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Adding gift batches in database or webview?

Suzie Capps

Hi all my new workplace has recently obtained RE NXT. They frequently use batches in database view for adding many gifts at a time (e.g., cash donations or cheques landing via post etc.) . I wondered if it is worth them moving to doing this in webview, or if they should stick with what the know? I don't want to recommend something that is actually slower! Does anyone have experience using both, and might be able to tell me the difference / which in your opinion is quicker / easier?

Thanks all ?

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Comments

Alex Wong

@Suzie Capps
You are better off sticking with database view gift batch for now, as it is more powerful and can handle all gift related situation that the webview gift batch cannot.

Rachel Kauer

@Suzie Capps

I completely agree with Alex. In its current state Web View batch entry tool is not as powerful as Database View batch entry tool. There are two features I can't live without with Batch Entry.

Default fields and the batch grid are my favorite features of the Database View for their efficiency and level of viewable detail. I can set a payment type and details for entering similar gifts and it saves me so much time. I can view the details of everything I have entered so far on the same screen saves me a lot of time in reviewing my work.

Web view does not appear to have these features yet. During the product update, it appeared they plan to add those features to Web View in the future. But for now, I would stick to the database view.

Ange Scott

@Suzie Capps

Definitely Database view.. I still use DB view for most of my tasks and will do until the option is gone. I personally don't like the layout of NXT and currently it doesn't really do anything that we need on our end that the DB view does.

Rose Dixon

@Ange Scott I presume this means you have not switched from Online Express to web view forms for the very reason that you can't do what needs to be done? I took webinar on the gift processing in web view and the instructor said right now, we are best doing all batch type processing in database view. I'm worried that OLX is quite limited and people here will want to push us to web view when it's just not ready. It's insane to have to work in 2 databases, which is what we would have to do if we processed anything in web view right now.

Ange Scott

@Rose Dixon correct. Unfortunately we will be moving to web view donation forms eventually, which I'm dreading. We already use OLX in DB view which works fine, but I'm not entirely sure what it looks like in NXT view.
Batching is useless in NXT currently, it doesn't give any kind of completed control report like DB does, which our accountant uses to match to the bank statements. Also not being able to delete gifts made in NXT puts me right off of using it!

Currently I only use NXT web view to do Actions and add attachments, nothing else.

Rose Dixon

@Ange Scott And table entries in web view. I use it for that. I do most actions still in db view. But we have a werid thing where if someone did a batch in the morning, when you click on one of the records in that batch, even though the batch is committed, we get prompted saying “XXX has this record open and you can't make edits” - very rarely is XXX in the record. She or he has to close out of RE for me to access that record. But I digress! I do use the “possible duplicates” in web view.

Darlene Mathisen

@Ange Scott I understand completely about the control report for monthly balancing- Our online gifts come through NXT- BUT I still have to go into Database view to print my batch control report to reconcile my monthly transactions. If there is another way- someone please inform me. I sure hope they keep all of these little things in mind for the big picture move……

Ange Scott

@Darlene Mathisen Yes I do the same, having to get the NXT batch out of DB view. I read that NXT batching is meant to be getting a similar control report by the end of this year, but I'll believe it when I see it!

We have recently tried the new NXT donation forms for a small appeal, and by crikey is it time consuming on the back end! It takes 2-3x longer to process a batch (gone is tabbing and copy/paste), and the way that it automatically puts gifts into a batch drives me INSANE. Constantly having to move gifts around batches as they don't all get dispersed on the same day. Really not looking forward to having this as our only option once DB is gone