Adding a Scheduling/Automation Feature

Carly Hu

I'm an intern at Blackbaud researching the feasibility of bringing a feature similar to the queue feature on database view to FE NXT. Feel free to reply with any thoughts on this (specifically what you'd like to see and be able to do in terms of scheduling tasks), and reach out to me at carly.hu@blackbaud.com if you would like to speak further about this. Thank you!

Kevin Brazell

@Carly Hu
Hey Carly,

The main function that would usually get used by queue in my experience is running reports and if possible emailing them. Queue can do a number of things, but that was usually the answer for running reports that take an extreme amount of time to finish, or a list of reports. There's always been issues with email functionality and losing functionality in it over time as Windows took away SMTP in the OS and then when in hosting other difficulties. Streamlining that would make it a killer app.

Carly Hu

@Kevin Brazell
Thank you for the insight, I appreciate it!

Tie Smith

@Carly Hu
We use the Queue feature in database view to send monthly reports to hundreds of contacts at our organization. In database view we used to be able to email from FE but since that functionality is gone, having a way to email in Web view would be very helpful. As it is now, we have to export all of the reports then email them one at a time through Outlook, which has become very time consuming. Being able to save and update a email distribution list per report in FE NXT, would also be ideal.

Wendy Croker

@Carly Hu - We currently use the queue to run a group of reports. It saves us time instead of finding and running them one at a time.

However, we desperately want to be able to email reports! Priority would be to have them run at a specified date/time. We were never able to get the old queue to work that way (bounced between our IT and BB support, each saying the other was responsible) so we had to click Run Now on every queue and then click Allow for every report in each queue. We have a lot of departments/staff who so it was a pain but a far cry better than running the reports, saving, and manually emailing.

When that stopped working, we gave our staff a log in so they can go in and run their reports. It's read only and we've limited their access to only the accounts they oversee. Honestly though, most of them forget until we notify them that they have a budget issue. We just don't have the staff hours to send out reports one at a time.

The ability to email reports through the queue was one of the original features that made us decide to purchase Financial Edge 14 years ago. It's been a thorn in the side ever since because it never worked as promised and now we've lost the work around we did have. Please bring this feature back!

I would be happy to discuss it further with you. It gives me hope that they actually have someone researching this now.

Rick Straub

@Kevin Brazell
Hi Kevin, Do you have any idea when the Queue functionality will be in NXT? Given the news delivered Feb 14th, 2023 about moving all DBV functions to total web view by the first half of 2024, I will need to plan for it if it is going away from DBV also!!! I too use the Queue functionality to create hundreds of reports and download them to my TEAMS channels. (I used to be able to just email from the Queue until that was taken away as described in other posts above). I have also incorporated Power Automate to automatically perform some steps and send hundreds of emails a month. Thanks Rick

Kevin Brazell

@Rick Straub
Nothing concrete timeline-wise. Most of it is nebulous based on a number of factors. But with the email going out, they now have a deadline, which is progress.

Rick Straub

@Kevin Brazell
Thanks for the reply Kevin

Dennis Shannakian

@Kevin Brazell
Any updates regarding Queue going to the Total Web Solution?

We use Queue to export PDF reports to place on our website for transparency and ease of access.