Snapshot

With the ‘Snapshot’ function you can create an internal table in Ternair Marketing Cloud in which output details from a selection are registered. Then, the snapshot can be used as input for other selection or output blocks.

Drag a snapshot block onto the worksheet and connect the block to an input block.

A snapshot can only be made when a selection is saved.

Double click the snapshot block to open the settings screen.
On the left hand side in a snapshot the preview of the internal table is displayed. On the right hand side the settings can be found.

This section focuses on the following topics; each topic consists of a tab in the settings (right hand side) of a snapshot block.

Filling out the mapping and settings tabs is mandatory, transformations are optional.

Apart from these topics the snapshot previews (left hand side of the screen) is available on all tabs.

 

Mapping

Creating the mapping of a snapshot consists of three steps:

• Add columns;
  • Select desired fields.
• Settings;
  • Rename/ edit columns
  • Define keys for the relevant fields.
  • Define aggregations.
• Transformations
  • Possibility to edit/transform/combine columns.

Add columns

As a first step, select the desired field(s) to be included in the snapshot.

Use the ‘+’ icon on the top right to add one or more fields to the Mapping.

Apart from the available database fields it is possible to include fields with a fixed text value. Click on the ‘Fixed values +’ field in order to add a fixed value text field. Both the header as well as the value of the field needs to be provided.

Select an item to move it to the preview on the left.
N.B.: by selecting an entity type in the search screen all (underlying) entities will be selected at once (max 25 fields at once).

More details: Mapping.

Settings

Adding / renaming columns

After adding an item it is possible to edit the column header in the snapshot. The name of the columns can be changed by clicking on an item.

Key

A key must be assigned to field(s) that contain a key value. By clicking on the key field, a drop-down menu appears with the available keys.
The key icon indicates a key is assigned.

Example: select the key  ’email’ for the field email address.
By assigning the ’email’ key you can combine the snapshot with all other sources that also contain an ’email’ key.

The key ‘Unique key (non shareable)’ can be used for an entity that contains a key value that is not found anywhere else in Ternair Marketing Cloud.

N.B.: a key must be assigned to at least 1 field and at least 1 key must be assigned.

Aggregations

Depending upon the (field) data type aggregations are available. Aggregations can be used on fields with the calculated item.

 

For numeric and date fields in snapshots blocks aggregations can be selected. When no aggregation is selected, no aggregation is applied (default setting).

Nummeric fields

For numeric fields the following aggregation types are available:

• Sum
• Average
• Highest
• Lowest
• Count

Date fields

For date fields the following aggregation types are available:

• Highest
• Lowest

 

Transformations

In step 3, it is possible to edit the columns.

For example: capitalisation, split or combine columns.

 

Transformation list

Transformations that have been added on the ‘Mapping’ tab are, chronologically, displayed in the ‘Transformation list’ tab.

You can undo changes by clicking the trashcan.

 

Settings

On the ‘Settings’ tab the user can define a retention period.

The retention determines which period the snapshot is available within Ternair Marketing Cloud.

The default retention period for snapshot blocks is one day.

General settings

Options	Description
Block template	Each snapshot block can be saved as a template. After saving a snapshot block as a template it is available as template for other snapshot blocks. A block template can be re-used by clicking ‘Open block template’ in the bottom left corner of a snapshot block and selecting the template from the list.
Description	You can define a description for a snapshot block. The description field is intended to provide a logical description for the block. As a result, the content of the output block is easy to recognize in the selection flowchart.
Apply	Clicking the ‘Apply’ button will save the provisional selection block settings.
Cancel	Use the ‘Cancel’ button to undo your changes.
Save	The ‘Save’ button can be used to save your changes without (re-)calculating the block.

 

Execute

As a final step, the snapshot must be executed. Select the snapshot block, click on the right mouse button and click on ‘execute’.
By executing the snapshot, the internal table in Ternair Marketing Cloud is filled with data.

By creating a snapshot the values ​​of the selected fields, as they are at the time of the execution of the block, are captured in the database.
The snapshot can then, at a later point in time, be used as input for other blocks (in the selection).