Creating Codes vs Creating Fields

Dominique Hilliard
Dominique Hilliard
Sixth Anniversary Facilitator 1
in Blackbaud Grantmaking™ General Discussions
I am fairly new to Blackbaud and am still learning the database. I was wondering if someone could help me understand or point me in the direction to were I may find some information on the difference between creating codes and fields and when it is best to use each.


Thanks!

Comments

  • Stacy Evans
    Stacy Evans
    Sixth Anniversary Kudos 2 Name Dropper Participant
    A code can be a Constituent Code and since you're new, I will explain it to you. Constituent code= what that person is to your organization. (Trustee, Board Member, Committee Member) But there are other codes that are use to identify what that relationship means to you.


    A field is just an empty space that you put information in. Your whole database consists of fields. I hope that helps!


    Best of luck to you.


    Stacy

  • Paula Lentoni
    Paula Lentoni
    Tenth Anniversary Kudos 2 Name Dropper Participant
    Codes help you slice & dice the data and allow you to isolate information to run a search.

    Examples of commonly coded fields are Geographic area, Type of Support, Program Area, Staff Person


    A field is necessary to collect information; every code needs a field, but every field is not coded.


    Happy to talk through this more with you.


  • Jane Van Ingen
    Jane Van Ingen
    Fifth Anniversary Kudos 4 Name Dropper Participant
    Stacy:


    Just to be clear, you are referring to Raiser's Edge, correct? I use both Raiser's Edge and Blackbaud Grantmaking, and they're two distinctly different databases.


    Thanks,

    Jane
  • Dominique Hilliard
    Dominique Hilliard
    Sixth Anniversary Facilitator 1
    No, I am using Blackbaud Grantmaking.
  • Dominique Hilliard
    Dominique Hilliard
    Sixth Anniversary Facilitator 1
    That is helpful. Thank you. I am trying to add a piece of information to populate in a few different areas such as internal and external reporting and I am trying to figure out the best way to do that weather it be a field I create or a code I assign,
  • Dominique Hilliard
    Dominique Hilliard
    Sixth Anniversary Facilitator 1
    Thank you. This is helpful!
  • Rachel Rosen
    Rachel Rosen
    Tenth Anniversary Participant Facilitator 1 Blackbaud Certified
    Hi Dominique! Classification tables/coding sheets are best used when you need to select multiple values, or have too much text for a Blueprint Custom Field (where the limit is 255 characters). Otherwise, Blueprint all the way! Let me know if you have follow up questions.
  • Stacy Evans
    Stacy Evans
    Sixth Anniversary Kudos 2 Name Dropper Participant
    Hi Jane,


    I'm just now seeing your question. Yes, I was referring to Raiser's Edge. For some reason I can't find all the questions that I reply to. I did a search by my name and they don't show.

Categories