Constituent Custom Field Documentation Error?

Alex Wong

Hi,

I am reading documentation on this API: https://developer.sky.blackbaud.com/docs/services/56b76470069a0509c8f1c5b3/operations/ListConstituentCustomFieldsAllConstituents

I am trying to get constituent custom fields by specifying a few categories. The documentation say:

Meaning I should be able to specify in the request parameters multiple category. When I do, I get error saying category parameter only accepts one value. If that is true, then the document should be changed to clearly say “string” instead of “array” and the description should clearly say that too.

Please let me know if I may have submitted the API incorrectly.

Thanks,
Alex

Ben Regier

@Alex Wong

I'm seeing the same behavior. I'm attempting to submit arrays for this parameter by repeating it more than once in the URL. For example:

https://api.sky.blackbaud.com/constituent/v1/constituents/customfields?category=Category1&category=Category2

This method works for other endpoints like the Constituent List endpoint, but when I try it here I get an error that category only accepts one value.

Alex Wong

I found yet another problem and have reported this to Blackbaud support. Initially they just closed my ticket saying SKY API coding help should be on community post only. They reopened the ticket after I got my account exec involved….

So they asked for more info, and while providing more info to them, I discover more issue, now on the gift custom field list all API….. i'll paste my full response to the support ticket here so others are aware.

On this image, you see on the left i'm using the GIFT customfield list all API, while on the right is the CONSTITUENT customfield list all API

I specified both API using 2 category. The GIFT (left) returned results, while the CONSTITUENT (right) returned error saying category "only accepts one value"

Can't upload an image that's not blurry………………….

However, what I just discovered is another problem. On the GIFT customfield list all API, the result is incorrect.

Below image, is 3 calls to the GIFT customfield list all API.

On the right, is a call to 1 category "Donor Message", which has 433 results

In the middle is a call to another category "Affinity Group", which has 2341 results

On the left, is a call to both category "Donor Message" and "Affinity Group", but only has 433 results, which is same as the first category specified in the URL "Donor Message" and totally ignored the 2nd category of "Affinity Group".

Can't upload an image that's not blurry………………….

Anthony Gallo

@Alex Wong
We got your submission to support on the development side. We are seeing the same thing you all are and at this time we are going to correct the documentation and consider this update for down the road. I do not have a timeline as to when we can get back to this for for the foreseeable future, these calls will need to be made one by one.