The data stored in Related Data can be used in many ways: it can be inserted in messages, used for the selection of recipients, or used in personalization.
You can identify a certain column of data from which all data should be imported. You can also use Mapp Engage functions to filter the data according to desired criteria. For example, you can specify that the system should only consider data sets from a certain time period, or containing a certain value or entry.
These filter rules can be used to insert records into messages, build selections, and create personalizations.
For more information, see:
The following functions are useful for working with related data sets:
| Function | Description |
|---|
| ecx:filter | Searches a column for specific values and returns matching entries. |
| ecx:filterDateRange | Searches a column for date values between the specified start and end dates and returns the entries that match. |
| ecx:filterDateTimeRange | Searches a column for values between a specified start and end date and time and returns the entries that match. |
| ecm:addInterval | Adds (or subtracts) an interval of time to a specified date. |
| ecx:merge | Merges multiple target sources into a single object. |
| ecm:countMapElements | Returns the number of elements inside a map. |
Note that for personalization rules and selections, the function must produce a Boolean value (True or False). If a function (for example, ecx:filter) results in a value other than true or false, the additional function ecm:countMapElements must be used to produce a Boolean value from the actual results.
To filter data, you must the key of the data sets that you want to filter.
- In the case of linked related data sets, the key is specified by the related attribute.
- In the case of unlinked related data sets, the key must be explicitly identified (as an attribute or defined value).
It is not possible to use a filter to search for all data sets that contain a certain value. You must always indicate which data sets should be filtered, and this is done by identifying the key.
Linked and unlinked data sets use different syntax to reference related data sets in parameters.
See Function Syntax and Formatting.
