How would you record an additional layer of 'Individual' interaction?

[flattenedthird]

Hi! So I'm new to civiCRM and I'm using it to set up a CRM for the charity I work for. I'm using it with Wordpress. It's looking like it will work beautifully apart from one thing: how do you create additional layers of interaction?

I have been adding custom fields so that when we speak to a new client we are able to add in the information we need to. However, we help people to switch energy suppliers and need to collect data on each 'switch'. This works fine with custom fields until you come to the second interaction. What if someone calls back in a year's time? We don't want to overwrite the information from year 1. Ideally I don't want to be having to create potentially endless custom field sets for each interaction. I do, however, need the data generated from calls to be standardised, so writing up details in Note(s) or putting details in a new Activity isn't really an option.

The 'activity' option would be great. Possibly what we need with some editing; but Activities don't seem to be editable enough. Ideally I would be adding a number of fields to my new Activity Type. Is is possible to do that so that when reporting - by exporting certain individuals as CSVs - additional activities (with custom fields) are listed alongside the old??!

I hope this question is clear. Any suggestions appreciated     

[Coleman Watts]

It looks like what you want is either:
- A multi-record contact custom field
- A custom activity type with custom fields

CiviCRM allows you to do both. The multi-record field just got some awesome improvements in 4.5, so as soon as you upgrade to the latest version (I see you're still on 4.4, at least in your forum profile description) you could experiment with setting up a multi-record custom field. Be sure to use the "tab with table" display option for the custom group, it's really great.

[flattenedthird]

Coleman,

THANK YOU. I will update and experiment and get back to you!

[FrTommy]

I think I would choose the Activity with custom fields added.

[flattenedthird]

Thanks for all the comments. It looks like custom fields within activities are indeed the thing I need. I got so distracted by using custom fields for individuals I forgot that you could do the same for activities. I wish I'd spotted this BEFORE trying to update...

I tried to update following the instructions, and when I got to the update link stage I just kept getting sent back to my wp-user login screen, and although Civi looked like it was there on my Wordpress dashboard, when I opened it there was nothing doing.

As I had barely made any changes before 'updating' (and was happy to start again) I just uninstalled the plugin, deleted my username and database, before reinstalling from scratch.

It was all going fine until I realised something must be wrong with the 'Name' part of the install... When I hit 'New Individual' or 'new activity', I get no 'Name' field. The prefix/name/suffix line is just not there. Feels like somethings corrupted.

What have I done...?! 

Thanks!

[petednz]

i would suggest you fork this off as an upgrade question

[Coleman Watts]

I think I would choose the Activity with custom fields added.

Yes I think that's the more "correct" place to store the data, esp if the date of each interaction matters (since activities are very focused on when they happened and record the date automatically).
On the other hand, "tab with table" custom data is much more flexible about how it is presented, you can customize the form and display with exactly the fields you want.

@flattenedthird I'm curious to know which one you ended up going with.