Database View switching off at end of 2024?

Jane Van Ingen

Hello all.

The Idea mentioned here references Blackbaud’s intention to switch off database view at the end of 2024. I would love to use NXT Web View all the time, but it doesn’t have the full functionality I need, and I’m not alone in this sentiment.

If database view is switched off, what will happen to all the membership info, queries, exports, reports, and batches currently held in database view? Will those be migrated to NXT before the end of 2024, or will we be able to connect to this data via Power Platforms or some other third-party vendor?

If anyone knows more about this, especially Blackbaud staff and consultants, do tell.

Thanks in advance.

Jane

P.S. Here's the full link:

Marie Stark

@Jane Van Ingen The link goes to the ideas page, not a specific idea.

Jane Van Ingen

@Marie Stark Sorry about that; it won't let me link to the specific idea. The title of the Idea is “All the functionality of database view should be available in NXT Webview”. It currently has 55 votes.

Patti Posey

@Jane Van Ingen

Hi Jane,

I agree 100%. I have no use for NXT. I cannot do half the things I perform in database view. To me it is more for MGOs and NOT database administrators. If BB decides to do away with RE database view, we will probably do away with blackbaud and find something else.

Paula T Poole

@Jane Van Ingen Blackbaud has been talking about shutting down Database View for about a decade now. They have much work to do to merge all features that we on the data management end need. There is no way to set up a gift or constituent batch with defaults, no business rule message warning of an active pledge. The Media tab is now only available on RENXT and we no longer see any Media in Database View. There is so much just WRONG and I have not seen much progress. I told a colleague recently that RENXT is designed for executive level staff who need quick info. It is unfortunately not designed for the people that must assure the accuracy and integrity of the information. There! This is my rant for the day.

Lee Grisham

@Jane Van Ingen Below is the link to the specific Idea. Please do vote for it. I would love for them to actually develop a product that is unified and works as a single system instead of two parts that sometimes communicate to each other on a delayed basis. The “one source of truth” is really hard to sell when there are only some people that can see the whole truth…

Why this has not already happened when NXT has been around for years is beyond me.

Jane Van Ingen

@Lee Grisham I voted on the idea, and I hope you and others will as well!

Thanks to everyone for their feedback.

Jane

Marie Stark

@Jane Van Ingen Thank you. Although I understand some clients are being told this by Blackbaud, there seems to be little progress by Blackbaud on implementing features in WebView that could replace what we do in database view.

Bobby Steurer

@Jane Van Ingen
Does anyone know if there's specific language posted or printed officially by Blackbaud that talks about DBV ending in 2024? I ask because losing DBV with the current state of WV would eliminate most everything I'm able to accomplish day-to-day. And we conveniently have a renewal coming up at the end of this year.

Rebecca Campbell

@Jane Van Ingen I would prefer database view over NXT any day, unless they can integrate the two, keeping the complexities of database view. Just to mention one of many, the Constituent and Gift lists in NXT are limited in the information you can pull, compared to what can be pulled in database view. And, will database management/administrators have the same capabilities that we do in database view, because I know as of right now NXT doesn't

Billy Fenyes

@Jane Van Ingen

I think this is clearly what Blackbaud is trying to achieve but I doubt this will happen by the end of 2024.

Honestly, I wish the could go full NXT sooner rather than later. Working with RE7/Database view in a hosted environment is a nightmare. You never know if a task is going to be a quick 5 seconds and your done, or a 10 minute battle because of lag in the system.

Jane Van Ingen

@Bobby Steurer It's the end of 2024, so your 2023 campaigns won't be affected. But we're both looking for the same thing. Blackbaud should be notifying all of their clients about this change, even if only some of the clients will be affected.

Karen Diener

We've all been hearing this for awhile, but definitely an increase lately from account reps. But no one has yet pointed to an official, clear statement from Blackbaud. An account executive told me a week ago today. I've been pressing for an official statement / roadmap / etc. and have yet to receive it. Their statement was immediately qualified with “it's a GOAL”, and “there is no sunset date".

I think the language being used of “turning off database view” may be resulting in a lot of confusion. It was relayed to me as “getting everyone on NXT” which is completely different.

I encourage everyone to keep an eye out for the Product Update Briefing (PUB) which is expected to take place in April. Lots of speculation without anything official from Blackbaud, and I think it is best to hear from them directly, and with very clear information about what it means.

Karen

Jane Van Ingen

@Karen Diener Thank you for that information; that is helpful. I bookmarked the Product Update Briefing page.

Joe Moretti

@Jane Van Ingen Blackbaud sales rep love to say this, but talking to the actual technicians, this is not happening anywhere in the near future. The Database View is the foundation for RE NXT. Sales people use this line to get folks to buy RE NXT.

Austen Brown

@Jane Van Ingen - I agree with @Joe Moretti and @Karen Diener; this is more about moving customers to RE NXT. I seriously doubt that RE Database View is going away anytime soon.

Paula T Poole

@Patti Posey We are a small community organization. I think at one time there was an effort to expand our brand at least nationally, but this was a few years back, well before the pandemic. Our ED actually mentioned exploring other data management systems recently. I am under pressure to make RENXT work better for us, and was supposed to hear back regarding meetings with people who can walk me through various applications to improve our data. Still waiting. ?

Dariel Dixon

I really wish this type of conversation wouldn't take place. While database view is going to go away at some point, I think that these statements only work to create confusion and fear. While I do work in database view more often than not, I realize that all of the innovation and new features are only coming in NXT.

I would encourage more people to take a look around NXT. There's some cool things happening in NXT, and while it is very much still a work in progress and nowhere near as powerful as database view, it's clear that it is the future.

Blackbaud has been making these claims for 10 years now. I'll believe it when I see it.

Dariel Dixon

@Jane Van Ingen The Media tab is now only available on RENXT and we no longer see any Media in Database View.

@Paula Poole: Can you explain this? I don't have any issues with seeing media? My media tab is still there, but unfortunately I have to download the file to view it.

Jane Van Ingen

@Austen Brown Thanks!

Paula T Poole

@Dariel Dixon Hi Dariel. The Media Tab in Database View does not display any actual media for me. I save documents and photos in RENXT since it's the only way to attach to the record, as far as I can tell. There were messages from Blackbaud stating that the capacity to maintain media attachments in DB was going away early last year. I don't know if this is different depending on how your org is maintained via Blackbaud. I just know that if I want to attach a document, it has to be done in RENXT and once attached cannot be viewed in DB. Just one more thing to remember.

JoAnn Strommen

@Paula Poole As @Dariel Dixon said the Media tab is still there in db view but you have to download file to view.

Yes, it has always been so much easier to load files in webview. And items loaded in webview can not be seen in db view.
We still load in db view. Files can be viewed in either and should we ever have a major incident where we have to replace database from a backup we will not lose the files loaded in db view. BB has said that files loaded in webview will not be available to replace. Another thing to consider as well.

Paula T Poole

@JoAnn Strommen One more source of concern. I did not know that we would lose media saved in web view. I make a habit of saving all to our drive anyway. Thanks for letting me know.

Dariel Dixon

I don't think that is the case @Paula Poole. I just tried this and I was able to see my media in the media tab as well as add something. The change was made that you have to export and download the media now, as it will no longer open natively when double clicked.

Are you saying you can't see the media at all to export?

Like @JoAnn Strommen mentioned, there are some questions about the availability of attachments after backups in NXT. Blackbaud stated this issue was fixed, but I'm skeptical. Also, I don't want to have to be in a situation to test it.

Paula T Poole

@Dariel Dixon Yes, I think I misunderstood. I still find it cumbersome that we have to enter media on both sides, since Web View does link to Database view for such updates. I was also having a lot of trouble with my system at one point last fall with the lag time in DB causing data to not update properly. Thanks and have a good weekend.

JoAnn Strommen

@Paula Poole You shouldn't have to enter media on both sides. If you enter it on db it's accessible in both views. (It may take a few minutes to appear in webview.)

Bama Ramarathnam

@Jane Van Ingen and Raisers Edge customers:

We have not announced a date by when we will retire database view in Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge 7. Our goal is to continually innovate and apply resources where they add the most value for customers. If we need to make a change to our software or portfolio long-term, we will communicate this with you directly. The best way to stay up-to-date on confirmed plans is through our regular Product Update Briefings.

We have heard customers’ feedback over dual views and are committed to delivering you a total Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT web solution. We will start moving core capabilities and workflows to web view in 2023 and beyond. Join us for the April 2023 Product Update Briefings to learn more about this—details about registration will be shared soon.

Bama Ramarathnam, Director of Product - Raiser’s Edge.

Becky Jones

@Paula Poole while it may be easier to attach in NXT, if you have people who only use the DB view, it is counterproductive. If files are added in DB (as long as you realize you can open and save them locally to view them), they are able to be viewed in NXT. Thus adding once and able to view in both places. If it is added in NXT, it looks as though nothing had been added in DB version.