What Reporting Tools Do You Use With Raiser's Edge?

James Belich · December 2024

I recently started a new position as the database manager for an RE NXT database and I'm curious, what reporting tools are others using with RE?

In past positions, I've build custom Crystal reports, but this doesn't seem to be an option any longer with RE. I've had some report requests that should be very simple and straightforward to implement but have been a challenge because I can't always find a canned report with the right combination of output fields. I know how to use Query and Export, but those tools don't really help when I need other users to be able to quickly and easily run a formatted report to print or export to a PDF. (Such as as daily reconciliation report that goes to finance with our deposits.)

Curious to see what other people are using to run reports from RE.

Amy Barker 7 · December 2024

@James Belich
Do you still own a Crystal License? We export as an .mdb file and open outside of RE in Crystal Reports. We do all our reporting through Crystal Reports.

Salvador Orochena 2 · December 2024

@James Belich, we request daily backups to get access to the underlying data. We use Microsoft SSRS to provide users access to reports and use the report builder to build the reports. This option will always use yesterday's data. Another option you can look into is using the Power BI connector. The MDB option works as long as you have a crystal report option as @Amy Barker mentioned, but then you need to run the reports yourself.

Alex Wong · December 2024

@Salvador Orochena
We use Power Automate and SKY API to populate a data warehouse every 4 hrs and create auto refreshed report using Power BI.

We also uses the same data warehouse and Power Automate to run SQL query and send email to needed parties (daily gift report) with excel attachment and/or directly embedded HTML table.

Christine Robertson 4 · December 2024

@James Belich There are also some third-party options such as Reporting Xpress. Reporting Xpress | Cloud Based Online Reporting

James Belich · January 2

@James Belich Thank you everyone, I appreciate the responses. I spoke more with Blackbaud support, and it sounds like it is still possible to add custom Crystal Reports to RE, so that may be a good solution as I look into other option. I've figured out how to connect PowerBI to RE using Sky API, although unfortunately it looks like the available fields are still fairly limited (no Fund or Appeal, for example).

I've talked to another organizations locally, which also does a daily export to a data warehouse. That may be something we look at further down the line, but doesn't cover any reports that need to be run immediately off of live data.

Anyway, it's very helpful to hear what others are doing. Thank you!

Alex Wong · January 2

@James Belich
Using the unofficial power bi connector is limited, and when publishing report to power bi service for auto-refresh will require you to use setup a Gateway.

This is a new method, which uses Query API and Power Automate.

https://community.blackbaud.com/forums/viewtopic/586/70826

All fields available through Query dbview will be available through this method for Power BI consumption.

James Belich · January 2

@Alex Wong
Thank you, Alex, that's good to know! I'll take a look at this. ?

Austen Brown · January 2

@James Belich - Here's a helpful webinar that covers the possibilities. I also recommend checking out Insight Designer - it doesn't have everything, but it has a majority of fields. The webinar covers this option in more detail:

James Belich · January 14

@Alex Wong, I'm attempting to connect RE NXT to PowerBI using this template. I've added the connectors to Power Automate but when I attempt to import the flow, I get an error that reads: "Flow save failed with code 'DynamicOperationRequestClientFailure' and message 'The dynamic operation request to API 'sharepointonline' operation 'GetTable' failed with status code 'Unauthorized'. This may indicate invalid input parameters. Error response: { "error_description": "Exception of type 'Microsoft.IdentityModel.Tokens.AudienceUriValidationFailedException' was thrown." }'."

I'm brand new to Power Automate, so I appreciate any advice you or anyone has on how to correct this. Thank you!

Alex Wong · January 14

@James Belich
one of the connection needed to import this flow is to SharePoint. Did you create the connection to SharePoint?

if yes, then the error can be related to your org not having the SP list mentioned in the post, and you won't b/c that is “my org”'s SP list for auth token. However, you should see somewhere at the top of the import page that say something like “open the flow” to correct the issue.

Send a screenshot of the flow import page

James Belich · January 17

@Alex Wong Thanks, Alex! I did create all of the connections, and after reading your post, I was able to figure out how to get past the messages and save the flow. I'm still in the process of updating everything within the flow. For the Sharepoint list, is the authentication key the name of the list or an item in the list?

Alex Wong · January 17

@James Belich
the authentication key is an item in a shareponit list

James Belich · February 27

@Alex Wong I'm still working on setting this up. I think I'm nearly there. The flow is set up to access the Sharepoint list, and I've updated the Power BI file with both the Flow URL and my Sharepoint site (I didn't see that step in your instructions). After I update these parameters, the query still doesn't run and comes back with the following error: “RE Query Date: The key didn't match any rows in the table.”

On “RE Query Data" in the Power BI file, when I click on the Advanced Editor is there anything else that needs to be udpated?

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Alex Wong · February 27

@James Belich
Yup, good call out, I did miss that part of the instruction. I will update the instruction.

You do need to update in power query to specify the URL, list ID, ID for the access token, and the name of the column for access token.

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You can do it in the advanced editor, OR you can just update the “steps” on the right panel.

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James Belich · February 28

@Alex Wong Thank you, Alex, this is exactly what I needed! I've now been able to run the query in Power BI successfully. ?

I see in the flow where the query to pull the assigned fundraisers is defined - do you know of any resource that shows the field names and IDs available to pull through this flow? This is my first foray into Power Apps, APIs, and so on, but if there's anything that lays out what fields can be accessed in this way, I think I can figure out how to update the JSON query to what I need. (I've been searching but I haven't yet seen anything like this from Blackbaud.)

Alex Wong · February 28

@James Belich
The easiest way to do this is to use Query in webview, do your filter/output/sort/option, then click on the Copy query JSON button in the Options tab, this will give you the JSON needed to replace the Compose Query JSON. You don't need to save the query to do Copy query JSON

If you know how to edit JSON, there are a few properties that's useless for running (some exists only if you have saved the query):

category_id
description
name
others_can_execute
others_can_modify

Alex Wong · March 1

@James Belich
Hi, I posted a new template (also linked from the old template post) where you can use ONE flow that will do all querying of data. Instruction is provided there too on how to get a new query of data into Power BI.

James Belich · March 20

@Alex Wong Just wanted to give an update that I have the flow working and have been able to use it to build a couple of Power BI reports so far (replacing a couple of canned RE reports). Now I'm just working with our IT to figure out what licensing we need for Power Automate and Power BI to roll these out to the department. My manager is very impressed with this, so thank you Alex for helping me look good. ?

Alex Wong · March 20

@James Belich
I'm glad it is working out and yes.. through power automate and power bi, your manager and other user will become very impress with what you are capable to do outside of what RE NXT is able to.

you only need 1 power automate per user license (some recommend a 2nd for the “just in case”). However, Power BI will require each user that will “view” the published report to have power bi pro license. (if your org is over 1000 user, then may be better to pay for the power bi premium license instead)

James Belich · March 21

@Alex Wong Thanks, Alex. I have a meeting scheduled with IT to go over what licenses we already have and what we need. It's exciting to get this rolling!

What Reporting Tools Do You Use With Raiser's Edge?

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