June 2009
The solstice just passed; did you feel the Earth stand still? Whether you just celebrated the longest or shortest day of the year, it's time for the June edition of The User's Edge! This month, learn about creative ways to use query, the Cash Receipts Journal, and gift suffixes. Have a suggestion for a future issue? Let us know by emailing usersedge@blackbaud.com.
Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Support Ends March 31, 2010
On April 8, 2008, Microsoft ended support for Microsoft SQL Server 2000. We have determined we will support Microsoft SQL Server 2000 with The Raiser's Edge until March 31, 2010. While we will continue to answer your Raiser's Edge software questions regardless of your SQL Server version, we will not address product issues or test our software with Microsoft SQL Server 2000 after March 31, 2010. If you use Microsoft SQL Server 2005 (including SQL Server 2005 Express) or higher, this change will not affect you.
To determine your SQL Server version, select Help, About The Raiser's Edge from the menu bar. The SQL version is listed to the right of Database.
If you use SQL Server 2000, you can update to SQL Server 2005 Express if your database is smaller than 4 GB. Your other options are the full edition of SQL Server 2005 or 2008 depending on your Raiser's Edge version.
We began incorporating Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express with The Raiser's Edge 7.81, which we released in February 2007. It installs automatically if a full version of Microsoft SQL Server is not already installed
For more information, refer to:
- The Raiser's Edge System requirements
- What are the differences among SQL Server 2000 MSDE, Standard, and Enterprise editions?
- How to prepare SQL Server 2005 for use with Blackbaud databases
- How to prepare SQL Server 2008 for use with Blackbaud databases
The Secret Talent of Queries
You can apply output limits to select a random sampling of records in static queries. Select Tools, Query Options from the menu bar. On the Record Processing tab, mark Apply output limits and Random sampling and then enter the number of records you wish to include in the query. When you save the query, it calculates the number specified in the random sampling option, but the Results tab shows all records that meet the criteria, not just the sample. To view the random sample, go to Export, open the query of selected records, designate the output, and click Export now. Read more about queries.
Cash Receipts Journal
The Cash Receipts Journal is used to report on cash and stock/property gifts for a particular date range you specify. To run the report, go to Reports, Financial Reports, Cash Receipts Journal, and click new. You can run the report in detail to show constituent, fund, amount, and payments details for each gift, or run the report in Summary to summarize totals for each gift type by campaign, fund, appeal, and/or constituent code. Read more about the Cash Receipts Journal.
Suffixticated Gifts
When you are looking at the Gifts tab on a constituent record, a gift suffix can help you quickly distinguish between hard credit and soft credit gifts. To add the suffix of "-sc" to soft credit gifts, select Tools, User Options from the menu bar, and, on the Color tab, highlight Legends and click View Gift Legend. Highlight Soft on the left and make the appropriate selections, mark the Suffix checkbox, enter -sc and click OK. Now, when a soft credit gift is entered, the suffix -sc appears after the gift type. Read more about gift suffixes.
'09 Blackbaud Conference
It's time to register for the Conference for Nonprofits, which is November 15-18 in Charleston, South Carolina, and you can apply to receive one of three scholarships to attend the conference for free. The deadline for scholarship applications is July 31, 2009.
Check out the Conference Overview or call our Events Hotline at 866.292.4006 for more information. We hope to see you there!
From the Forums
Do you track career promotions for your school's graduates or former attendees? If so, Carmen Chelariu of Cambridge College in Cambridge, Massachusetts, would like to hear from you on The Raiser's Edge Forum.
If you have a best practice to share or are interested in discussing the topic, reply to Carmen.
Recent Popular Forum Discussions
The following topics sparked recent discussion among forum participants:
- Linking a Company Gift to a Particular Contact Among Several Contacts for the Company
- Querying for random names?
- Data Entry and sending out Acknowledgement Letters
Visit the forums to post a question or share your thoughts with other members of the nonprofit community.
Answers to Your FAQs
The articles we include in The User's Edge each month are in Knowledgebase and in The Raiser's Edge FAQs, both of which you can access from the Support menu on our website. Here are the questions you asked most frequently last month:
- How to import constituent name, address, and phone numbers including multiple phone numbers and email addresses (includes sample data file): BB5765
- How to import in The Raiser's Edge - The Basics of Importing: BB58904
- How to create a query in The Raiser's Edge: BB19082
- Error: Before you can use the Dashboard feature, you need to install Microsoft Office web component software. Please refer to The Raiser's Edge Installation Guide for instructions when selecting Dashboard: BB341312
- How to prepare donor acknowledgement letters (thank you letters: BB519
Blackbaud's Observance of Independence DayIn observance of Independence Day, Blackbaud will be closed Friday, July 3. |
New KnowledgebasePreview the new Knowledgebase, our main troubleshooting tool, before its final release. Refer to our new Knowledgebase Help, which includes a Knowledgebase overview and short demos so you can make the most of this valuable resource. |
Chat Support AvailableWe encourage you to try chat support from 9:00 a.m. to5:00 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, for a faster response to your questions about The Raiser's Edge. To initiate a chat session, click Chat Online on Case Central and enter your name, organization name, site ID, and question. One of our analysts will respond and you'll continue the text chat session until either your question has been answered or you feel a phone conversation would be more productive. |
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Web Seminars» Let's Go Paperless! PaperSave for The Raiser's EdgeJuly 22 at 1:00 p.m. ET » Measuring Donor Retention in The Raiser's Edge July 23 at 2:00 p.m. ET » Configuring The Raiser's Edge for VSE Reporting July 30 at 1:00 p.m. ET |
Brain BusterRobert Hernandez's son, Gaston, came to his office to ask if he could borrow the family car. "Certainly," Robert said, "if you can tell me what I have in my office that has keys that open no locks, space but no room, and allows you to enter but not to go in?" Find Gaston's answer on The User's Edge Blog. |