Importacular NXT vs Importacular Classic

Importacular NXT uses Blackbaud’s SKY API to be able to import data into Raiser’s Edge NXT, by way of the Webview.

Importacular Classic uses Blackbaud’s APIs built for RE7 to be able to import data into Raiser’s Edge NXT, by way of the Database view.

Although both products will update a record, they do so in different ways. Since Importacular NXT uses the SKY API and updates the Webview of a record, it can only update fields and areas that are visible in Webview.

Since Importacular Classic uses APIs built for RE7 and works on Database view, the underlying code is older, less adaptable to modern requirements and won’t update fields that are only present in Webview.

What makes an import?

When creating an import, you will need a few things: A Record Lookup with Matching Rules, a data source that you want to import from, a Template built around the specific data source, and an Import process that combines them all.

• A Record Lookup is a set of Matching Rules that Importacular NXT will adhere to when trying to find a match between the incoming data and the records in your Raiser’s Edge. It uses the same sort of Criteria options found within Queries, but simplified to make it easy to understand and adjust. We recommend you tailor your Record Lookups to each template to help account for the idiosyncrasies of each data source, but you can use the same Record Lookup across multiple templates. We tell you which templates are associated with the same Record Lookup for your convenience.

• A Data Source can either be a CSV/Excel file or one of our many 3rd Party Data Source connectors. The CSV or Excel file should not contain any formulas and there should be no blank spaces between column headers. Most 3rd Party Data Source Connectors use that party’s own API to access and pull across data into Importacular NXT, ready to import. You will need to give Importacular NXT your 3rd Party’s credentials to grant it permission to access you data.

• A Template is how you tell Importacular NXT where you want the fields from your specific data source to go in your RE NXT Webview and how a record should be populated or updated. Moreover, a template allows you to state rules you want Importacular NXT to follow, as well as allows you to clean the data as it gets imported and/or apply a set of rules that can transform the incoming data into a format or value that RE NXT will accept . A template should start with a sample of the data you are wishing to import and an appropriate Record Lookup

• An Import Process allows you to attach fresh data from a data source, link it to it’s associated Template and Record Lookup and start the process of importing.

The Process of Importing

Current Activity

Once an Import has been started, a Card will appear on the Dashboard under the section called ‘Current Activity’. The name of the Import will appear along with an update of sub-processes it is working on. Once all the sub=process have been complete, the Card will move up to the ‘Imports Requiring Attention’ section.

Imports Requiring Attention

Clicking on the ‘Review’ button takes you to a Summary screen, where you now have an overview of the import and 5 options to consider:

I’m happy and want to start the Import of data – This will be greyed-out if you have ‘decides’ you wish to manage. Even if you have no ‘decides’ to manage, we recommend you review the incoming data first before committing to the import

I want to change or view my matches – here you can view which records in RE have been matched with the incoming data.

I want to look at what data is being imported – here you can view what data is due to be imported. The data presented on screen will represent what data is going to added or import and so if you have any rules or settings in place in your template to change or adapt the incoming data, the changed or adapted data is what you will see. If you have a rule in place to not add a particular field or value, then the value will be left blank.

I want to revise and re-run this import – if you want to adjust your template or your Record Lookup’s Matching Rules, this option will delete the current import and take you back to a pre-populated Import Creator where you can change your Data Source Criteria as well view/edit or clone your template with it’s associated Record Lookups and then start your import again.

I no longer wish to import this data – if you change your mind, you can cancel the whole import and start again from scratch. It will take you back to the Dashboard.

Once you click on the top option to import the data, the Card will drop down to the ‘Current Activity’ section, where it will give you an update on the process. Data is now being added and updated to Raiser’s Edge. When all data has been processed, the Card will appear at the bottom of the Dashboard under the section called : Completed Cards

Completed Cards

When the Card reaches Completed Cards section, you are invited to look at the ‘results’ of the Import. If there are Errors or ignored records, you can select which ones you wish to deal with and then select ‘Re-import’ button. From there it will take you to a pre-populated Import Creator, featuring only the records you selected. From there you can then View/Edit or Clone your template or select another template and start another import.