Method Community

There are 2 fields in the Method Customer table that I want to see in QB: CustomerContactType and CustomerContactRole

I have created 2 Custom fields in QB for this purpose: CustFld2 and CustFild3

How do I point the 2 Method fields to the QB field? Do I need to manually populate the values? If so, how do I link them?

I have done this before, and I'm sure I asked on this forum, but it's almost impossible to search for/find threads in this forum.

Anyway, your assistance is much appreciated.

Hello Mike,
    In reminder, you can not have a custom field carry over from Method to QuickBooks, but you can do it from QuickBooks to Method.  Once you add a custom field to QuickBooks, it should become available in Method to use.  Try a manual changes-only sync if you don't see the field in the table on the Method side.

    You have two options.  You can either rename CustFld2 or CustFild3 to CustomerContactType and CustomerContactRole.  You would make the custom fields identical in design.  The trick will be for them to work with other fields in Method if other fields rely on the CustomerContactType and CustomerContactRole fields.  Or, you can save the values from CustomerContactType and CustomerContactRole to CustFld2 and CustFild3.  This is probably the safest way to go, but you have to find every instance of Save to ensure the information is captured correctly.
   
    The one thing I learned is to use Google search to find information on the forum and Method.  I go to Google and use 'site:methodintegration.com what I am looking for'.  It will search the forum and Help Center.  For just the forums, you can use 'site:method.me/cs/forums/ what I am looking for'.

- Greg

Thanks. As I said, I've already done this - I just wasn't sure and wanted to double-check.

The CustFld1 field in QB is populated with values from the StaffAccountStatus field in the Customer table. I'll have to check the coding in the save buttons, but I assume it's saving the values in the StaffAccountStatus field AND the CustFld1 field at the same time, with the CustFld1 on the screen but hidden. The Staff Account Status field was already being used in a series of actions and I'm not sure the implications of remaning it. Anyway, I'll check.

Thanks

Hello Mike,

   It sounds like you have it correct.  It will save to your StaffAccountStatus and CustFld1 if you have a 'Save All Sections' or 'Save Sction' on your save button.

- Greg

Actually, this is not the case - they appear to be linked.

I did a test: I updated the field labeled "Program Level" in QB (which had an actual field name of CustFld1) for a certain customer, and that change translated to the "Program Level" field in Method.

So they ARE linked. I just don't know how I did it before.

If you have any insight, please let me know.

Thanks

So, is this simply a case where the Method field and the QB field LABEL need to be the same? In the QB Customer table, the "CustField1, 2, 3...etc." columns will always be there, but it appears if I make the field NAME/LABEL the same as a Method fieldname, the syncing will happen.

Am I correct?

Hello,
     In my knowledge of databases, this would not be true.  Whatever you name the field in QuickBooks is what the name will be in Method.  You may have two Program Level fields in the table or Method is only showing one.  It's not a good idea to use the same name as a field already in the table.   I will need some time to look into it more.
- Greg

The Method field "Program Level" existed first and was not linked to QB. So I think I created a custom field in QB and since this was the first one, any data for this field (entered directly in QB, not linked to Method) went into CustFld1. It appears that if I make the QB field label "Program Level" for the CustFld1 field, it will link to the MEethod field.

All I know is that if I enter something in either QB or MEthod for the Program level fields, the data syncs.

Any updates? It's been almost 2 weeks since my original post.

It's able to be done, I'm just unclear how to do it again.

Thanks

Hello Mike,

      There is no way of changing labels for a field that it will save both in the Method field and the custom QuickBooks field.  I confirmed this with the consultants. There is no way of automatically sending information from a Method CRM field (ie. a field that is not in QuickBooks) to a custom QuickBooks field.   You create a custom field in QuickBooks (its placed in your table in Method autmatically) and then you put it on your Method screen.  Also, you can have an action that saves the information to the custom QuickBooks field. This is possible because the custom QuickBooks field is made available to you.

     You most likely have the fields mixed up on the screen or an action in your button that is saving the information to both the Method field and the QuickBooks custom field.

- Greg

I know that the following works for me:

• There's a field in Method called "StaffAccountStatus". I created it first in Method only.
• There's a custom field in QB that I then created. When I export the Customer table in QB the newly created field is in CustFld1
• In the Method Customer table, the field that shows up is NOT CstFld1, but the field's LABEL in QB (Staff Account Status).
• I have the same data values in Method (StaffaccountStatus) as I do in QB (CustFld1)
• Updating either one (either in QB or in Method) results in synced values. There are no special actions. The changes cascade both ways.
• I'm not sure how I did this. But keep in mind, these are both custom fields, and I realize that this won't work with non-custom fields.

Hello Mike,

    I do understand what you have done to create this save.  I would have to take a look at your screens and work to understand why this is happening.  Again, there is no automatic function that saves to two fields based on having the same label. 

    Can you try a full sync and then check your table and fields?  A custom QuickBooks field has 31 characters in Method (Customize -> Tables/Fields) and can not be deleted.

- Greg

I need this clarification...this thread has gone on FAR too long and is immensely frustrating.

If I create a custom field in QB in the Customer detail interface/screen, WHERE does it show in Method? Does it have to have values to show up in Method? If it shows up, what name does it have? "CustFld1"? I mean, there are columns in the QB IIF file export from CustFld1 all the way to CustFld15, and none of those are in Method (although columns 4-15 do not have any values).

Quick note, I THINK that "CustFld1" was originally available in Method and I renamed it "StaffAccountStatus" to that changes to that field in QB or Method would cascade in both directions.