At one time I was very keen on working with VBA on import. I now steer clear of this wherever possible! There are many reasons.
Continue reading VBA in Imports
Tag Archives: VBA
Custom user defined business rules
The idea of creating user defined business rules has been discussed in various threads at Blackbus and on the Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge forums (see User Defined Business Rules for example). The whole functionality is really useful but there are clearly limitations.
One really good use of VBA is to perform this very task. For those not familiar with the build in version it allows you to select a query (constituent, gift or action) and for a all or a limited number of security groups it allows you to display a message on opening the record. This same functionality can be repeated using VBA. Of course you are able to query on a lot more, or perform more than simply display a message. Continue reading Custom user defined business rules
How to install a plugin
You may be interested in knowing how to install a plugin because you have just downloaded one and want to install it or you have just developed a plugin and want to deploy it. This article covers both.
Continue reading How to install a plugin
How I would improve the API
If I have often wondered if I were in charge of the API at Blackbaud how I would change it. Well unfortunately I don’t wield that kind of power and secondly I am not sure that a major overhaul is required. It is clearly not a modern API being COM based but for the main it works well. However there are still quite a few areas that I would improve upon. I don’t suppose that these will ever happen. Changing the API is no doubt lower on Blackbaud’s list of priorities. With the imminent arrival of the Infinity platform (and, yes, its name does seem to have influenced the pace at which it is being released) , the ability to develop any interface into the system seems a real possibility. RE API by comparison appears somewhat staid and limited. I would imagine it no longer commands the attention at Blackbaud those of us using it would like.
That being said I would love to be proven wrong so Blackbaud if you are listening here are the areas that I would change: Continue reading How I would improve the API
Changing Raiser’s Edge skin part 2
When you are supplied all the dlls that an application uses and these are all COM object it is possible to discover things about the application that you would otherwise not normally be able to do. Some people may call this “hacking” but others like myself would prefer the less confrontational description of “investigating”
Continue reading Changing Raiser’s Edge skin part 2
Is the API really that expensive?
I get a lot of questions asking me if a certain change to The Raiser’s Edge can be done. Here is a typical (if somewhat abbreviated conversation)
Them: “We would like to add an attribute every time a constituent is saved. Then we want to synchronize our online giving application with Raisers Edge. Lastly we want to validate fields when entering gifts into Batch.”
Continue reading Is the API really that expensive?
Changing Raiser’s Edge skin
If only we could change Raiser’s Edge in the same way that we can change other applications such as our favourite music players etc.
Well unfortunately I cannot show you a way to do exactly that but there are a few things that can be changed. Continue reading Changing Raiser’s Edge skin
How to use the API on a shoestring
There are a lot of misconceptions about what the Raiser’s Edge API is and what it can be used for. A lot of organisations are put off by the fact that the API is expensive to purchase on top of the fact that they may have to cover the cost of development too.
Continue reading How to use the API on a shoestring
A Non-production database
There has been some discussion on the Blackbaud forums and on the Blackbus forum about using a second non-production database. This article will highlight some ways of doing this.
Before I begin I want to categorically state that if you believe what I am writing in this post breaks your Blackbaud contract then do not do it. A long time ago I was told by Blackbaud that it was perfectly acceptable and I hold by that but I know that others who have been told otherwise (including various support people at Blackbaud who will give you a different ruling depending on who you speak to!) Just to reiterate I am in no way encouraging you to break the law!
Continue reading A Non-production database
Checking security
With the API it is very common that you will want to make a change to an object. Say you have some code that adds a pledge to a constituent when an event registrant is added. The user running the code may well have the rights to add an event registrant (participant) but they may not have the rights to add gifts.
Continue reading Checking security