Import and Export
Salesforce Marketing Cloud Data Extension Operations
1. ➕ Add and Update (Default Operation)
What It Does:
Adds new records to your Data Extension.
Updates existing records if there’s a match based on a unique identifier, like Email Address 📧 or Subscriber Key.
How It Works:
If the unique identifier (like Email) exists in the Data Extension, the record is updated with the new information.
If the identifier doesn’t exist, a new record is added.
Example:
Imagine you have a Data Extension for Customer Info:
Email Address (Primary Key) | First Name | Last Name | Subscription Status |
|---|---|---|---|
John | Doe | Active | |
Jane | Smith | Inactive |
If john.doe@email.com already exists, it will update any fields that have changed (e.g., Subscription Status). If jane.smith@email.com doesn’t exist, it will be added as a new record.
When to Use It:
When you want to keep records updated while also adding new ones.
Best for dynamic data like contact details or customer preferences.
2. 🔄 Overwrite (Data Extension Operation)
What It Does:
Replaces all the data in your Data Extension with the new data you’re importing.
Deletes all existing records and then adds the new records.
How It Works:
When you import, all previous records are wiped out and replaced by the data in the import file.
Example:
Data Extension: Product Purchases 🛒
Customer ID | Product Name | Purchase Date |
1001 | Laptop | 2024-01-01 |
1002 | Phone | 2024-01-05 |
New import file:
Customer ID | Product Name | Purchase Date |
1003 | Tablet | 2024-02-01 |
1004 | Headphones | 2024-02-02 |
After using Overwrite:
All previous records (1001, 1002) are deleted ❌.
The new records (1003, 1004) are added ➕.
When to Use It:
When you need to refresh all the data with a new dataset.
3. 🔄 Update Only
What It Does:
Updates existing records based on the unique identifier.
Does not add new records.
How It Works:
SFMC looks for records in the Data Extension that already exist and updates them with the new data.
If the unique identifier doesn’t match, nothing happens to that record.
Example:
Data Extension: Customer Profile 🧑💼
Email Address | Phone Number | Address |
123-456-7890 | 123 Main St. | |
234-567-8901 | 456 Elm St. |
New import file:
Email Address | Phone Number | Address |
987-654-3210 | 789 Oak St. |
After using Update Only:
john.doe@email.comwill have its Phone Number and Address updated.jane.smith@email.comremains unchanged.
When to Use It:
When updating information for customers who already exist in the system.
4. ➕ Add Only
What It Does:
Adds new records to your Data Extension.
Will not update existing records.
How It Works:
SFMC checks if the record (based on the unique identifier) already exists.
If it doesn’t exist, it adds the new record.
If it exists, it does nothing (no updates, no deletions).
Example:
Data Extension: Newsletter Subscribers 📰
Email Address | Subscription Status |
Active | |
Inactive |
New import file:
Email Address | Subscription Status |
Active | |
Inactive |
After using Add Only:
user3@email.comanduser4@email.comare added.user1@email.comanduser2@email.comremain unchanged.
When to Use It:
When growing lists of subscribers or customers without modifying existing records.
Comments
Post a Comment