Data Extract Activity

1. What Is a Data Extract Activity
1. 1.1. Properties
  1. 1.1.1. Name, External Key, and Description
  2. 1.1.2. File Naming Pattern
  3. 1.1.3. Extract Range
  4. 1.1.4. Extract Type
  5. 1.1.5. Fields
  6. 1.1.6.

What Is a Data Extract Activity

A data extract is an activity that creates a file of information for you to use outside of the application. This activity can also be used to transform an XML file to a comma-delimited, tab-delimited, or pipe-delimited file for import into your account.

The activity deals with files in your File Transfer Location that you specify in your Account Settings. For example, the activity can put a file of extracted tracking data on to your FTP server.

You must include the data extract activity in a scheduled program along with a file transfer activity to place the data in your file location of choice. You can set this program to run once or on a regular schedule.

Properties

When you define a data extract activity, you provide the following information:

Name, External Key, and Description

You enter these values to identify the data extract activity. The name and description help you identify the activity when you're working in the application itnerface. The external key uniquely identifies the activity so it can be referenced in API code.

File Naming Pattern

You enter a file naming patterns so that the activity knows what to name the file it creates. You can choose to enter a static name-such as tracking.txt-or you can choose to include placeholder for the date. Including placeholders for the date lets you have a unique filename for each extract file without changing the activity definition. For example, if you create the file naming pattern tracking%%Month%%%%Day%%.txt, then on November 20 the extracted file is named tracking1120.txt.

Extract Range

You choose the period of time, ending with the time of the data extract, for which to extract tracking data. For example, if you choose an extract range of 7 days, the activity extracts tracking information for the last seven days from the time of the activity running.

Not all extract types utilize a date range. Some extracts are purely for file tranformation and are not bound by date.

Extract Type

The extract type determines what the activity does. You can choose from the data extract types that are available in your account. For example, Tracking Extract, Data Extension Extract and Convert XML are extract types.

The extract type that you select determines the information that you specify in the Fields section.

Available extract types include:

Fields

The configuration settings for the data extract appear in this area when you select a value in the Extract Type field. The configurations vary for each extract type.

If the data extract you choose includes the columnDelimiter field, insert the character you wish to use as a delimiter within the data extract. Valid choices include the following characters:

You also have the option to have a notification email sent when the data extract activity is complete. You specify the email address to receive the email.