The Batch utility in the Contributions module of Shepherd's Staff allows you to enter multiple offerings quickly, compartmentalize workflow, and even work from home.
Offering Batches let you type offerings in a grid format and by doing so you can move quickly between cells and rows by using either the “Enter” or “TAB” keys on your keyboard.
If you wish to compartmentalize the entry process, it’s possible to do so through the Batch utility and user security. For example, you can have one person enter the offerings just based off the envelope number without access to names or the ability to post. Then a second person can post that Batch after verifying its accuracy. In this way your contributors maintain their anonymity and the church gets a set of checks and balances for security.
After a Batch is entered, you also have the ability to save it and come back to it, or you can even export it to a flash drive to take home with you. Then you can work on it at home and import it back into the church database the next day. You can also use the Webtools feature to work on offering batches online, and later download these batches into Shepherd's Staff.
- To access the batches window, click on the "Giving" tab, and then click on "Batches". Any batches that have yet to be posted will be shown on the offering screen. You can switch between posted and unposted batches in the "Filter" box.
- To add an offering batch, click the "Add" button at the bottom of the window, and in the window that appears, set the date of the offering batch and click "Continue" to start working with your offering batch.
- To edit an offering batch, click on the offering batch you want to make changes to and click "Edit." (Only unposted batches can be edited)
- To delete an offering batch click on the offering batch you want to delete and click "Delete" (Only unposted batches can be deleted)
Please note: Only batches posted after upgrading to 8.9 will show under the Posted batches filter in the Batches grid. To view offerings from before the upgrade you can filter for the date in question in the Offerings grid.