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Extending the Platform FAQ

This reference provides answers to frequently asked questions about extending the capabilities of the Platform, including database modifications, system lookups, renaming pages, and handling reports.

Q1: May I rename database tables, fields, or stored procedures?

No. You may not rename database tables, fields, or stored procedures that are part of the core MinistryPlatform schema that came with your system or has been updated by ACS Technologies. You can rename custom fields you added or custom tables and pages, but do this carefully as any views, reports, or tools built against those original objects will break.

Q2: May I rename, delete, or add values in pages under System Lookups?

Never delete items in System Lookup pages. We don't recommend renaming them because you may not be able to find what you're looking for in this Help Center. You can generally add valuese, but there are certain system lookup pages like Contact Status and Group Role Types where this is a huge liability to your church's use of the existing reports and tools. Consequently, always ask before you add values to system lookups. It is expected and natural that your church would rename or add values to the pages under "Lookup Values".

Note: You may need to review the Configurations page before you delete values in any Lookup table to ensure those ID numbers associated with those entries are not hardcoded in a configuration setting.
Q3: Can I rename pages so the value is more consistent with our church's internal terminology? For example, changing "Congregations" in the Display Name of that page to "Campuses".

This is unwise and should be avoided for all pages that came with MinistryPlatform. It's better to leave that page alone and create a filtered page (a copy of that page with a value in the Filter Clause). Changing the internal name of a page will not update reports and other hard-coded applications. Where possible and requested by our churches, we provide the church the ability to rename a value like "Congregation" on the external, public facing applications like the Portal.

Q4: Can I rename reports and tool names in the drop-down menus used by people in MinistryPlatform?

You can do this, but it is unwise as it makes your system inconsistent with this Help Center. Doing this for your custom reports and tools is acceptable.

Q5: I have copied a page to make a filtered page and now something is wrong with the Advanced Search Tool on pages that have a foreign key to the underlying table.

Always add a filter clause to your copy of the page. Having two unfiltered pages results in ambiguity for tools that dynamically draw the database using foreign key information from SQL Server and Page information in MinistryPlatform. Make sure people who will create advanced searches retain sufficient rights to the original, unfiltered page.

Q6: May I make changes to one of the reports (SSRS RDL Files) that came with MinistryPlatform?

No. If you make changes to our RDL file or to an underlying stored procedure, then a future upgrade of that report may overwrite your changes. Instead, copy the RDL file and deploy it with a different name so that you will have "forked" or "cloned" the report and taken your copy of it out of the upgrade path.

Q7: May I add fields to the default field list on a page?

Yes. See this article on how to edit fields for more information.

Q8: Can I change the default setting on a bit field?

Yes and no. If the field is required, the field labels display as a question to be answered as a yes or no, and the default is always no.

For tri-state (nullable) bit field, the default is undefined, but you can change this in the database. In this case, the default value does not display initially, but when you save and display the record, the value changes to the default.

Q9: We would like to move our small group members into MinistryPlatform. Can we do this by importing them directly into the group's table?

No, we would not recommend importing anything directly to database tables. That would not create all the needed records and linkages. If the people are already in MinistryPlatform, then you can add people to Groups using the Add button. However, if they are not in MinistryPlatform yet, then currently there is not a way to add several new people at once. The fastest way to manually add people is to use the Add/Edit Family Tool. You can also use the Group Finder on the Portal. You can direct everyone to sign up for Groups on the Portal. By doing so, they are added to the Group, and if new, are added to the Platform.

Q10: Can we create a page based on a database view?

Yes, you can create a read-only page in the Platform from a database view. Examples include the Giving Unit Summary and User Rights & Restrictions.

Q11: When you end date a group, it auto end dates the group participants. When creating a filtered page for groups, does this same logic apply?

In this case, the Auto Date still works because it is a trigger on the table.

Q12: Can we change the "friendly name" of a record that displays in drop-down menus? For example, anywhere the Rooms drop-down menu displays, it defaults to showing just the Room Name. Can I modify that to display Room Name and Room Number?

Yes. See this article on how to edit a record's friendly name for more information.

Q13: I created a new page, but it's not listed as an option when I try to create a security role. What's going on?

This is most likely just the system needs time to update and recognize this new page. To move it along, we need to help MinistryPlatform know that something changed. One way you can do this is to edit the Addresses page in Setup Area > Pages and modify the description. Once you save any changes in the Pages section, MinistryPlatform reloads and re-reads all the MetaData from SQL.

Q14: What's the purpose of the underscore when it's the first character of a field name? For example,_Approved.

Sometimes the system needs to track information in a field that does not need to display on the front-end, typically to help when processing, notifying, and so on. The underscore at the beginning of the field hides the field from users, making the field hidden and valuable sothe system to run smoothly.

Warning: Do not remove the underscore from an existing field.
Q15: Is it possible to change a field length in MinistryPlatform?

Yes, it is possible to change a field length. For example, you could change the Notes field from nvarchar(500) to nvarchar(2000). We don't recommend exceeding 2,000 due to the strain it puts on the server. Contact Support if you're uncertain whether changing a field length is a good idea.

Q16: Can you create a view that combines two fields into one column? For example, I want a column for Room and want it to include the record's Room Name and Room Number fields.

Yes, you can combine two fields into one in a view by adding SQL to the Field List. The SQL you would need to add to the Field List depends on which table or page the view is on.

Q17: For purposes of writing an SQL statement, is there any metadata stored in a table that indicates if an event is part of a series?

You can find the metadata you're looking for in these two tables: dp_Sequences and dp_Sequence_Records. If you need help writing an SQL statement, we can do that as a Professional Service.

Q18: Is creating a sandbox really necessary? Can't I just make changes directly into the Production system?

It is absolutely necessary to create a sandbox and test changes. While you can technically write changes directly into a Production system, it is very unwise to do so. Also, problems created by changes to your database - especially outside a sandbox - will incur a fee to correct.

Q19: Can I add custom job routines to our system?

Yes, you can set up your own jobs. That said, we do not recommend editing jobs created by MinistryPlatform. Your custom stored procedures must use a church-specific prefix other than "dp_". Any custom stored procedures using "dp_" as the prefix are deleted in subsequent releases.

Q20: What does the "User" field on the "Page Section Pages" page control?

This field is deprecated and is no longer in use by the system.

Q21: Can I add custom User Defined Functions and use those in page views?

Yes. In general, you can do this in the Platform. There may be limitations on what you can do using this approach. To determine these limitations, youcan test in the database or the Platform.