Feature Request - Allow existing patron search with custom field

[jcalabrese]

I'm running into issues where I am tryng to run the VT on an existing patron that has an identical name (or in most cases is the same actual person as a contact on different accounts ... and should be that way). This makes picking the right contact /account combo a guessing game. I'd like to add a field to search/display that is a contactID number which would be unique to that contact. This would help me process direct mail response cards as well, assuring that the payment is credited to the correct donor.

Is this something that can be worked on for a release down the road?

[CnP.Support]

Good day @JCalabrese,

Sure.. anything may be added if it helps but let me first try to understand the problem.

Will adding the Salesforce Contact ID help in this situation? In the search suggestion (autocomplete) it is query intensive to allow for customization of the suggestions. We can add the Salesforce Contact in parenthesis if that helps.

Will that work?

[jcalabrese]

That might be a temporary solution. I guess the real issue is that I'd like to be able to input the number for responses to direct mail in the search box. Putting in a 16 digit SalesforceID is probably not ideal for this use case. By putting in the Salesforce Contact ID, I'd have to add that long number to my direct mail solicitation return cards. I was trying to use a shorter number for that as well.

If there are steps to add the salesforce contact ID in (), let me know what they are as it will be a step in the right direction. But the added functionality of being able to search by a custom autonumber would be an incredible difference maker for me.

[jcalabrese]

Can you tell me if this is on the horizon? This would be a great feature to the software.

[CnP.Support]

Good day!

The feature you are requesting requires a configuration setting allowing each client to choose the fields that they want to show when searching. This is a bit more involved that simply including more information in the search. Currently we show the full name and email.




What we have decided to do is to make the VT similar to the Event Box Office by providing more hints from the contact records as shown below:




In the platform we have to make sure features are used by all clients and if we have to make a customization option we have to make sure it does not add more to the complexity of the application. Hopefully the above modification will help you.

[jcalabrese]

I appreciate the additional info, but it really doesn't go far enough When you are talking about contacts who have affiliations with two different accounts, many times their contact information (email and city) are the same. An identification number that is unique would make a difference.