CiviCRM Community Forums (archive)

When I first set up Civi, I changed the "Individual Display Name Format" & "Individual Sort Name Format" settings in "civicrm/admin/setting/preferences".  I wanted the custom field {contact.nick_name} to replace the user's {contact.first_name}, as we have a number of folks who go by non-obvious nick names (ex. Kenneth Smith goes by his shortend middle name, Rob - display should read "Rob Smith" instead of "Kenneth Smith").

This worked, but as soon as any update was made to the user's information, either directly or via the import function, the {contact.nick_name} no longer is displayed, i.e. there is no 'first name' of any type displayed at all.  This is annoying when looking up folks with unique last names, but we also have 27 folks with the last name "Johnson", so this is entirely unacceptable behavior.

I have tried replacing {contact.nick_name} with {contact.first_name} (i.e. reverting back to default behavior), but the displayed name does not change.  I have no idea how to proceed...

If possible, I'd like to simply have the nick name displayed persistently.  If there is a way to make this happen, please let me know and I'll implement it.

If displaying the nick name is not possible, then I need to know how to get the first name to appear again.  I have searched both the forum directly, as well as used Google, and I keep seeing references to deleting the contents of the "templates_c" directory, but I don't want to just blindly try something suggested as a solution to different problems without some type of guidance.

I have dealt with this for months now by simply re-importing the nick name fields - this seems to 'refresh' the display and causes them to appear again in searches.  However, I've now granted search access to a number of other users (the Board of Directors), and will be handing over control entirely to a new person in December, so this issue will no longer be affecting just me.  I really appreciate any help anyone can provide on this matter.

Thanks!

Cynthia-

You know, I thought I had remembered adding the "Nick Name" field, but it is certainly possible I did not.  Of course, that doesn't change the problem I'm seeing, it would just remove one of the possible variables in troubleshooting (custom vs built in field).

Also, none of the 4 items you mentioned cause any troubles for me either.  So, I did a bit more testing to see if I could give a specific example...

1 - as I mentioned, I have changed the "Display" & "Sort" name format settings in civicrm/admin/setting/preferences back to their default (i.e. first_name instead of nick_name).  I then logged into my normal (non-administrative account) and used the "My Account" link in Drupal to modify my address as a test.  I then searched on my last name only to see what the search results would be.

The name displayed is now last_name, first_name.

2 - I then logged back into the admin account, switched the "Display" & "Sort" names back to nick_name, logged into my non-admin account, changed the address back, and did a search.

The name displayed is now last_name, nick_name.  So far so good.

3(*) - I then logged back in as admin & imported a single user's information back into the database, choosing the "update" option.  I did not re-import the user's nick name, then I searched for that user.

The name displayed is last_name only - though when I click on that name, the correct nick name still appears in the user's account info, so it is still there...

4 - As admin, I manually corrected the address info for the account I updated via import.  Upon clicking "save", the nick name reappeared in the search output...

5 - I have seen a number of user accounts 'lose' their nick name in search records that I know I have not manipulated, either as admin or via any imported data.  I cannot re-create what has happened as I was not the one who made the changes, but if I can figure it out I'll post that info here as well.

If it helps, users have full access to manipulate most of their own data.  Apart from them, I am the only person who has the ability to edit any information in the database.

Thanks.