisher names
  • Their gender
  • Their roles (Elder, Ministerial Servant, Unbaptized Publisher, Regular Pioneer)

Only new publishers are added.
If a publisher already exists, they are skipped.

It does not modify existing speakers, congregations, assignment history, or meeting schedules.

Required Format

The CSV file must contain the following fields:

  • DisplayName
  • FirstName
  • LastName
  • Notes
  • Gender
  • GroupName
  • GroupResponsibility
  • Privilege
  • PioneerStatus
  • UseForChairman
  • UseForAuxiliaryCounselor
  • UseForPrayers
  • UseForTreasuresTalk
  • UseForTreasuresGems
  • UseForTreasuresBR
  • UseForApplyIC
  • UseForApplyRV
  • UseForApplyBS
  • UseForApplyExplaining
  • UseForApplyStudentTalk
  • UseForApplyAssistant
  • UseForLivingParts
  • UseForCBS
  • UseForCBSReader

These must match exactly as written in the CSV header.

Opening the Importer

From the Import Menu

Import → Publishers → From NWS Desktop

Figure 62: Selecting the NWS Desktop importer.

Import Steps

1. Select the NWS Desktop CSV file

Choose the CSV file exported from NWS Desktop.

The importer immediately reads the header row and validates the required columns.

2. Complete the import

A summary is displayed showing how many publishers were added or skipped.

Field Mappings

Field

How it’s used in Meeting Schedule Assistant

DisplayName

The publisher’s display name.

FirstName

The publisher’s first name.

LastName

The publisher’s last name.

Notes

Notes imported from NWS Desktop.

Gender

The publisher’s gender.

GroupName

The field service group the publisher belongs to.

GroupResponsibility

The publisher’s responsibility within the group.

Privilege

Determines AppointedAs and baseline ServingAs.

PioneerStatus

Overrides ServingAs when applicable.

UseForChairman

Eligibility for Chairman assignments.

UseForAuxiliaryCounselor

Eligibility for Auxiliary Class Counsellor.

UseForPrayers

Eligibility for Prayer assignments.

UseForTreasuresTalk

Eligibility for Treasures talk.

UseForTreasuresGems

Eligibility for Gems.

UseForTreasuresBR

Eligibility for Bible Reading.

UseForApplyIC

Eligibility for Student Discussion.

UseForApplyRV

Eligibility for Student Discussion.

UseForApplyBS

Eligibility for Student Discussion.

UseForApplyExplaining

Eligibility for Student Discussion.

UseForApplyStudentTalk

Eligibility for Student Talk.

UseForApplyAssistant

Eligibility for Assistant roles.

UseForLivingParts

Eligibility for Living parts.

UseForCBS

Eligibility for CBS Conductor.

UseForCBSReader

Eligibility for CBS Reader.

Privilege Mapping

The Privilege value determines both AppointedAs and the baseline ServingAs status used in Meeting Schedule Assistant. The following table shows how each Privilege code is interpreted.

Privilege

Meaning

AppointedAs

ServingAs

E

Elder

Elder

Publisher

MS

Ministerial Servant

MS

Publisher

PUB

Publisher

Not Appointed

Publisher

UBP

Unbaptised Publisher

Not Appointed

Unbaptised Publisher

No / blank

None

Not Appointed

Other

Pioneer Status Override

When applicable, PioneerStatus can override the ServingAs value. This override is only applied when the publisher is not an Unbaptised Publisher. The table below shows how PioneerStatus affects ServingAs.

PioneerStatus

ServingAs

RegularPioneer

Regular Pioneer

AuxiliaryPioneer

Publisher

Publisher

Publisher

blank / other

no change

Summary

The NWS Desktop Publisher importer provides a simple way to bring publisher information into Meeting Schedule Assistant. It supports:

  • Importing publisher identity details
  • Their gender
  • Field service group assignment
  • Privilege and pioneer status
  • Assignment eligibility flags for meeting parts

Only new publishers are added.
Existing publishers are skipped.

After processing the file, a summary report shows how many publishers were added or skipped.

Back to Publisher Importers

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