Ability to put a user notification when we have an issue with CRM.

Vicki Goodwin

I know we can put notifications on records so a notice comes up when the record is opened. What we'd like to be able to do is put notification of system issues across the top of the screen. This would be helpful in communicating issues and updates to users. Is anyone aware of a way to do this? I do have a case open with Blackbaud and I've done searches but haven't come up with anything.

Simon Watson

Hi @Vicki Goodwin.

Great idea! I haven't seen something like this implemented before, but I agree it would be a fantastic way to communicate with users. I'm really interested in hearing what others think or what Blackbaud suggest.

Stacey Segal

@Vicki Goodwin If you have an intranet of some sort, you could embed an iframe and use that on the home page to share alerts, updates, etc. We've seen orgs do this successfully.

Rick Root

@Vicki Goodwin here at UNC, we've did a customization that allows us to store alert messages … basically, using the CRUD wizard, a simple table, data list, add and edit forms, and a delete record operation.

Then I have a custom datalist that I call a generic service handler. It basically takes an action and a bunch of optional parameters and returns a single row containing JSON.

THEN, I added some code to this file:

/vroot/browser/webui/min/WebShellPage-combo-min.js

I'm attaching FOUR files that are needed for this customization.

• UNC Generic Service Handler Data List.xml
• bbcrmAlertCustomization.js
  This code is what's added to the WebShellPage-combo-min.js … I doubt that Blackbaud hosted customers can do this but self-hosted clients can.
• BBCRMAlertNotification.html
  Contains custom HTML for the Alert banner/window. Should be placed in your vroot/browser/htmlforms/custom folder
• BBCRMAlertNotification.css
  Contains custom CSS for the Alert banner/window. Should be placed in your vroot/browser/htmlforms/custom folder

The CRUD files are also attached.

BBCRMAlertNotification.zip

BBCRM Alert CRUD Files.zip

Vicki Goodwin

@Rick Root I shared your info with our developer (Kevin Hamling) and since we are hosted at Blackbaud we will have to do it a little differently than you described but it sounds like he can put something together. Thanks for sharing your solution!

Vicki Goodwin

@Stacey Segal thanks for the idea. We are hosted at Blackbaud but we may be able to do something on the home page using a datalist or maybe a view form.

Rick Root

@Vicki Goodwin We actually often put alerts onto our “Davie Portal” as well, but so many people bookmark the CRM homepage or click on links in emails/reports that we felt like we needed it actually in the CRM too.

I do wish Blackbaud had made this a little easier.

Vicki Goodwin

@Rick Root Agree. So far what I've heard from Blackbaud is that they'd do it as a customization.

Mary Short

@Vicki Goodwin, the ELCA is hosted by Blackbaud, and we are also looking for a way to post system maintenance notifications for our users. Blackbaud Support did not have an OOB way to do this, so I would love to hear your plans. Thanks!

Vicki Goodwin

@Mary Short We are going to use Rick's files and our developer will be working on this in our local copy of CRM. We don't have a solution yet though. I also added an idea that can be voted on

Thanks - Vicki