Hi all,
I am currently attempting to code an API that would:
1. Allow the user to browse a CSV file used for this process. For this step I have Google search endlessly and have some idea – using Browse Folder.
2. Once the user selected the CSV file, the file is used to compare certain information of constituent. Information is compared between the CSV file and Raiser’s Edge constituent records.
If someone could suggest a start for this VBA/API, it would be awesome.
Regards,
Markus.

Hi all,
I am currently attempting to code an API that would:
1. Allow the user to browse a CSV file used for this process. For this step I have Google search endlessly and have some idea – using Browse Folder.
2. Once the user selected the CSV file, the file is used to compare certain information of constituent. Information is compared between the CSV file and Raiser’s Edge constituent records.
If someone could suggest a start for this VBA/API, it would be awesome.
Regards,
Markus.

I use SSIS (Sql Server Integration Services) and t-sql code to do this. Unfortunately (fortunately, depending on the day), I don't have the VBA /API modules, but i take either a dump from our banner database or a file that is given to me from somewhere, dump the information into temp table(s), then run a bunch of SQL comparisons against RE, churning out an import and an "update" file that we then use appropriately.

If you send me an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , I can send you a zip file of what I have (please be aware it won't be plug and play, but this one should be pretty close as it looks at the basic information on a given record).

Doug

Markus
Did you build someting? Looking for banner-re solutions.

thanks,
Tara

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it wrote:


Hi Tara,

A number of universities use Import-O-Matic to process Banner data into Raiser's Edge 7 automatically. As a large portion of our clients are higher-ed, we've invested a lot of time implementing the features they need (like matching to existing Education relationships based on user-defined criteria, importing multiple family relationships [with duplicate-matching] simultaneously, etc). Just let us know if you'd like a demo or to talk to one of our clients using it for Banner data.

Jeff

PS - I'm on Kaua'i right now, your state is so incredible!

SSIS can also perform a Fuzzy Lookup to do a comparison of similar information to see if the constituents are matched in similar ways. So, a James Doe vs Jim Doe could still be a match, and 1455 S. Elm St. could be a match with 1455 South Elm Street. It takes a lot of tweaking and isn't perfect, but it has helped me a lot in the past.

I've mostly used this to compare outside mailing lists to our RE database as a way to make sure we don't send solicitations to people who do not want them or who will already be receiving them.