Data Management22% of the exam
Send Log data extensions and send logging
How a send log captures send-time values: creating it from the SendLog template, how fields get filled, which send types log by default, retention and field-size practices, joining the log to data views, error codes and duplicate records.
Given a scenario, apply best practices for send logs.
~7 min read · 11 practice questions ·
What the exam expects
- Create an email send log from the SendLog template with the right sendable and retention settings, within the one-per-account limit.
- Populate custom send log fields from sendable data, AMPscript variables and personalization strings.
- Know which send types log by default, which can be switched off, and which need Support.
- Apply the field, retention and concurrency best practices, and restart running sends so they log to a new send log.
- Join the send log to data views, count error codes and handle duplicate records in reports.
- Key terms: send log (a data extension recording send-time data for each message); SendLog template (the data extension template that creates it); send-time data (values as they were when the message was built); SubID (the send log's subscriber ID field); ErrorCode (the send log field that records send errors).
Key facts
Limit
- Detail
- One email and one SMS send log template and data extension per account
Is Sendable
- Detail
- Left unchecked
Default fields
- Detail
- JobID, ListID, BatchID, SubID, TriggeredSendID, ErrorCode
Retention
- Detail
- 10 days (best practices); 30 days or shorter (storage guidance)
Custom fields
- Detail
- 10 or fewer
Dates
- Detail
- UTC-6
Not logged by default
- Detail
- Test, transactional and HTS sends
Error codes
- Detail
- 19 Missing Required Fields; 24 List Detective Exclusion
Sources for this section (5)
- Send Logging in Email Studiohelp.salesforce.com (opens in a new tab)
- Create an Email Send Loghelp.salesforce.com (opens in a new tab)
- Send Logging Best Practiceshelp.salesforce.com (opens in a new tab)
- Data Extension Storage Usagehelp.salesforce.com (opens in a new tab)
- Send Logging Articlehelp.salesforce.com (opens in a new tab)
- Which messages does a MobilePush send log include?
- Why can adding custom fields be risky for a send log?
- When does a send actually record its data to the send log?
- Why does Help recommend a retention policy when you create the log?
The questions are free to read. Answers with their sources and self-grading are included with the pack.
Keep reading with the Marketing Cloud Engagement Developer pack
- Core concepts
- Exam traps
- Worked scenario
The pack includes:
- All 25 lessons of the Marketing Cloud Engagement Developer guide, with reading progress
- Interactive decision walks and step-by-step sequence steppers
- Practice exams purchase adds inline bank questions and topic practice (11 questions for this lesson)
- An official source cited for every claim
- An AI tutor that answers from the guide
- Choose guide-only, practice-only, or save $4 with both