BBCRM Hidden Gems

Harry Frank

It has only been since August 2018 that we have been live at my organization, but there are a few important lessons that I have learned from my time using Blackbaud CRM. These might seem like small wins, but they can be huge sticking points if you miss out on them.


We use the ad-hoc query tool to provide selections and quick data for all of our internal constituents. It provides a great way to get data right away, but it can be a little bit of a black box until you get familiar with the way that it sets up its data requests. One of the biggest sticking points for us was that by default the entire data request is wrapped in a distinct clause. This means that if you are expecting, for instance, a few revenue records with the same output information, only one will show, leading to missing revenue if you try to tally up the export later. The fix for this is as simple as unchecking "Suppress duplicate rows" on the "Set save options" tab of the ad-hoc query window. Which leads my to the next point.


Check the help button if you are having issues! On most pages and features there is a blue "?" just waiting to be pressed. Sometimes this can be less than helpful. The batch workflows page happens to only show the help home page. After getting let down by that result more than a few times I had stopped checking there, but I have returned to it with new vigor after exhausting other options and finding kernels of truth that I had missed. In the case of the ad-hoc query missing duplicates, the help file provides a full paragraph about that feature! 


Lastly, a simple reminder to check your filters. I have lost track of how many times I have received a help ticket that was resolved by simply checking or clearing filters on a datalist, listbuilder, or searchlist.


So, remember to check your filters, hit the help button, and keep doing great work in BB CRM!

 

Lori McDermott 3

I'm always stressing filters! Those guys will get you every time!