Currently, Raiser's Edge lacks system settings to:

• Require additional name formats when adding/editing individual records

• Require specific name format types when adding/editing individual records

• Assign specific name formats to specific name format types

• Inactivate name formats (Config>Addressee/Salutations)

• Remove access to the "Custom" checkbox when adding/editing name formats

This introduces the risk of inconsistent and poor data entry. When poor name format data entry exists in the database, it's not easy to clean up.

To partially work around these limitations with the database view, administrators are using default sets that include their required name formats but default sets do not exist in the web view and have limitations. For example, administrators can't programmatically force users to perform data entry using default sets and the data entry from the default sets can be modified by the user before saving the individual's record. Default sets are a great prevention tactic, but they are not an elimination tactic. I think improvements could be made to eliminate poor name format data entry.

Suggested Improvements:

• Make name format types unique fields with a locked format assignment setting ("locked" = users cannot modify the format assignment on the individual's record)

• Introduce the ability to flag specific name format types as required fields

• Have Raiser's Edge automatically add the required name formats to individual records when

  • Adding new individuals

  • Editing existing individuals who are missing the required name format(s)

• Introduce a system setting that prevents user from adding custom name formats (the "Custom" checkbox that appears when users are adding/editing name formats)