# Journey entry, settings, versions and testing

*Marketing Cloud Engagement Consultant Study Guide · Automation · Last updated November 3, 2026 · https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/marketing-cloud-engagement-consultant/automation/journey-entry-settings-versions-and-testing*

How entry source schedules and processing options, API events, journey settings, versions, pause and testing decide which contacts enter a journey, how they're messaged and how a change reaches a running journey safely.

- Certification: Salesforce Marketing Cloud Engagement Consultant
- Exam section: Automation
- Study guide: https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/marketing-cloud-engagement-consultant

**Official exam objective:**

> Given a customer scenario, design complex automations using Journey Builder and Automation Studio.

## What the exam expects

- Choose the data extension entry schedule (Run Once, Recurring, Automation) and processing option that match how the source data changes.
- Design API event entry and mid-journey API waits, and keep repeated entries apart with a transaction key.
- Configure journey settings: contact entry mode, default email address and mobile number, SMS fallback and Google Analytics domains.
- Plan versions, pauses and bulk actions so that a running journey changes without losing contacts or data.
- Pick the right test mode and know what testing doesn't exercise.
- Key terms: **processing option** (Evaluate new records only or Evaluate all records on a repeating schedule); **contact entry mode** (when a contact may enter again); **current version** (the version admitting new contacts); **transaction key** (a unique identifier per entry for custom events); **classic test mode** (a simulation you start by firing the entry event).

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Automation entry schedule | Automation must import, filter or query into the entry data extension | [Data Extension Entry Source](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_jb_data_extension.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Filtered data extension refresh | Overwrites all records; avoid Evaluate new records only | [Process Entry Source Data](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_jb_manage_audience_data.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Wait Until API Event | Minimum one day; no more than 10 events across all journeys | [Wait Until API Event](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_jb_wait_until_api_event.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Transaction Key | Custom events only, set in config.json | [Journey Settings](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_jb_journey_settings.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| No re-entry | Can't be changed after activation | [Journey Settings](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_jb_journey_settings.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Draft versions | Only one at a time | [Journey Versions](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_jb_journey_versions.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Event keys | Carry across versions | [Journey Versions](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_jb_journey_versions.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Bulk actions | Up to 10 journeys and 50 versions | [Bulk Actions](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_jb_bulk_actions.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Pause length | Up to 14 days, in 1-day increments | [Journey Pause](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_jb_pause.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Pause with Evaluate All Records | Entering contacts dropped, not queued | [Journey Pause](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_jb_pause.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Journey testing | Ignores waits, entry settings and custom activities | [Journey Testing](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_jb_journey_testing.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |

## Check yourself

- Why might a recurring data extension entry run admit nobody on schedule?
- When does an Automation-scheduled entry source evaluate every record each time?
- Which entry schedule types can't a Single Send journey use?
- Why can the Record Count on a data extension entry tile differ from the number evaluated?

## Sources

- [Choose How to Process Entry Source Data](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_jb_manage_audience_data.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Data Extension Entry Source](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_jb_data_extension.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Schedule a Data Extension Entry Source](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_jb_schedule_a_data_extension_entry_source.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Data Extension Entry Source Use Cases](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_jb_de_entry_source_use_cases.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Admit Contacts Via an API](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_jb_admit_contacts_via_api.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Configure a Wait Until API Event Activity](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_jb_wait_until_api_event.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Journey Settings](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_jb_journey_settings.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Edit an Entry Source](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_jb_edit_an_entry_source.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Journey Versions](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_jb_journey_versions.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Delete Drafts and Inactive Journeys](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_jb_delete_drafts_inactive_journeys.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Bulk Actions in Journey Builder](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_jb_bulk_actions.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Journey Pause](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_jb_pause.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Journey Testing](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_jb_journey_testing.htm&type=5&language=en_US)

## About the full unit

The "Core concepts", "Exam traps" and "Worked scenario" sections of this unit, its 19 linked practice questions, and unlimited timed mock exams are included with the Marketing Cloud Engagement Consultant pack (USD $19): https://www.certifyforce.com/practice-exams