Hello all,
I'm setting up an Order Import Set for the first time and was wondering if anyone out there could help me with a set-up question. After watching the Order Import webinar and reading the documentation, I'm still not sure if it is possible to import the order numbers received from the outside vendor into each imported constituent's record in Tessitura as a numeric Attribute entry (perhaps using the Import_Ref_No_Location field?). If it is possible, does anyone know how and where I could set this up to be used for this utility?
The reason I wanted to create it as a Constituent Attribute, and not have it pre-pended to the order notes or a custom order field as the documentation might be suggesting, is so that our ticket agents can look up this unique outside vendor order number if they need to for a patron (using the Attribute search). As far as I'm aware, if each unique outside vendor order number is pre-pended to the order notes or a custom order field, it is not searchable (at least, not easily) for a front-end user? But perhaps that's not the case? Anyway, thanks for any help you can provide!
Essentially, yes, it would create all new accounts.
If the utility finds a constituent with a value for the attribute specified in the set that matches the Import Account ID, it will use that existing account instead of creating a new record. If it does not find a match it would create a new constituent record and add the Import Account ID as the specified attribute’s value.
If you really want to record the external order ID as an attribute, your best bet is to enter it as the Import Account ID and create all new constituent records, then go back and merge anyone who already has an existing record.
Kevin Sheehan
Senior Documentation & Learning Resources Specialist
Tessitura Network
+1 888 643 5778 x 329
ksheehan@tessituranetwork.com
Great - thank you so much for your help!