Problems Linking Constituents from Online Express to Records

Trevor Tamashiro

Having problems linking constituents from Online Express to Records. Especially if address is typed differently (W. vs. West) or a spouse with a different last name makes the gift.

Peggy McNulty

We are new to Online Express and I have the same issue.  I would like to see a better linking process to account for slight variations in how an address is entered.

Jen Claudy

We don't have a high volume (at all!) of online gifts, so I just go thru the multi-step process of declining all address changes.  Well, first, I screen shot the transaction window, go to Records, do my own searching, update data while I'm at it if there are actual updates to make, then go back in, link to the proper constituents, and turn off (in several places, one of which has a [Close] button where I think the [OK] should be, so I have to do that step 2-3 times before I get it right) all of the options to have OLX update the RE record with data I don't want.  Most of the time, it's what Caroline mentioned...spouse's name on the transaction, different abbreviations in the address, short zip instead of +4, etc.


You should check out the OLX Idea Bank.  Search for this there and add a new one if you don't find something close enough.  My quick search netted only this Idea as at all relevant.  Be sure to post links in this thread to any Ideas you find or add, so others can easily go add votes.

Tatianna Peck

Caroline Nagy:

Having problems linking constituents from Online Express to Records. Especially if address is typed differently (W. vs. West) or a spouse with a different last name makes the gift.

This is a great point - beyond that, I'm having to do a lot of manual correcting when adding the extra component of event registration.  I can't help but feel that the whole system was built on the assumption that spouses aren't sharing records, which is not the case for many users...

Beth Green

We just began using Online Express in January, and I am having the same problem with linking records.  It seems I have to change my search options for each constituent depending on what is different from their record (nickname, address differences, husband is primary on record, etc.), and often have to close out OLX to do a constituent search to keep from adding an uneccessary new constituent. Obviously this takes much longer than just entering the donations in a batch from the email printouts I used to get from our last CC processor. I notice this thread is a few years old - has anyone come up with a newer/more efficient way to link than the screenshot option?  Which by the way is a great idea and I will use next time we have transactions to download.  Thanks for any tips!

Mergen Peries

Same for us.  Littlle adjustments to name or contact info, or deslecting certain fields for the OLX search is the usual method when now match is found.  But the little edits rely on me knowing/recognising a name and having a 'feeling' there should be a match.


Hopefully NXT event forms will feature better matching!

Beth Green

Thanks for responding, Mergen.  Always good to know you are not the only one with an issue!