Release Notes - Sumac 4.7.10 - March 27, 2024

What's New

Updated Template Workflow

Exciting news for all Sumac users! We've given our Template workflow a major facelift, aiming to streamline your experience and eliminate those pesky mail merge problems. Ever found yourself running templates in the wrong area? Our latest update is here to save the day by introducing Template Type as a new field in Template definitions. Now, you'll only see the templates that are a perfect match for the area you're working in, making your workflow smoother and more efficient.

The benefits of this update are that it can:

Minimize errors by ensuring you only work with relevant templates.
Enhance productivity with a streamlined template selection process.
Simplified navigation with the progressive disclosure feature, showing you just what you need when you need it.

For those diving deeper, here's what's new:

When you're editing an existing template or creating a new one in the Template Details screen, you'll now find the Template Type field, designed to help you easily categorize your templates. This ensures that your templates are not only organized but also tailored to fit precisely within the context of your current project or task.

Progressive disclosure helps you focus by only displaying templates compatible with your current Sumac area. Not to worry, if you're in search of a broader view or need to access templates without a specified type, we've added a Show All option. This ensures you can still find what you're looking for, regardless of template type settings.

We've streamlined the UI by consolidating template selections into a single dropdown menu, reducing clutter and improving usability. Templates marked as "frequently used" gain a special star indicator and are positioned at the top of the list for easy access, ensuring you don't have to scroll to find your go-to templates. This tweak makes selecting templates quicker and more intuitive.

When it comes to creating new templates, the system now smartly displays only the fields relevant to your selected template type. Whether you're acknowledging a donation or renewing a membership, you'll be greeted with a streamlined, focused interface that showcases only the necessary elements.

For our friends using HTML Template editors for emails, this update will make your life easier. However, please note that Mail Merge areas and settings in preferences for document printing have not yet received this enhancement.

Full Scan Enhancement for Duplicate Contact Management

We've reintroduced the ability to perform a full database scan for duplicate contacts, making it easier than ever to clean up your contact list en masse. With new warnings about potential slowdowns and the importance of not closing Sumac during a scan, you're fully equipped to tackle duplicates like a pro. Remember, a new scan means fresh results, so you're always working with the most up-to-date information.

To ensure a smooth experience and make managing duplicates simpler than ever, here's a step-by-step guide to using the full scan feature:

Navigating to the Full Scan Option: We've broadened the avenues for database cleanup, adding the full scan as a manual enhancement alongside existing methods. Head over to the Utilities and Administration section, where you'll find the option to initiate a full scan for duplicates. This enhancement serves as a powerful starting point for a comprehensive database cleanup, allowing you to manually trigger an extensive search for duplicates.

Initial Screen Overview: Upon selecting the full scan option, you'll be greeted by an initial screen displaying important warnings and considerations. Here, you'll also find access to the Suspected Duplicate Logic Preferences and buttons to run the full scan or cancel the operation. This screen is designed to ensure you're fully informed before proceeding.

The Scanning Window: Once the scan is underway, a dedicated window will show the progress of the operation. Should you need to, you have the options to abort the scan or hide the window at any point. This flexibility ensures you can continue working in Sumac without interruption.

Dashboard Notifications: During the scan, your dashboard will display a message: "A Full Suspected Duplicate Scan is running. Do not close Sumac." This serves as a reminder of the ongoing operation and provides a quick link back to the scanning window, should you need to abort or check the progress.

Completion and Review: Once the scan is fully completed, you'll receive a notification saying, "Full Suspected Duplicate Scan has completed." Along with this update, you'll have the immediate option to dive into the results and review any duplicates identified.

These enhancements and instructions aim to make duplicate management a breeze, ensuring you can maintain a clean and accurate contact database with minimal effort.

Got questions or need a hand? Our team is here to help! Reach out to us at support@sumac.com.

Quick Compose Email Upgrade

We've given our Quick Compose feature a little facelift! Now, with just a few clicks, you can draft emails using a modern template that moves beyond the basics. Preview your message in this refreshed format and send emails that are clear, professional, and effective.

We've also added a message generator to help you craft messages faster, based on predefined types.

This update makes it easier than ever to send emails that meet your needs without the fuss.

Here's how to get started:

Click on "Send Email" which can be under the "Email" in the Sumac Contacts area or “Mailing” section in other Sumac areas.

Select the radio button for Quick Compose.

From here, you can begin composing your message. And to ensure everything looks just right before sending, you'll find a handy Preview button. This feature allows you to see exactly how your message will appear to the recipient, giving you the confidence that your communication is both clear and visually appealing.

You'll also find the message generator on this screen, should you wish to use it.

Further Enhancements to the History Tab

We've listened to your feedback and are thrilled to introduce the latest round of improvements to the History Tab. Our goal? To make navigating your historical data not just easier, but also more intuitive and efficient. Here's a closer look at what we've done:

Implementing Preference Setting: Now, you can tailor the History Tab to your needs by selecting which areas you want to see. This personalization ensures that the information most relevant to you is always front and center.

Preference to indicate the number of rows for Meeting and Reminders, and History Summary Area: You now have the control to specify how many rows or lines to display at a time for different sections within the History Tab. This customization allows you to view more information at a glance, reducing the need to scroll.

Display areas as "Cards": Inspired by the sleek design of the Contact Summary Tab, we've updated the History Tab to display information in a visually appealing 'cards' format. This not only enhances the look and feel of the tab but also makes finding information faster and easier.

To streamline user experience and eliminate confusion within the History Tab, we've made a thoughtful update to our terminology. Recognizing the potential for mix-up with both the tab and a section within it named "History" we've renamed the "History area" to "Interactions". This change clarifies the distinction between the tab's overarching purpose and its specific sections, making navigation more intuitive and ensuring ease of use.

The latest updates bring a suite of benefits designed to elevate your experience with historical data. Here’s how:

Enhanced Visual Organization: The 'cards' display format modernizes the History Tab, making navigation and understanding of your history more intuitive and quick.
Customized User Experience: Tailor the display settings, including which areas are visible and the density of displayed information, to match your preferences, ensuring you see what's most important to you without unnecessary clutter.
Streamlined Navigation and Efficiency: Simplified terms and the ability to control the display layout reduce the time spent searching for information, making your review process faster and more straightforward.

We're not done yet – there's more to come, and we want to hear from you! Let us know your thoughts and suggestions at product@societ.com.

New Features for Dashlets: Introducing Starred Reports & Enhanced Sharing

Our dashlets have received an exciting expansion, elevating the way you interact with and disseminate data across your team.

In this update, we're thrilled to introduce capabilities that allow you to print, email, or export dashlet visualizations directly from your dashboard. This development simplifies the process of sharing valuable insights and reports, enabling you to convey crucial information with just a click—whether it involves a specific dashlet or encompasses your entire dashboard setup.

A standout addition is the Starred Reports Dashlet, crafted to streamline your access to and execution of your most valued reports. By starring or favoriting reports that hold particular significance, these selections prominently feature in this new dashlet, ensuring your top-priority information is always at your fingertips. This means you're just moments away from the reports you rely on most, facilitating a smoother workflow and keeping you informed on the metrics that matter most to you.

Key Advantages of This Update:

Enhanced Team Collaboration: Sharing pivotal data and insights across your team or with stakeholders has never been easier, fostering a collaborative environment that's primed for success.
Boosted Reporting Efficiency: The ability to swiftly distribute dashlets and dashboards enhances your reporting process, ensuring stakeholders are well-informed and able to make timely decisions.
Personalized Dashboard Experience: The Starred Reports Dashlet introduces a new layer of customization to your dashboard, allowing for immediate access to your most frequented reports, streamlining your daily routines and enhancing productivity.
Flexible Data Presentation: With diverse options for disseminating information at your disposal, this update caters to varying preferences and requirements, ensuring that data is not only accessible but also presented in a manner that resonates with your audience.
By weaving these new features into the fabric of Sumac, we're not just upgrading your experience; we're redefining the way teams collaborate and make decisions. This shift towards more dynamic and personalized data interaction empowers you and your team to harness insights more effectively, driving data-driven strategies forward with confidence and precision.

Getting Started with Your Starred Reports Dashlet – Setting up your new dashlet is straightforward. Click here to explore a simple guide on configuring your dashboard to include the Starred Reports Dashlet, designed to streamline your workflow by providing instant access to your most important reports.

Remember, the Starred Reports is the name of our latest dashlet, crafted to enhance your dashboard's functionality and efficiency.

Template Editor Fixes

We've ironed out some kinks in our Template Editor, ensuring logos appear correctly, buttons are visible in Gmail, and the template preview matches the final email. These fixes are aimed at overcoming email client font support limitations, so your communications always look their best.

To make the most of these updates and avoid any hitches, we highly recommend diving in and creating new templates. Starting fresh ensures that you're leveraging the latest fixes and getting the best possible outcomes for your email communications.

Stay tuned for more updates and improvements. We're committed to making Sumac the best it can be, and your feedback is invaluable in this journey. Send your feedback to product@societ.com and let's keep the conversation going!