Null dates in API calls

Barsana Gohil
Barsana Gohil
Fourth Anniversary
in Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT® APIs

Hello,

I am using the KWS product pack to make API calls to RE NXT as part of a data migration project.

I have noticed that when dates are null in the source data then the call fails, e.g. BirthDate for constituents, if I set the fields in the mapping but provide null values.

Could you please let me know what values I should be setting for D/M/Y to indicate a null date? I have tried null and 0, but still get an 500 internal error.

I really don't want to split API calls based on records have null dates or not - will become very cumbersome to manage.

Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks,

Barsana

Comments

  • Alex Wong
    Alex Wong Community All-Star
    Ninth Anniversary Kudos 5 Facilitator 3 Raiser's Edge NXT Fall 2025 Product Update Briefing Badge

    @Barsana Gohil
    sounds like you are trying to create constituent with birthday?

    Birthday is a “Fuzzy Date”, which you have to provide info as it is asked, please check developer.blackbaud.com for reference documentation on how to make API calls.

    62c4a7f7db0e103386e2b7fbc7cdcb05-huge-im
    3515120d41f4ac75791c53943d2fca9d-huge-im
  • Shane Norris
    Shane Norris
    Second Anniversary Name Dropper Facilitator 1

    Hi @Alex Wong

    We have a similar question (address start/end dates) and I'm not sure that this provided the answer. If we have a null/empty value and we're trying to clear/blank/reset the fuzzy date via the API, then how would that be represented in the request? We have tried several permutations but none are successful:
    "seasonal_end": {
    "m": 0,
    "d": 0,
    "y": 0,
    }

    "seasonal_end": null

    etc.


    Not passing the parameter in works and this is a valid option for create but for edit we're looking at a way to replace an existing value in RE w/ a blank value.
    Thanks!

  • Alex Wong
    Alex Wong Community All-Star
    Ninth Anniversary Kudos 5 Facilitator 3 Raiser's Edge NXT Fall 2025 Product Update Briefing Badge

    @Shane Norris
    It does not appears the API suppport “resetting” the seasonal address start and end fuzzy date.

    @Ben Wong in the constituent page for editing address, seasonal address is “removed” when “this address is seasonal” checkbox is unchecked, however, there apperas to be no option to do this via SKY API. Is that a missing feature that needs Idea Bank voting or is there a way to do this that's not documented? (I try setting “m” and “d” to 0 and tried setting seasonal_start and seasonal_end to null and did not work with an error).

  • Shane Norris
    Shane Norris
    Second Anniversary Name Dropper Facilitator 1

    Thanks @Alex Wong - that is the same thing we are seeing as well! We tried varies options and saw the same behavior in the standard UI which suggested there must be some way to remove the seasonal dates.

    Hopefully @Ben Wong will have some suggestions for us.

    Thanks

  • Carol Odland
    Carol Odland
    Name Dropper Facilitator 1

    @Shane Norris @Ben Wong @Alex Wong

    Did any of you ever figure out how to clear a fuzzy date through the API? I need to be able to set and clear dates through the Education API and I'm not seeing how to do that. This post indicates you are trying to do it, also. Let me know if it is possible, thanks!

  • Alex Wong
    Alex Wong Community All-Star
    Ninth Anniversary Kudos 5 Facilitator 3 Raiser's Edge NXT Fall 2025 Product Update Briefing Badge

    Probably need an Idea Bank idea/vote. I do not believe this can be achieved currently

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