When you work through a call list in the dialer, the dialer will not move you to the next number or the next contact until you record a result for the call you just made. If you try to advance first, you will see a message like "You must log a result (e.g. not home, or answered, etc) for the last call made to this person, before advancing to the next number."
This is expected. Each call you make needs a disposition, which is a short label describing what happened on the call. This article explains the requirement, how to log a call, what each disposition means, and how the dialer advances afterward.
Why a disposition is required
The dialer requires a disposition so that every call you place becomes a tracked record on the contact's profile. Without it:
Calls would not appear in the contact's call history, so you would have no record of who you reached and who still needs another attempt.
Pledges captured on a call would not be tied to anything, so they would not show up in pledge history or reporting.
A colleague calling the same contact later would not see what happened on the last call.
The requirement applies to every call, including ones where nobody picked up. A "No Answer" is still a result your team can act on.
How to log the call and advance
While you are on the call or right after it ends, choose a disposition on the contact's card in the dialer.
Optionally add a note with details the next caller should know, such as a callback time, a spouse's name, or the specific ask.
If the contact pledged, enter the pledge amount and details on the same card. The pledge is saved with the call and appears in the contact's pledge history.
Once the disposition is set, the dialer advances. If you have auto-dial turned on, it places the next call automatically.
If the call is still connected, hang up first. The dialer also blocks advancing during a live call and will show "Hang up first before advancing."
How the dialer advances
After you log the result, the dialer moves you forward in this order:
To the contact's next phone number, if the contact has more than one number on file and you have not tried them all yet.
To the next contact on your list, once you have worked through that contact's numbers.
Moving to a second or third number on the same person before moving to the next contact is expected behavior, not a glitch.
What the disposition options mean
These are the disposition options in the dialer:
No Answer — The phone rang but nobody picked up.
Answered — You reached the person and had a conversation.
Wrong / Disconnected — The number was wrong, out of service, or belonged to someone else. Choosing this removes that phone number from the contact so you do not dial it again.
Refused — The person declined to give or asked not to be solicited on this call.
Call Back — You connected, or were asked, to try again later. Add a note with the best time to reach them.
Left Voicemail — You reached voicemail and left a message.
Deceased — The contact has passed away.
Do Not Contact — The person asked not to be contacted again. This flags the record so they are excluded from future outreach.
How logging feeds your numbers
Because every call carries a disposition, those results roll up into the metrics on your dashboards and reports, such as dials made, contacts reached, voicemails left, and pledges secured. Skipping logs would leave those numbers incomplete, which is what the advance requirement prevents.
FAQ
Do I have to log every call, even no-answers?
Yes. A "No Answer" disposition records that the contact still needs another attempt.
Can I add a note without a disposition?
The disposition is the required part. Notes are optional but recommended, especially for callbacks and pledges.
I picked the wrong disposition. Can I fix it?
Yes. Open the contact's profile and edit the interaction in their call history.
What if the call dropped before I could talk?
Choose the disposition that best matches what happened, often "No Answer" or "Call Back," and add a quick note. You can update it later.