Constituent Search Results

Travis Byrd · July 2015

Does anyone know how to add fields to the search results that display from a "Open a Constiutuent" search? We would like to view the constituent's class year without having to actually open the record. Is this possible?

Thanks!

Gina Gerhard · July 2015

Travis -

Check out the enclosed procedure that explains how to customize your search query so you can display different information in your search results. I think this will help.

JoAnn Strommen · July 2015

Travis,

If I'm getting what you're asking it's not to hard to add a field to results. What you need to do is create a new default query that RE will use when doing your searches. At the top right side of the the search for constit window you have the option to change queries.

You will need to create a query of all records, so no criteria. But for your output fields choose your desired fields including class year. Be sure query is clearly named so it doesn't get deleted accidentally. On the search window select this query. I set my new one as the default vs. just choosing it sometimes.

If changed ours a long time ago but I think this is all there was to it. You search window will have a red warning that you are not using the RE default query but no worries.

Jen Claudy · July 2015

What JoAnn said...and then because I can't help myself, here are further thoughts:

You can also change your column headings by setting that on the Output tab of the Query, the order of columns again on the Output tab, and the sort order will be based on the Sort tab of the Query. I can't get most of our staff to use anything other than Quick Find, but if I could, I would set up multiple search queries, one for each RE User (using Save As) and then let them customize for personal preferences. In a perfect world...

You can do the same on any Search Window, so I have them on Relationship, Participant, and Event as well. I named my queries "SearchView-Constituent," etc. (would include my initials if I needed to differentiate from other staff) and saved them all to a Query Folder named "SAVE Do Not Delete" along with queries for Business Rules and some other things.

I also have a SearchGift query, not used on the Search Window, but performs the same function, since the Search Window on Gifts is woefully inadequate, in my opinion. Often when searching for a Gift, I know the date (or at least range) and maybe the amount, but possibly not who it's from (i.e. in reconciling with Finance, there's a discrepancy of $250.00 for the month of May)...so I can use the Criteria tab to enter my search parameters and find the gifts that I'm looking for. Those queries are in the same folder, but named "Search-Gift" without the word View. Then those queries are saved as Favorites, meaning they are available from any shell page via the Favorites menu.

Make certain your SearchView queries are Dynamic and not Static. If you access them via the button on the Search Window itself, you should be okay.

Matt Page · July 2015

Hi Travis,

Am I right in thinking you're looking to change the search boxes that come up when you run a search?

If so, you can't exactly do this, but there's a good work around if you use an <ASK> criterion in a default query.

So you set up a default search query like JoAnn says, but you ALSO need to include in the query an <ASK> criterion.

This doesn't give you the box, but once you click on "Find now" a box will flash up asking about that specific criterion. The downside is that if this is the only field you want to search on then you have to put a * in one of the other boxes, but, that aside, this more or less does what you want.

So, for example, say you want to use your "Open a constituent" to also search by Birth Date, you need to set up a default search query as Jo explains, but then make sure you include a query field for "Birth Date" where Operator is <ask>. When you click on "Open a constituent" you'll get the normal search screen (but running the default query), enter, say, "Smith" in the first field, click "FInd Now" and another box should come up asking you for birth date. Clicking on that will run the search and return the results in the normal way. Depending the Outout fields you set in the query will depend on what shows up.

Steven Koplin · July 2015

Gina, et al -

I would love to see some custom searches if you are willing to share.

I know this could be very useful for some users, but need a little help imagining the possibilities...

Thanks.

Steven

Gina Gerhard · July 2015

Steven -

So the default search shows me these 4 fields only:

Constituent Name

Address Block

City, State

Constituent ID

Example

Gina Gerhard 123 Main Street Concord, NH 3333

Here's my personal custom search (with many more fields):

ConstituentID

EIN (for orgs)

Age

Primary Addressee

Spouse Name

Preferred Address Lines

City, State

Preferred Eamil

Date Record Added

Example

3333 (for org) 02-0337620 55 Ms. Gina R. Gerhard Gerhard, Joe 123 Main Street Concord, NH gg@nhcf.org 6/2/2003

Basically, I've added fields that help me to determine if I'm finding the correct record -- so I like to include fields like the age of the constituent, the EIN (for an organization), the more complete version of the name showing their initial and any professional suffixes, their spouse, preferred email and the date the record was created.

I now have other staff members who have developed their own search queries - based on what is helpful for them specifically in their role. Once they start using their own search queries, they LOVE it.
I suggest that when they are searching for a record, they pay attention to what they ask themselves: "I wish I could see the home email, I wish I could see the spouse's name, I wish I could see ...." This 'wish list' is what you want to add to your own search query.
We name these queries starting with ^SEARCH in a ^SEARCH folder - so other staff members can look and see if they might want to use someone else's query or copy one and make their own.

Hope that helps ---

JoAnn Strommen · July 2015

Steven,

I changed it a long time ago and looking at the fields that were off screen it's time to change it again.

As Gina suggested, my change was "I wish I could see zip". Our town has 3 and I often wanted to know zip. So that was my change.

Apparently at that time added Sort Field and SpecificRecord # too but I don't see need for those anymore. I need to add spouse name though.

Gina Gerhard · July 2015

Also forgot to mention - even though Blackbaud says that your custom search 'sticks' I find that it sometimes reverts to the Default search.

It's very easy to inadvertently click the red text on the Open screen that says 'The search query is not the default. Click here to reset'.
- That's probably what''s happening when it resets.
So just make sure to check your 'Search using query' box to make sure your custom search query has been selected.
- That's where it's handy to have named them something convenient that you can easily remember - since you may have to retrieve them when this happens.

Steven Koplin · July 2015

Gina and JoAnn,

There is a lot of potential in these...

Lots of great ideas - thank you both.

Steven

Matt Page · August 2015

Steven Koplin:

I would love to see some custom searches if you are willing to share.

I know this could be very useful for some users, but need a little help imagining the possibilities...

I've recently set one up for one of our teams that mainly works with business addresses, so they see the business address lines as well as the preferred address.

But you can also use it to with larger databases to, say, locate the correct Mr SMith more simply. If you have an appeal and are expecting a lot of returns/calls, you can set one up based on a query of those who got that mailing, for example.

Constituent Search Results

Comments

Categories