Set client name
In Vetocare, you can choose whether to record clients using one full name or separate first and last names. You can select this in the settings, along with how the name is displayed and sorted in the client overview and how the salutation for communications is composed.
Go to name settings
The name settings are located under Settings → Configure client fields. Only users with permission to change practice settings can see these options.
Open Settings from the menu.
Select Configure client fields.
Find the Name row and click Settings.
Full name or first and last name
Under Field type, choose how a client's name is recorded. The default setting is Display as full name.
Display as full name — the client form shows one field for the full name.
Display as first and last name — the form shows separate First name and Last name fields.
In full-name mode, the name is required. In separate-fields mode, at least a first name or last name is required; both fields cannot be empty at the same time.
Sorting in the client overview
When Display as first and last name is selected, the additional Sort lists by setting becomes available. This setting determines how names are displayed and sorted in the client overview.
First name Last name (Default) — displays names as “First name Last name” and sorts them alphabetically by first name and then last name.
Last name, First name — displays names as “Last name, First name” and sorts them alphabetically by last name and then first name.
The sorting choice also determines which letter filters are available in the client overview. With Display as full name, the overview shows the saved full name and has no sorting setting.
Save
Click Save to apply the name setting. If successful, you will see Changes saved.
Set salutation
You configure the salutation separately by clicking the Settings link next to Salutation on the same client fields page. See Using salutations for clients for information about managing salutation options, setting the default, and the priority of a client-specific salutation.
Use the name and salutation in communications
First and last names and the salutation are available as dynamic fields in messages, reminders, and letters. Vetocare fills in the values from the client record; you enter the surrounding text, such as “Dear” or “Hello”, yourself in the template.
Messages and reminders:
{{CLIENT_SALUTATION}},{{CLIENT_FIRSTNAME}},{{CLIENT_LASTNAME}}and{{CLIENT}}.Letters, Addressee group:
{{TO_SALUTATION}},{{TO_FIRSTNAME}},{{TO_LASTNAME}}and{{TO_NAME}}.Letters, Person group:
{{FOR_SALUTATION}},{{FOR_FIRSTNAME}},{{FOR_LASTNAME}}and{{FOR_NAME}}.
See Standard messages and Add standard letter for information about inserting dynamic fields.
Effect on existing clients
The name setting only changes the practice preference; existing client records are not updated automatically. A saved full name is not automatically split into a first name and last name.
An existing full name remains available as the original value under the separate fields. Enter the first and last names manually.
When saving in separate-fields mode, the old full name is preserved. If you switch back to full-name mode, that value becomes available again.
Migration of existing clients
Do you already have many existing clients in Vetocare and want to switch to first and last names? Our support team can help migrate existing records. Contact us to assess whether the migration can be performed.