FAQ: Data

Question

Do I need to include an Activity ID when submitting custom activity lists?

Answer

It depends on the goal of the custom activity list; for example

• Create new records with a brand new list
• Update previously loaded custom activity list with new data

Create new records: it is not necessary to provide Activity IDs because the system will automatically generate and assign a random ID. 

• Mastered records: If an Activity ID is NOT provided AND all of the following are NOT blank, a hash-generated Activity ID is created based on the attributes listed in the Description.
  • Required for hash-generation of Activity IDs (where Activity ID is not provided within the data):
    • First Name
    • Last Name
    • Street Address 1
    • Postal Code
    • Activity Name
    • Activity Date
• Unmastered records: In cases where both 1) no Activity ID is provided in the data AND 2) any of the above required attributes are blank, a random ID is generated as the Activity ID.

Update existing records: it is necessary to provide the Activity ID to ensure updates are applied to the correct record(s) - both mastered and unmastered.

Record update rules

Where a newer record with the same Activity ID (either directly in the data or hash-generated) is processed, updates are performed based on the following rules.

1. If Campaign ID and Channel also match the existing, the record will be updated
2. If Campaign ID is populated on the new record, but was not populated on the existing, the record will be updated\
3. If Campaign ID matches the existing and Channel was blank on the existing, but IS populated on the new, the record will be updated.
4. If none of the above apply, the record will be ignored, leaving the existing record as-is (and a new record could be created).
    

Note: When a hash-generated Activity ID is used, a change to any of the fields used in the hash (see Description) will generate a different Activity ID and won't match (or update) the previous activity.

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