[Peter Gulka]

According to the Blackbaud API help file a plugin is defined as:

"specially built applet extensions to The Raiser's Edge. A plug-in does just that, it "plugs in" to The Raiser's Edge UI, opening up the door to a wide range of custom functionality. Plug-ins can be as simple as an HTML page or a Microsoft Office document, or as complicated as a multi-level ActiveX document or interactive spreadsheet. "

David Zeidman of Zeidman Development has produced a new resource cataloging the available plugins for all Blackbaud products. David is a regular contributor to discussions on the forum.

The Directory is open to everyone to view, search, and download non-commercial plugins.

The descriptions are based on available documentation which in some cases is very limited, so any help in improving that documentation is appreciated. If you have used any of the plugins and have any further information to add then go to Zeidman Development and add the details there.

Among the 50+ plugins in the directory are
* Action Reminder Updater - transfers action reminders from one user to another en masse
* Alternate Address Deleter - deletes alternate (non-preferred) addresses of a specific type from all records
* Global Participant Deleter - deletes participants based on a participant query

[DavidZ]

Thank you Peter for your write up!

Just to let you know that coming soon you will be able to add a rating to each plugin if you have used it and add your own personal comments and experiences about the plugin (aside from the actual description of the plugin)

If you have any thoughts about the Directory or suggestions for improvements then let me know. I would love to get your feedback.

David

[smn198]

This is really useful - Just looking through the list I can see a number of plug-ins which sound very interesting which I would not have been able to find otherwise.

I've used the phone delete phones plug-in in the past which has helped reduce RSI/madness in the absence of a global delete for phones. (Really good if you need to delete a load of invalid email addresses!)

David, let us all know when we can add comments and rating to the plug-ins as I've got some info about some of these. This resource will become extremely valuable once people can write about what they have used them for - I'd love to see some feedback from people who have used them.

[Melissa Siobhan]

David - is there a plug in to change a gift that has been applied to a pledge to remove the link to the pledge and convert it back to a cash gift? I really need that one bad.

[DavidZ]

You know I am not sure. There are very many plugins (most of them are not mine!) and very many that have limited discriptions. If it can't be done in the program then it is not possible to do it through the API. I am pretty certain that Blackbaud has created some plugins not using the regular API in order to get around this but I don't know if this is one of them.

David

[BarbaraMachtinger]

BB244838: How to download and run the Add Constituent ID plug-in - The Add Constituent ID plug-in adds a constituent ID to all records for which the value is currently null. The plugin assigns constituent IDs using the following pattern: BB + system record ID.

Hi David,
I just installed this today. I was hoping this plug-in would give me constituent ID numbers of constituents recognized as duplicates during an import procedure. Could you direct me to any documentation about how to use it?
Thanks very much!
Barbara Machtinger
Database Manager
San Francisco Zen Center

[DavidZ]

Hi Barbara,

Unfortunately I do not support plugins that are not my own. It is probably best if you speak to Blackbaud. The only information that I have is the same as that of the knowledgbase article.

That being said I am not sure that that plugin (from its description alone as I have not actually used it) will give you the constituents recognized as duplicates during an import. It sounds like this plugin is used to add constituent ids to records that do not have them (if you have switched off the automatic assignment of constituent numbers to new records on save).

The plugin IDLookup will in fact help you find duplicates prior to importing data and can be found on my site:
Zeidman Development | Downloads. This is a demo which is tied to the sample databasebut gives a good idea of what is possible.

I hope that this helps

Feel free to contact me if you have any further questions

David

[DavidZ]

Thank you everyone for downloading IDLookup. I have updated the installation instructions as I have been told that there have been some difficulties installing IDLookup. I should make it clear that this is a demo of the full version. It is tied to the sample database.

The instructions can be found on my blog:

RE-Decoded » Blog Archive » Installing IDLookup

If you still have problems installing it then please do not hesitate to contact me.

David

[Sbest]

Hi DavidZ,

I really appreciate your plug-ins directory. So far we've installed and readily made use of at least 5 that you had listed and that we hadn't even thought to look for.

Here is one that you seem to have missed:

BB291410

How to download and run the Previous Gift Split Information plug-in
The Previous Gift Split Information plug-in allows a user to view previous split information on gift adjustments with selected campaigns, fund, or appeals.

[DavidZ]

Thank you. I shall add it to the list. In the future feel free to add ones that you find

There may be more. The Blackbaud knowledgebase is not the easiest place to find specific terms. Also if there are others from other companies I would really like to hear about them so that we can add them to the directory.

David

[DavidZ]

I am please to announce phase 2 of the plugin directory!

You can now rate the plugins and add your own comments about them. If you have had some experience of some of the plugins listed then please do add your comments. Unlike adding or editing the plugins listed comments are not moderated so feel free to add what you think about them. The average rating is also given.

Adding ratings requires that you are "registered" this is so that plugin ratings are not skewed. Adding comments does not required any registration and can indeed be anonymous.

Check out the new features here:

Zeidman Development | Directory of Plugins for Blackbaud products

Look forward to reading your comments!

Coming soon the ability to search and filter by product, by most viewed and best rated. What this space...

David