SofTrek Corporation Newsletters and Resources for Nonprofit Organizations Autumn 2009

Product Update: ClearView Ad Hoc Reporting, Real-Time and Self-Service

A recent industry study on donor and membership database management software highlighted “better reporting” as the most requested improvement to existing systems. Further research suggested that one of the biggest pain points in the reporting arena was end-users not having quick and easy access to their data to perform simple tasks like creating an invitation list. Most business intelligence reporting solutions are intended for advanced users; creating even simple reports in these tools can be unnecessarily complex, most users in an organization do not have access to the software, and the interfaces are difficult to use.

ClearView for PledgeMaker 1.2, which will be available at the beginning of 2010, includes an ad hoc - real-time, self-service - reporting tool that simplifies the data structure, takes advantage of an easy-to-use interface, and makes straightforward report creation available to non-technical users.

ClearView Ad Hoc is not meant to replace Business Objects, Crystal Reports, or other reporting tools used to create large-scale or analytical reports. Rather it is meant to supplement those tools by providing end-users of the application with the ability to create their own quick reports, lists, and charts without any in-depth knowledge of the database structures, learn complicated interfaces, or leave the application. In line with SofTrek’s focus on integration with best-in-class solutions, Clearview Ad Hoc is a new feature that uses a state-of-the-art business intelligence engine.

Powered by interactive Web 2.0 AJAX and dynamic HTML technologies, users navigate to Ad Hoc in their web browser from a menu in the ClearView application that includes options to view the report repository or create a new report. The interfaces for selecting a report or creating/modifying a report are intuitive and familiar with point and click and drag and drop functionality. To create a new report, you simply click or drag business items from an organized tree menu and drop them into the query developer, add filters and parameter prompts, and the query is complete.

Similarly, to design the report output you select a format, drag and drop the fields you want to display into the panel, and the report is complete. Reports can be kicked-off from the report designer or the repository and viewed immediately or scheduled to run at a later time or on a recurring schedule. Reports can be printed or exported to Excel with the formatting you’ve selected. They can also be kept secure, shared with other users, or distributed via email.

The ClearView Ad Hoc reporting solution meta data layer is comprised of groupings of related information called domains. Domains contain database fields as they appear to the user in ClearView, as well as logically built “business view” items. This gives the user a means of using business views instead of worrying about how to fit the pieces together when trying to produce a report. Domains can be further broken down into topics, or subsets of fields, by the user so only the fields they might want to use for a report are contained in their topic. For example, the user’s topic for “Invitation List” might contain “full name” and “preferred mailing address” business items along with the attributes they use for determining criteria. Domains and topics can be customized and structured in ways that make sense and are familiar to the user.

The ClearView Ad Hoc reporting solution is free to organizations that are already using ClearView. The software is currently in alpha testing and is scheduled for release as part of the ClearView version 1.2 release in January 2010. For a demo of ClearView and Ad Hoc reporting tools, contact SofTrek at 800.442.9211 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

ClearView 1.0.1 Features: Addressing Customer Needs

The recently released incremental version of ClearView (v1.0.1) includes features resulting from beta testing and early adoptor customer feedback. Among them are improvements to navigation, enhancements to context sensitivity, and additional ways to view data. A summary of these features follows.

A Gift table view that can be added to your Prospect Overview and includes a pop up that displays the payments associated with a selected gift.

Enhanced Prospect Overview page record-type sensitivity, so both header and fielded data panel labeling respects whether the user is viewing an individual, organization, or dual record.

Immediate navigation to the Prospect Overview page when the single search field returns a single search result. This eliminates the extra step of clicking on a search result when only a single record is found by search.

The ability to browse through the list of prospects returned by a search. This feature allows you to move forward and backward between prospects in the list of search results in the sort order you’ve selected and respects the tab you are viewing as you move between prospects.

Links from the Created and Last Updated fields to details about the user responsible for entering or most recently updating the record being viewed. Details include the username, description, security group and role, associated unit and solicitor, the date the user was created, as well as the administrator who created the user.

Improvements to the Reminders Calendar, including the addition of a “Mine” checkbox so the actions displayed can be limited to records with your solicitor code.

The ClearView team welcomes customer suggestions. Please contact us via This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you have an idea for an improvement or enhancement to ClearView.

Process for Product Release Communications

The SofTrek team realizes the importance of keeping you, our valued clients, well informed about what’s going on with our products and services, which are central to helping you achieve your fundraising goals. We are implementing a process by which to deliver you all of the latest and greatest product-related news and announcements.

These communications, which will be sent quarterly via email and posted to our website, will include details about upcoming releases of our software, new product features and functionalities, and what it means to your organization. To be sure you receive our product release communications, subscribe at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Client Perspective: Arts & Science Council

SofTrek client, The Arts & Science Council (ASC) is located in Charlotte, NC. The mission of ASC is building appreciation, participation and support for the arts, science, history and heritage in Charlotte-Mecklenburg.

ASC recently implemented ClearView for PledgeMaker; they shared with the SofTrek team some feedback about their experiences to-date. See what they had to say.

Why did your organization decide to implement ClearView?
ASC elected to use ClearView in order to allow users to be able to see all the different modules they needed on one single workspace.

How do users in your organization benefit from using ClearView?
Using ClearView increases the ability to pass information from the database to the solicitor on the spot in order to better solicit donations. It is a more efficient way to access donor information from one location rather than having to drill down into various modules.
Which is your favorite ClearView feature or functionality?
Our favorite feature is Level 1-2 note search. This feature allows you to easily see where everyone in the organization is entering note information.

What else do you like about ClearView?
The prospect information. It is so helpful to see your prospect-related information on one screen versus having to tab through modules.

Is there anything else you’d like to share about your experience in using ClearView?
It is easy to set-up, create and modify tabs and panels, and to customize panels in ClearView.

Recap of SofTrek's 2009 Users Conference

SofTrek Corporation recently hosted its annual Users Conference in Niagara Falls, N.Y. Conference attendees gathered for educational sessions on a variety of business and technical topics, including features and functionalities of the version 1.0 release of ClearView for PledgeMaker, an early preview of the ad hoc reporting capabilities in ClearView (slated for release in January 2010), online community documentation, privacy regulations, and much more.

Several guest speakers were on hand to discuss industry trends, strategies, and technologies. The Seva Group presented opportunities for maximizing PledgeMaker APIs. Nels Cremean of In Jest, Inc. led a creative workshop on how humor and play can enhance creativity, wellness, morale, motivation, productivity, and communication. WealthEngine discussed the integration of wealth screening tools within ClearView for PledgeMaker and presented some of the benefits of incorporating wealth screening information into donor research. In addition, attendees had an opportunity to participate in separate roundtable discussions with SofTrek’s Product Advisory Council and business partners.

This year’s event featured a slightly revised format - shorter sessions, as well as kickoff and closing luncheons - and the response from attendees was incredibly positive. Thanks for all of the constructive feedback you provided both during the conference and on the post-conference survey. If you missed the conference and would like information about our product updates or from our business partners, contact the SofTrek sales team at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The SofTrek team is already starting to plan for 2010. If you have early ideas for session topics or suggestions for ways in which we might improve your conference experience, we would appreciate hearing from you. Please send conference-related input to Kylie Poole at 800.442.9211 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Stay tuned for details about 2010!

News & Notes

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The New SofTrek.com
SofTrek has transitioned to an improved website. Our newly redesigned corporate website has a completely fresh look and feel and includes additional content about our company, products, capabilities, and services. There are still plenty of useful resources, downloads, as well as a link to our online client support site. Visit us at www.softrek.com to see the improvements.

Send Your Product Ideas
We know you have ideas for enhancing our donor management software products. Please share your ideas with us! Send all of your product suggestions to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Our team reviews all incoming ideas and evaluates them for potential use in future product releases. Keep your product ideas coming!

Links and Resources

FundRaising Success
The monthly publication's site serves as a guide to help nonprofits raise money for and interest in their missions. Find information, strategies, and expert advice on topics from fundraising software, e-philanthropy, regulatory issues, donor research, and privacy.

GrantsNet
This site, sponsored by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, is an online searchable database of funding opportunities in biomedical research and science education. Search for grants, post new grant announcements, update existing funding programs on the site, or search jobs in your region.

Eldis
The UK-based site offers recent information on global development and environmental issues. Download full-text documents free of charge, search resource guides and databases, and find links to various websites, newsfeeds, and email discussion lists.

Society for Nonprofit Organizations
The membership-based organization's website provides nonprofit staffers, volunteers, and board members with resources and information to accomplish their missions. Members can browse the fundraising guide, register for training courses, and get news release services. Non-members can find useful links to nonprofit resources on the web.

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