Changing/Update Constituent Code via Batch?

Amy Jensen

Hi, I'm have a particular set of volunteers who need changes/additions made to their constituent code(s).  Is this possible through batch processing?  I know how to enter "new" things (gifts) via Batch, but not sure about making changes for several people at once. Thank you!  I'm very new to Raiser's Edge.  :D  

JoAnn Strommen

Amy,

No you are not able to really change records via batch.  If you have a gift batch and use the constituent window displayed at the side of batch you can edit/change the fields you've got displayed there.  I've used it to occasionally change/add a constituent code but if you have a number to do it's not the most efficient. 


If the change is the same change for a group of records I would create a query of the records (using specific record one of you can group a bunch a records in a minute) and then use a global add or global change function.  Global change not always the best for some fields like constituent code as you can end up changing all codes on the record. 


If it's a large number to change, you may want to export the info, change and then import it back in. That's if it's a lot of records/different changes.

 

Melissa S Graves

As JoAnn said, batch is for entering new records. While entering new gifts you can, one at a time, update information on individual constituents but that is not the same as what it sounds like you want to do.


If you have never done a global change or an import before please do lots of research and testing using 1-2 records before delving into either of them. They both are awesome and powerful but when done without practice can go wrong on a large scale.

Amy Jensen

Thank you JoaAnn!  I'll just make the changes individually.  Melissa - I'll do lots of research to learn how I might be able to make a global change in the future!  :D  Appreciate your quick response to my question.  

Danielle Allen 2

Amy Jensen:

Thank you JoaAnn!  I'll just make the changes individually.  Melissa - I'll do lots of research to learn how I might be able to make a global change in the future!  :D  Appreciate your quick response to my question.  

You can also do a Global Change on a small scale, with a small batch of your data in a query for testing purposes. This is how we run complex changes to make sure they work, before we run hem on the entire data set.