Linking a Contribution Record to a Case

[Upperholme]

I'm putting together a CiviCase configuration on a project where my client's desired workflow includes being able to keep a record of communications with the case subject, and also keep a record of contributions made by the case subject.

In the configuration XML file for the case type I see that I can include the names of all the activity types that I want to be available within a case, including not only my custom activity types, but also generic types that are available out of the box, such as Meeting, Phone Call, Email, etc. I'm assuming that this is the correct way that you make these activity types available within a case (I can't see how else to do it).

This seems to work OK in my tests.

So I figured I could just do the same thing for a Contribution, which is an Activity Type, and so I would be able to record a contribution from the case subject.

This works, to a point. It allows me to record the activity in a general, but I guess I was assuming that it might give me access to a new contribution record from within the case, which it doesn't do. So I looked at the possibility of adding custom fields to the Contribution Activity Type, but it isn't listed in the list of Activity Types in the custom field set definition screen. Ho hum.

So, maybe I could record the contribution in the normal way and the contribution activity that is created might in some way be accessible from or linkable to the case ID? Can't see a way to do this via the UI.

In the interim I guess we have two options, neither of which is ideal: either ignore the whole thing and access the contribution record from the case by clicking on the contact name and then clicking on the contributions tab, or by making a Contribution Activity available from within the case, and use it simply to record for the benefit of the case, that a contribution was made, and maybe add a custom field to enable recording of the amount, which is of course double handling of data.

Any pointers on how to do this would be really helpful.

Thanks
Graham

[Upperholme]

Replying to my own query.

I can see now how it works: you log the contribution in the normal way, and then you can file the contribution on a case. not so intuitive perhaps, but it works.

Maybe this post will help others stuck on this issue.