Sorting Organization Name Unable to avoid "The"

Peter Mckay

This should be the easiest thing ever... I'm exporting a bunch of organizations into a crystal report, using Blackbaud Report Writer Database. I am using CnBio_Sort_name in order to be able to sort them properly once they get there, but once I get them to the crystal report it seems to revert to the full name: "The Red Cross", "The United Way" etc. If I change the export to an excel file, it drops the definite article like it's supposed to: "Red Cross", "United Way" Any hints? Thanks!

Joshua Bekerman bCLO bCRE

Peter Mckay:
This should be the easiest thing ever... I'm exporting a bunch of organizations into a crystal report, using Blackbaud Report Writer Database. I am using CnBio_Sort_name in order to be able to sort them properly once they get there, but once I get them to the crystal report it seems to revert to the full name: "The Red Cross", "The United Way" etc. If I change the export to an excel file, it drops the definite article like it's supposed to: "Red Cross", "United Way" Any hints? Thanks!

Try using the Sort Key instead?

Melissa Graves 3

Josh Bekerman:
Try using the Sort Key instead?

For some reason I have never found a way to do this. I do not believe SortName or SortKey work on org records at all. If critically important you may need to begin adding a sort alias so that you can use it in Crystal.

Marie Stark

Melissa Graves:

For some reason I have never found a way to do this. I do not believe SortName or SortKey work on org records at all. If critically important you may need to begin adding a sort alias so that you can use it in Crystal.

I think it works only if you use a slash in the name, such as The\\ABC Company.

James Andrews

Peter Mckay:
This should be the easiest thing ever... I'm exporting a bunch of organizations into a crystal report, using Blackbaud Report Writer Database. I am using CnBio_Sort_name in order to be able to sort them properly once they get there, but once I get them to the crystal report it seems to revert to the full name: "The Red Cross", "The United Way" etc. If I change the export to an excel file, it drops the definite article like it's supposed to: "Red Cross", "United Way" Any hints? Thanks!

If you really really can't get the sortkey to export in a meaningful way, you could always test for it in a formula, like this:

if (left ({orgname},3) = 'the')

then mid({orgname}, 5, len({orgname})-4)

else {orgname}

That formula basically says, look at the first three letters of the name, and if they're "the" then skip that and give me the rest of the orgname. If not, just give me the orgname.

Melissa Graves 3

Marie Stark:

I think it works only if you use a slash in the name, such as The\\ABC Company.

Backslash or none - I am pretty sure sortkey and sort name are not affected. I think you need to use a formula as suggested. 

Melissa Graves 3

Melissa Graves:

Backslash or none - I am pretty sure sortkey and sort name are not affected. I think you need to use a formula as suggested. 

I identified this a while ago and added it to the discovery uservoice site. Please add your vote to the suggestion here!

http://rediscovery.uservoice.com/forums/137015-raiser-s-edge-discovery-topics/suggestions/3922118-change-how-sortkey-is-done-for-organizations 

Peter Mckay

Melissa Graves:

I identified this a while ago and added it to the discovery uservoice site. Please add your vote to the suggestion here!

http://rediscovery.uservoice.com/forums/137015-raiser-s-edge-discovery-topics/suggestions/3922118-change-how-sortkey-is-done-for-organizations 

Thanks so much everybody. I voted for this solution, Melissa, and the if statement formula works like a charm, James. :-)