Hi all - I am very new to this, just took both trainings offered by BB. My issue is that there is no appeal summary (total given) on the export, even though it is in the query. I can't use a gift query because I want to capture appeals that have a Goal, but no revenue yet. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

You've lost me. What is the report you are trying to design supposed to have on it.

AppealCategory
AppealDescr
AppealGoal
Total Gifts

1. Grouped by AppealCategory
2. Grouped by AppealDescription

I need to include all appeals, including those with 0 Gifts so far, so that the grand Total for AppealGoal will always equal our yearly goal.

THanks Melissa. I really appreciate your help.

This is just a thought, but you MIGHT be able to get around this by doing an appeal query, including the fields you want in the output, then exporting the query output to a file, and basing your crystal report off of that file. It won't work being linked through the custom reports automatic thing, but I think it would work overall.

I just did a quick test and it does look like it'll put each gift on a separate line if you do that. I just included Appeal Category, Description, Goal, Gift Amount and Gift Date. Try using running totals and/or summaries in Crystal.

Warning this may not work as well if you have split gifts -- you may have to drill further down in your output fields for that, and/or it may not work at all.

Hi Judy,

You're right that the Raiser's Edge Appeal export does not include gift information (summary or detail). Consequently, the report you are trying to create presents challenges. I can see a couple of ways to create the report, but they both involve using multiple data sources in the Crystal Report. Crystal will do that, but you would have to run the report externally rather than through Raiser's Edge. If you have the Queue module, you could even schedule the exports to refresh on a regular basis, but that's not necessary.

You would need to create two exports in the Raiser's Edge, one would be an appeal export. That would ensure that your requirement that all appeals get included whether they have gifts associated with them or not. The second export would be a gift export, which would give you all the gifts. Then when you bring both data sources into the Crystal Report, you can define linking fields between the two data sources. You will need to be mindful of the type of links (joins) that you use to assure that you include all the appeals. Then, sum the gift amounts in the report.

You mentioned that you had just taken the Blackbaud training on Crystal. When I first began to work with Crystal, this might have been a little over my head, but if you are good with technology and reporting tools, this is something that can be done.

If it would help you in designing your report, we have just released a new Appeal Analysis Report. I have uploaded an excel spreadsheet that was directly exported from that report. If you click the plus sign(s) beside the Appeal Description, it will drill down into package code level. Download it and take a look. It might give you some ideas about values you might want to build into your report (ROI, Percent to Goal, etc.) I know that when I was designing this report, I was given some examples from some of our clients and they were invaluable. There were some great ideas in those reports and many of them found their way into this report.

Best of luck with your crystal report. If the file is not there, let me know and I can email it to you if you'd prefer.

Jim Wilson
O-Matic Software

Thank you Jim. I was not able to retieve the attachement and would love you to e-mail it to me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . After further research, I found that I need to export the SplitGift table to get the link right. Do you know how to find that?

I am frustrated because I can't believe more orgs don't want to do this. I can so easily do accomplish this by exporting the query to Access, but I am trying to stay inside RE.

We have considered buying Import O matic as we go back and forth with Convio. Now we are just waiting to see how this whole merger thing shakes down. I did not know omatic did reporting. I will look into that!

THanks again!
Judy