Building groups in Infor CRM can be daunting. However, it is possible to take some of the difficulty out of building these groups. The following are some steps to follow when trying to make groups work within Infor CRM.
1. If possible start with a lookup. The lookup function will allow you to combine fields and return a pre-formatted set of data. This pre-formatted set of data is based upon the particular entities default layout. This is a very easy way to build a group and can be the basis for a more complex group.
2. Understand the components of a group
a. Properties – Properties is the name of the group. There are some base rules about the properties of a group.
- Must be Unique
- Must not exceed a certain limit
- Must not contain special characters
If you need to make an exception to any of these rules, use the Display Name, the rules do not apply to this field. Also, consider using the Description field to input a more detailed description of the group. One rule I use on naming groups is that the name should be significant to the group. Having a name that does not indicate what the group is about will only complicate your usage.
b. Conditions – Conditions are the fields you are going to base your selection on. These tables and fields are located in the top portion of the display. The tables to the left and the fields to the right. The tables typically align with the sub tabs on the entity screen but not always. Remember that addresses are in their own table. A few items to remember about conditions:
- Pay particular attention to And/Or’s
- Often OR’s need to be inside parentheses
- Don’t forget how a null might impact your results specifically when working with Boolean fields
- Contains, and does not contain operators can be very useful
- Within the next, and within the last can be very useful when working with dates
c. Layout – Layout is the list of fields you want to be displayed in your group. There is no limit to the number of fields that can be in a layout. The following is a list of suggestions when making your layout:
- Most of the time it is helpful to put any condition fields in the layout, but not always
- Make sure the fields are in the column order you wish to view them
- Use the properties of the field to set what type of field it is, and to change the column name
d. Sorting – Sort allows you to organize the data in the order you wish it to appear. With sort it is important that the fields you are sorting on are in the layout, otherwise, you have no way of determining if a sort is working.
e. Defaults – Defaults are not often used. They will allow you to ensure that only unique records are displayed. Depending on the data it is possible to get multiple records of identical data to display. Defaults will ensure that only one record per unique row will appear.
f. Sharing – It is possible to share a group within an organization. Once you have completed the group you right-click on the group name and you can choose Share. With this function, you can determine who else within the organization can see this group. If a group is shared with you, you cannot delete it or change it. However, it is also possible to copy the group and make your own version or hide it if you no longer wish to see the version shared with you.
g. Promote to Dashboard – Groups can be the basis for content on your dashboard. Once you have completed a group you can go to the Promote to a Dashboard functionality under the Common Task section promote it to a dashboard.
Using Groups can help you manage your workflow and easily provide you the with data you will want to see.