[nisaac]

Hi all,

I wasn't sure where the appropriate thread was for this topic - I hope this will do.
I thought the conference this year was excellent.

Some of the key points I heard and observations were (I was mostly on the tech track):
- the move from Crystal Reports to SQL reporting services (free with SQL 2005)
- the infinity platform version of RE will have all modules included at base price
- lots more people have BBNC than had it last year
- Virtual machines are definitely a big part of the technology picture and BB is working with that technology
- our hardware/network infrastructure will look different in the next few years to support the new infinity platform (more IIS, I think)
- BB still listens to its clients, in fact - it's obvious that they look for feedback

We do need to let the company know how we use the software. We're the true "experts" so take a look at the BB playground lab and let your support techs know about your issues.

The tip my db coordinator loved the best: you can add downloaded transactions to already created batches (use the tools menu)

Queue hasn't worked well since BB went to Crystal XI. That's ok for me now as SQL reporting services will fill that bill for me - although I don't like paying for a Queue that doesn't work.

It was great seeing a lot of friends and BB people. Feels like home when I go there now....

[Tcassi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nisaac

Hi all,

I wasn't sure where the appropriate thread was for this topic - I hope this will do.
I thought the conference this year was excellent.

Some of the key points I heard and observations were (I was mostly on the tech track):
- the move from Crystal Reports to SQL reporting services (free with SQL 2005)
- the infinity platform version of RE will have all modules included at base price
- lots more people have BBNC than had it last year
- Virtual machines are definitely a big part of the technology picture and Blackbaud is working with that technology
- our hardware/network infrastructure will look different in the next few years to support the new infinity platform (more IIS, I think)
- BB still listens to its clients, in fact - it's obvious that they look for feedback

We do need to let the company know how we use the software. We're the true "experts" so take a look at the BB playground lab and let your support techs know about your issues.

The tip my db coordinator loved the best: you can add downloaded transactions to already created batches (use the tools menu)

Queue hasn't worked well since BB went to Crystal XI. That's ok for me now as SQL reporting services will fill that bill for me - although I don't like paying for a Queue that doesn't work.

It was great seeing a lot of friends and BB people. Feels like home when I go there now....

Hi Nora - Thanks for your input! I'm interested in what others who attended thought/heard. What was the big "buzz" around the conference this year? Would appreciate any info you're willing to share.

[digitalslacker]

Reporting services, Infinity, Web 2.0 and Social Networking. If you had a chance to hit Tim Wolf's session you'd have seen some slick stuff that is coming in v5.5 with regards to BBNC supporting Social networking.
There was also some stuff on Facebook integration, not sure if that'll make v5.5.

Also a move towards better documentation for the API which I'm happy about.
Marc Chardon pointed out that Blackbaud's API has been 'open' from day 1 while they never officially support (or document in some cases) or marketed it as some other companies have done so. Open API is just a buzz word anyway.

Good stuff though. I met a few of you all and it was a productive few days.

[Tcassi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by digitalslacker

Reporting services, Infinity, Web 2.0 and Social Networking. If you had a chance to hit Tim Wolf's session you'd have seen some slick stuff that is coming in v5.5 with regards to BBNC supporting Social networking.
There was also some stuff on Facebook integration, not sure if that'll make v5.5.

Also a move towards better documentation for the API which I'm happy about.
Marc Chardon pointed out that Blackbaud's API has been 'open' from day 1 while they never officially support (or document in some cases) or marketed it as some other companies have done so. Open API is just a buzz word anyway.

Good stuff though. I met a few of you all and it was a productive few days.

Thanks, Garrett! I wasn't able to attend, thus my interest....anything on RE8 (I know "Infinity" is going to be the CRM & DM versions only). I'm really interested on when & how version 8.0 is going to come out. Was there any mention of how that development was going?

[Melissa Siobhan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tcassi

Thanks, Garrett! I wasn't able to attend, thus my interest....anything on RE8 (I know "Infinity" is going to be the CRM & DM versions only). I'm really interested on when & how version 8.0 is going to come out. Was there any mention of how that development was going?

I may need to be corrected on this but I recall discussion at the meeting about about some anticipated RE 7.X releases that are 12-18 months in the making so I am not counting on seeing 8.0 for some time yet (2+ years?).

What I gathered from the discussions was that since they are completely overhauling RE for Infinity and even RE8 - the improvements to be made in the current version will be limited to user issues and functionality but no investment will be made in new concepts or modules for RE7. Requests for such huge infrastructure changes will likely go into infinity or RE8 so do not stop making the requests. In fact, I see this as a great time for upgrades since they will simply be responding to user needs that in the past have gotten overlooked when in a long list with structural changes in RE.

Patience will be required as I am not willing to rush them and have them quickly release an inferior product with bugs and problems. Once they develop the new products they need to develop a program to convert the old structure to the new and that is the most important feature of all and probably harder than designing the new product from scratch. I am certain they are not even at that stage of development yet.

[nisaac]

I did some usability testing on entering a constituent in RE 8. Just a few minutes - but looked interesting. There were no set dates given that I heard, but when I said I'd like it within a year - there were some maybe looks....who knows.

[Melissa Siobhan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Melissa Siobhan

I may need to be corrected on this but I recall discussion at the meeting about about some anticipated RE 7.X releases that are 12-18 months in the making so I am not counting on seeing 8.0 for some time yet (2+ years?).

Quote:

Originally Posted by nisaac

I did some usability testing on entering a constituent in RE 8. Just a few minutes - but looked interesting. There were no set dates given that I heard, but when I said I'd like it within a year - there were some maybe looks....who knows.

LOL - both of us were at the meeting and did the same useability testing and got different impressions. I think maybe they are purposely keeping us on our toes!

[Tcassi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Melissa Siobhan

I may need to be corrected on this but I recall discussion at the meeting about about some anticipated RE 7.X releases that are 12-18 months in the making so I am not counting on seeing 8.0 for some time yet (2+ years?).

Thanks Melissa - that's good to know because in May at the Vancouver conference they were saying RE8 would possibly be released late 2008...so if it's not going to happen for a few years it's definitely nothing to get excited about at this point!

[nisaac]

Could be wishful thinking on my part - a key issue for me is how team fundraiser links in RE. Currently, it links to the fund. This won't work for us after the first year, as we would have to create new funds. Our funds link to project ids in FE. In RE8 the team fundraiser links to the appeal - makes more sense for us.
I have been told that they are working on that issue in 7.8x versions also, so I may get my reprieve there.

[big_smile]

Quote:

Originally Posted by digitalslacker

Reporting services, Infinity, Web 2.0 and Social Networking. If you had a chance to hit Tim Wolf's session you'd have seen some slick stuff that is coming in v5.5 with regards to BBNC supporting Social networking.
There was also some stuff on Facebook integration, not sure if that'll make v5.5.

Also a move towards better documentation for the API which I'm happy about.
Marc Chardon pointed out that Blackbaud's API has been 'open' from day 1 while they never officially support (or document in some cases) or marketed it as some other companies have done so. Open API is just a buzz word anyway.

Good stuff though. I met a few of you all and it was a productive few days.

Garret, I was not able to attend either, can you elaborate on your impressions of the Web 2.0 and Social Networking stuff w/ v5.5?

Also, did Chardon say anything about dropping the cost for use of the API??

[Harriet]

I also did some usabality testing on Ver. 8, and Tritt Mulligan told me we are looking at 2-3 years down the road for this release.

[Melissa Siobhan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harriet

I also did some usabality testing on Ver. 8, and Tritt Mulligan told me we are looking at 2-3 years down the road for this release.

Bummer,

I was getting my hopes up that maybe Nora got some inside scoop on an earlier release date.

Since Nora Beta tests she will still likely get RE8 before us.

[digitalslacker]

Quote:

Originally Posted by big_smile

Garret, I was not able to attend either, can you elaborate on your impressions of the Web 2.0 and Social Networking stuff w/ v5.5?

Also, did Chardon say anything about dropping the cost for use of the API??

Sure,

Web 2.0 and the Social networking in my eyes are two separate item.

The Web 2.0 discussions were great and not limited to just one session. Andrew Mosawi's session really encompassed everything Web 2.0. What I think the key is that Blackbaud is talking this much about Web 2.0. This to me illustrates a change in their direction to more forward thinking when it comes to embracing new web concepts. I think thats a good sign. The Web 2.0 concept isn't new by any means but Blackbaud seems to be demonstrating that there are business opportunities to be had in things like Social Networking, Wiki's etc for non-profits. They also seem to be demonstrating a willingness to begin to incorporate some integrating with Web 2.0 applications. Again this is all big picture.

Social Networking stuff was really neat. Tim Wolf has been designing a Social Networking platform for BBNC. It is looking really good. It embraces all of the standard social networking stuff like friends, PMs, Groups etc. It mght not initially be a Facebook but he made it clear that their motivation wasn't to compete with Facebook or MySpace but to allow clients to create their own closed networks with bits that can connect back to things like Facebook.
It's important to remember that including social networking in a business model for any company is a relatively new concept. This is a piece of BBNC that I think will evolve rapidly once it's released.

Ok, now my favorite one the API.
First off the API is free for BBNC. It always has been. What you have to pay for is the VBA/API module for RE. But you don't need that to do customizations.

There seems to be much confusion here so I'll try to clear it up.

Marc Chardon answered a question in the first General Session about Open API. It's just a buzzword that people are throwing around the industry. An Open API is an API that you can consume outside of the core product. Guess what guys you have been able to do that with BBNC at least since 4.0. I have done it for over a year.

You can easily consume their PIA dlls (in RE) and party on those in your code or you can grab their RE7Service web service and do some cool stuff with that. That doesn't cost anything and its all there you just have to know how to use it. Blackbaud will not support it currently. They have never prevented clients from making customizations by requiring you to pay for an API for BBNC.

Btw, I heard that documentation for API in v5.5 is going to be better.