Interactions that occur between Slate and a constituent, like emails, texts, events, gifts, and file imports, are automatically captured and stored on the Interactions tab. Each of these methods is associated with a code.

Codes in your database include:

• Forms and Events

• Payment

• Source

• Watch Flag

For any method of interaction with your constituents not covered in that list, you can add your own custom interaction code. When you add a new interaction to the Timeline, you can classify it with this custom code.

Custom interaction codes are useful in combination with Origin Sources.

📖 Further reading: Origin sources

Modeling your custom interaction codes

Before you go about creating interaction codes in Slate, whiteboard the kinds of interactions your institution has with its constituents.

Break them into larger categories, which we refer to as parent codes, and individual methods of interaction in that category, which we refer to as subcodes.

Here’s an example of this breakdown:

• Mailing (parent code):

  • Sent Letter (subcode)

  • Sent Postcard

  • Sent Poster

• Contact:

  • Call with Student

  • Call with Parent

  • Call with Counselor

  • Call with Donor

Categorizing interaction codes in this way makes them easier to navigate and maintain.

Interactions vs. activities

Codes have a type setting, from which you can select Interaction, Activity, or both:

• Interaction: An interaction is associated with the person record, and viewable on the Timeline tab.

• Activity: An activity is associated with the application record and viewable on the Application tab.

• Interaction/Activity: Codes created with the Interaction/Activity can be entered on either tab.

Creating a new parent code

Slate supports numeric, alphanumeric, and descriptive text-based codes for easy identification and maintenance.

To create a new parent interaction code:

1. Go to Database → Activity / Interaction Codes.

2. Select Insert.

3. Configure the following settings:

   • Status: Active. You can deactivate interaction or activity codes no longer in use without fear of losing data associated with them.

   • Folder: Keep your codes organized by putting them in a folder. Select Other to create a new folder.

   • Type: Select one of the following:

     • Interaction: Interactions entered and displayed on the person record, and are used for recording person-level interactions.

     • Application Activity: Interactions appear on the application tab, and are used for recording application-specific information.

     • Activity/Interaction: Interactions that can be entered on the either the person record or the application, and they appear on the tab where they are entered.

   • Code: Enter a computer-friendly (lowercase, no spaces) code, like contact.

   • Parent Code: Leave blank

   • Label: Enter a name for the interaction as it will appear on the Timeline.

   • Export Value (Optional): The export value can be used in exports to external systems, including your SIS.

   • Score (Optional): This setting is optional. The score is exportable, and it is sometimes used by institutions that want to calculate an overall score for a record based on the interactions associated with the record.

   • Custom Permission (Optional): Restrict interactions of this code to only users with the selected permission. If left blank, anyone with  permission to view the Timeline tab on the person record can find the interaction. Likewise, anyone with the ability to view an application will be able to view the activity.

   • Show in Reader: Determines whether the interaction or activity appears for the Reader Tab Material type Comments from Activities/Interactions.

4. Select Save.

Creating a new subcode

The steps to create a new subcode are the same as creating a parent code, with the exception of the following settings:

• Code: Enter a computer-friendly (lowercase, no spaces) code whose relationship to its parent code can be understood intuitively. In this example, we might create a contact_phonestudent code under the parent code of contact.

• Parent Code: Select a parent code from the list.

Subcodes appear with their parent codes as shown here:

Adding an interaction to a record

See Adding a new interaction to the Timeline.