Limit Users to Webview

Tioga Anderson
Tioga Anderson
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in Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT®: General Discussions

Hello,

Tried searching the knowledgebase and older community posts but I haven't been able to find a definitive answer. I have some users who I would like to not be able to access database view at all, just WebView. Is this at all possible? Newer employers get trained on WebView right from the start but I'd like a way to kind of force some established users who have no need of database view only functions to WebView.

Thanks

Comments

  • Joe Moretti
    Joe Moretti Community All-Star
    Kudos 5 Third Anniversary Raiser's Edge NXT Fall 2025 Product Update Briefing Badge First Reply

    @Tioga Anderson Just have them not open the database view. When you first log in, you login from RE NXT and then you can open up Database View if you want. But there is a difference between the two systems, so I never think it is a good idea to just look at RE NXT.

  • JoAnn Strommen
    JoAnn Strommen Community All-Star
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    @Tioga Anderson I just don't tell them how to get to db view or explain where things are at in db. LOL

    Our development officers find all they need in web view. While others of us use both or primarily db view. As @Joe said some people should definitely be looking at both.

    I don't know that there is a way to prohibit them from opening it if they find the option.


  • Ashley Gelderblom
    Ashley Gelderblom
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    @Tioga Anderson you can get IT to lock down security so they are unable to install citrix and therefore not able to launch DB view. Also citrix will need to be removed if already installed

  • Dariel Dixon
    Dariel Dixon Community All-Star
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    @Tioga Anderson I think like many of the other responders, I don't think this is really too necessary. What does limiting them to webview actually do in practice? Database view isn't the most intuitive application, and I doubt there is much that an uninformed user would want to do. Also assuming that security roles are set up appropriately, there should not be any data available in DB view that isn't in webview.

    TBH, I think this concept is limiting. I've got users asking to view things in database view over webview because they don't have to deal with pages. And that's fine. It's a personal preference, and I don't really want to limit them. If you don't mention it, I doubt that any would even notice it's there.

    EDIT: I see now your goal is to move more experienced users to use webview. I think this is a struggle. I've seen people try this and it rarely goes well. I've tried it and failed myself in trying to push people to new ways of doing things, and if they are resistant to the change, they won't do it. Especially if it hasn't been mandated from management. And then even if it is, old habits die hard. But if this is how they are comfortable working and it works for them, it might be disadvantageous to make this change if they are not familiar with webview. That said, they will never get comfortable if it isn't encouraged which it sounds like you're doing, but these changes will be resisted if told they have to change, especially if they don't agree with why.

  • Devan Bessinger
    Devan Bessinger
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    @Tioga Anderson While I understand the responses you've received so far, I also see your point. If there are long-time users whose specific roles do not require them to do anything that can ONLY be done in database view, I can understand your desire to have them go ahead and transition to web view. Some folks simply don't want to change what they've been doing when they are used to it (if it ain't broke, don't fix it). However, the time is coming when we're all going to have to make the jump to web view, whether we like it or not. I do encourage you to make sure you fully know exactly what they do and need to access because yes, there are some situations where they might need both DB & web in tandem (like if they are pulling any kind of reports or exports). However, if they really truly don't… you can always break the link between their BBID user and their database view user. I believe that should remove the option in their menu to “Open Database View." Before doing so, I would definitely give them an advanced warning though. Good luck!

  • Tioga Anderson
    Tioga Anderson
    Third Anniversary bbcon 2025 Attendee Badge Kudos 1 Name Dropper

    @Devan Caton
    Yeah I more coming from, DB view is going to go away eventually, most of the new employees only need and use Webview, so might as well just transition to it now, and have everyone looking at the same things, using the same terminology etc. The trick about breaking the link is what I was looking for but some of the other comments have me rethinking just removing their access. Think I will try a “nicer” approach with the break the link option in my back pocket. Thanks you and everyone else for their responses!

  • Devan Bessinger
    Devan Bessinger
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    @Tioga Anderson That sounds like a good plan. ?

  • Carrie Powell
    Carrie Powell
    Kudos 5 Fifth Anniversary Raiser's Edge NXT Fall 2025 Product Update Briefing Badge First Reply

    @Tioga Anderson, there is an article in the Knowledgebase that does provide some ways to limit access through security settings:

    https://kb.blackbaud.com/knowledgebase/articles/Article/204190

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