Constituent Name Change - How do I make the previous name searchable?

Reta Keenan

Hi,

We have an alum that joined a religious order and changed her name (first and last). I am trying to make her searchable by using her former name, but I can't figure out how to do that. I have tried adding her former name (first and last, just last) into "alias", but it doesn't find it by either of those. Is there a way to set up her record so she is searchable by her former name?

Thanks

Krys Fritz bCREPro bCRP

When you are searching for the constituent, is the "Check aliases" box checked?

Reta Keenan

Yes, that box is checked. 

Krys Fritz bCREPro bCRP

If you want, please feel free to email me directly and I will do my best to help you figure it out.  I just tested it in my RE and it worked.  krys_fritz@elcaminohealth.org

Dariel Dixon

Alias or former/maiden name is the way to go.  It should pick up the name if the check aliases box is checked.  I am not a fan of whole names in alias, as it does not search properly at times.


NXT should pick up aliases automatically though...

 

Reta Keenan

Thanks Dariel...the aliases box is checked, but the problem is that not only the last name but the first name has changed. I tried searching for the individual using her maiden name, and it wouldn't work. I've tried different combinations of her former name as a known name...it's just not letting me find her.

Marie Stark

Alias is designed to work only with last name.  Nickname would work with the first name.


Here is an article that may help.
https://kb.blackbaud.com/articles/Article/41284?_ga=2.51000233.1235128335.1587993718-1969954967.1579368247

 

Reta Keenan

Thank you, Marie. That worked!

Alan French

I've had this scenario a couple of times too, but we can't use the nickname field for the former first name since we use it a lot for people's actual nicknames where they prefer to be addressed by something other than their full first name. If you use the nickname field for former first names then I'd just make sure that there's no risk of it being used in a mailing.