Why did the Constituent search shortcut field in Atru go away?

Laura Chaney

I just opened up Altru and see the interface has changed, and the shortcut search field for constituents has been removed. Who recommended this change? Now we have to use extra click action going into the constituent navigation link and then click on constituent search to do what we could do just filling in shortcut field that used to reside above the navigation bar. Were your users incorporated in this programming change to see if this is what we want?

Nick Gaffney

It's definitely weird and a little jarring to see the Blackbaud interface bar atop the Altru interface. They definitely clash. But I've often thought Altru could use a make-over of sorts, design wise. I'm wondering if this is baby steps towards that? Regardless, it is weird and sort of hostile to do this without any warning. (Or if there was warning I missed it.)

Outlook is a program that has recently overhauled it's interface, but is currently letting users choose between the old and new one. (With the assumption that eventually the old one will be going away.) I wonder if this is a tactic Altru/Blackbaud could use with larger changes like this? There are probably advantages to changing the interface, but if the first thing a user has to do is click twice when they used to click once it's not a good first impression.

Denise Eberspeaker

There was no warning ( except maybe that the program was down a few hours yesterday, which was a royal pain ) and now they require an extra click in order to just search for a constituent name - and they moved it to the right when we are all expecting to see it on the left. We are new to Altru and are not crazy about seeing these changes, especially when they require MORE, not less, action from the user.

DeAndre Daniels

Hi Everyone,

We can still access the Constituent Search shortcut through the search icon (magnifying glass) in the upgraded menu in a single click. You can also access the application features shortcut, as well as all the other options that were present in the previous menu bar.

Also, I apologize that you weren't made aware to this new change. A post was made in the announcements section of the community, and included a link to the new features guide for this change. We try to post information regarding our releases and changes to the system in that section of the community. To ensure that you don't miss out on future updates you can follow the steps below to set up announcement alerts if you haven't already done so:

• After you're singed into the community, click on your profile in the upper right hand corner of the screen
• Click My Account > Click on the subscriptions tab
• Scroll down until you see the Blackbaud Altru Announcements alert within the Blogs section
• Choose the frequency of your alerts
• Click save changes

Best,

De'Andre

Kelly Olson

I agree. This is less user-friendly than before and definitely does not feel like an improvement.

Tamara Christensen

We haven't had the update yet, but from the announcement, I was worried that the search was moving and it looked like it was going to be an extra click or two. We've been using Altru for over 5 years so that is not going to be an easy change when our hands are so trained to type in the constituents in a specific location. In a world that is so difficult right now, sometimes the little things really matter. Crossing my fingers we will like the change!

Lori Matoba

I agree. The previous search location was in a better location. I also don't like the updated training layout. I much prefer the calendar view.

Gary Ragan

The location would be alright with me if it was still an open field and didn't require the additional click to open it up. I'd like to see this changed.

Denise Eberspeaker

I agree Gary - although why moving it from left to right was necessary is beyond me!

Jessica Pierce

De'Andre, thank you for letting us know about where to find the search bar, but it is not user friendly at all. Many of us spend most of our day in Altru and this has completely altered our process.

Denise Eberspeaker

DeAndre - I know I posted before, but I have to speak up again. Not only did you change the position of this field from left to right, we are slowed down by having to select an icon - rather than just type like we used to do in the upper left open search box - AND we also have to navigate to the spyglass to click on, which is buried in the middle of other icons. When you have a lot going on it is really easy for your mouse to miss the box and hit one of the other icons, especially the +. PLEASE bring back the open search field, preferably back where it was!

Wendi Ammons

This is not an upgrade by any means. It now takes longer and is more inconvenient to do a simple name search. Do better, Blackbaud.

Denise Eberspeaker

Totally agree! Altru, Please please please move it back to where it was , as an open search field that does not require a click to be able to type.

Anna Ulibarri

I agree the only notable thing about this “update” is that it does NOT work well for users who search for constituent records all day. The development, accounting, and membership teams are finding it an unnecessary change for the worse.

Anna Ulibarri

I could live with the move if it stays locked open

Anna Ulibarri

I think the majority of what a person needs to do in Altru starts with searching for a constituent record. In light of this Altru should consider making the search bar open (not drop down or click to access) and front and center.

When I go to google's website I don't have to click an icon to do a search.. the search bar is the portal to using the entire search engine!

Comparatively the Altru search bar is the portal to using the whole database.

Vicki Cotton

Please go to the Idea board and Vote for “Fix the Search bar”. Only 13 votes for something that is really very important to most users.

Denise Eberspeaker

Where is the Idea Board?

Ray Bergman

You'll need to create a login in order to vote or post an idea, but the Ideas Bank is here:

It's included here in the Altru Community on the navigation of this page as well under “Ideas”.