Group Setup

First, make sure the following fields are set on the Group record for each Group that displays in Group Finder. This ensures a smooth end user experience:

• Picture: If needed, attach a picture to the Group. It displays in the Group Details page.
• Group Name: Determines the name that displays in the search results and Group Details page.
• Group Type: Must be a Group Type that is eligible to display in Group Finder.
• Congregation
• Primary Contact: If a Process is in place, this field can determine who receives notification of a Group signup.
• Description: Determines the information provided on the Group Details page.
• Start Date: The approximate start date of the Group; must be before today for it to display in Group Finder.
• Target Size: The number of participants the Group can have; used in determining whether the Group is still available for signup (see below).
• Parent Group: Create Parent Groups as needed, and indicate the appropriate Parent Group for each Group. This field is used on the Portal's Group Finder page as the Neighborhood drop-down list. Note, the Parent Group must be available online to show in the Neighborhood drop-down list.
• Offsite Meeting Address: This displays as the Location in search results and Meeting Location in the Group Detail. If you don't want the specific address to display, you could create an Address that only has the street name and zip code (or some variation, as needed).
• Group is Full: Must be set to No for the Group to display in My Groups.
• Available Online: Must be set to True for the Group to display in My Groups. This setting also allows the Group to display in the Group Finder.
• Life Stage: A Life Stage only displays in the Search Options on Group Finder if it is assigned to at least one available Group.
• Group Focus: A Group Focus only displays in the Search Options on Group Finder if it is assigned to at least one available Group.
• Meeting Time
• Meeting Day

Group Finder Results

A Group displays in Group Finder if all the following are true:

• The Group Type is available on Group Finder.
• It is a current Group (today's date is between the group start and end date).
• Group is Full is set to No. Note: This might be set to Yes by the Group Is Full routine (runs every 15 minutes), but can be also set manually to Yes or No.
• Available Online is set to Yes.

Group Sign Up

A Group displaying in the group Finder (see criteria above) will include the Sign Up button if the Target Size has not been exceeded.

• When the Configuration Setting PORTAL, COUNTGROUPINQUIRIES is set to True:
  • Group Sign Up is disabled if the number of Inquiries only meets or exceeds the Target Size.
  • Group Sign Up is disabled if a combination of Inquires and Group Participants meets or exceeds the Target Size.
• When the Configuration Setting PORTAL, COUNTGROUPINQUIRIES is set to False:
  • Inquiries do not affect the Group Sign Up option.
  • Group Sign Up is only disabled when number of group participants meets the Target Size.