Data dictionary?

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Sarah Fluegge
Sarah Fluegge ✭
Ancient Membership First Reply
in Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT®: General Discussion

 Does anyone know if there is a field data dictionary?  I'm tired and frustrated of constantly trying to find where fields are buried when doing reporting, or even when trying to add a field/criteria from one report to another (is there an easier to find the 'path of a field' once you've already added it??)

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  • ShawnAlis Cusato
    ShawnAlis Cusato ✭
    Ancient Membership Facilitator 1 Photogenic
    Sarah Fluegge:

     Does anyone know if there is a field data dictionary?  I'm tired and frustrated of constantly trying to find where fields are buried when doing reporting, or even when trying to add a field/criteria from one report to another (is there an easier to find the 'path of a field' once you've already added it??)

    Back when there were these things called Books, I had an Import Manual from Blackbaud that listed every importable field.  It was organized the way importing is, but it would still help, I'd think.  The ones I've seen online recently are segmented by the type of import, and they definitely don't have all the information that the printed manual did, so I'm not sure if it would be very helpful.

  • Joshua Bekerman bCLO bCRE
    Joshua Bekerman bCLO bCRE ✭
    Tenth Anniversary Facilitator 3 Name Dropper Photogenic
    Sarah Fluegge:

     Does anyone know if there is a field data dictionary?  I'm tired and frustrated of constantly trying to find where fields are buried when doing reporting, or even when trying to add a field/criteria from one report to another (is there an easier to find the 'path of a field' once you've already added it??)

    Since this is the Query forum, I'll assume that is what you are using.  You could use the Find button to find the fields you are looking for.  Another option might be to add the fields as Favorites, if you are using the same fields often.  There is no automatic shortcut to find a field that you have already used in another query. 

    As far as I know there really isn't a data dictionary for Query.  The fields are laid out similar to how they are used in RE.  If you are familiar with RE then finding fields in Query should be straightforward.

  • JoAnn Strommen
    JoAnn Strommen ✭✭✭✭✭
    Ancient Membership Facilitator 4 Name Dropper Photogenic
    Sarah Fluegge:

     Does anyone know if there is a field data dictionary?  I'm tired and frustrated of constantly trying to find where fields are buried when doing reporting, or even when trying to add a field/criteria from one report to another (is there an easier to find the 'path of a field' once you've already added it??)

    When you are talking about finding fields do you mean when running queries and exports to create a report.  Don't see that many options for adding fields in packaged report,

    Unfortunately, I don't really know of a field directory.  Finding the desired field in query/export easily seems to come with practice, practice, practice.  Most of the locations are pretty logical once you get a good grip on how RE's stuctured.  Most, not all. [:|]  Josh had a good suggestion to include it in your favorites.  I love that functionality.

    Maybe if you can give more specifics on what fields your having the most difficulty with, could suggest something else.

  • Sarah Fluegge
    Sarah Fluegge ✭
    Ancient Membership First Reply
    JoAnn Strommen:

    When you are talking about finding fields do you mean when running queries and exports to create a report.  Don't see that many options for adding fields in packaged report,

    Unfortunately, I don't really know of a field directory.  Finding the desired field in query/export easily seems to come with practice, practice, practice.  Most of the locations are pretty logical once you get a good grip on how RE's stuctured.  Most, not all. [:|]  Josh had a good suggestion to include it in your favorites.  I love that functionality.

    Maybe if you can give more specifics on what fields your having the most difficulty with, could suggest something else.

    Yes - queries/exports.

     I did notice/use the find button after posting - I think this will help.

    I do love the 'favorites', and have been using that for the fields I'm adding on a regular basis.  The search/find will be great for those that we aren't using as often but have located in the past.

    Thank you all for your help!

  • Annette Mannion
    Annette Mannion ✭
    Ancient Membership First Reply
    Sarah Fluegge:

     Does anyone know if there is a field data dictionary?  I'm tired and frustrated of constantly trying to find where fields are buried when doing reporting, or even when trying to add a field/criteria from one report to another (is there an easier to find the 'path of a field' once you've already added it??)

    Hope I am understanding you correctly. I would print a control report for all queries, exports, tribute acknowledgments & donor acknowledgments. This shows the name & number of the fields. I have kept them as part of my manual. This way I can refer to them when needed. After I export the dat for processing I print the first page or two of the dat & compare the fields. I have kept this also. It has saved me from many headaches. You can rerun them & still get a control report.

  • Sarah Fluegge
    Sarah Fluegge ✭
    Ancient Membership First Reply
    Annette Mannion:

    Hope I am understanding you correctly. I would print a control report for all queries, exports, tribute acknowledgments & donor acknowledgments. This shows the name & number of the fields. I have kept them as part of my manual. This way I can refer to them when needed. After I export the dat for processing I print the first page or two of the dat & compare the fields. I have kept this also. It has saved me from many headaches. You can rerun them & still get a control report.

     Good suggestion Annette - thank you!  The search function has helped quite a bit, but your suggestion would be very helpful to reference.

  • Tom Bartlett
    Tom Bartlett ✭
    Ancient Membership First Reply
    Sarah Fluegge:

     Does anyone know if there is a field data dictionary?  I'm tired and frustrated of constantly trying to find where fields are buried when doing reporting, or even when trying to add a field/criteria from one report to another (is there an easier to find the 'path of a field' once you've already added it??)

      I found the schema useful for this. On my machine it's under C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Blackbaud\\The Raisers Edge 7\\Help and is called RE7schema.chm

  • Sarah Fluegge
    Sarah Fluegge ✭
    Ancient Membership First Reply
    Tom Bartlett:

      I found the schema useful for this. On my machine it's under C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Blackbaud\\The Raisers Edge 7\\Help and is called RE7schema.chm

     Tom!  This is awesome!  Thank you.

  • Jason Rose 2
    Jason Rose 2 ✭
    Sixth Anniversary Facilitator 1 Photogenic
    Hello,


    I am using the hosted version of RE so the files are not on my C; drive; and one have a PDF copy? 


    Thanks. 
  • John Heizer
    John Heizer ✭
    Ancient Membership Facilitator 3 Photogenic

    Jason Rose:

    Hello,


    I am using the hosted version of RE so the files are not on my C; drive; and one have a PDF copy? 


    Thanks. 

    The .CHM file doesn't print well, even to PDF, at all.

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