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Programmatic Languages35% of the exam

AMPscript delimiters, variables and core functions

Inline, block and tag-based AMPscript syntax, variables, comments and case rules, positional parameters, conditions, the output functions, and the string, date, math and null-test functions that code-reading questions use.

Official exam objective
Given a scenario, demonstrate knowledge of AMPscript and SSJS language syntax and functions.

~7 min read · 14 practice questions ·

What the exam expects

  • Read inline, block and tag-based AMPscript, and spot code that breaks the delimiter, declaration or comment rules.
  • Pass function parameters in the documented order, including skipping an optional parameter.
  • Evaluate conditions built from comparison, and, or and not operators, and trace If, ElseIf and Else branches.
  • Predict exactly what string, date, math, output and null-test functions return in a snippet.
  • Know when TreatAsContent() is needed to render personalization strings stored as data.
  • Key terms: inline AMPscript (%%= =%%, one function, nesting allowed); code block (%%[ ]%%, many statements); tag-based syntax (<script runat="server" language="ampscript">); positional parameter (an argument identified only by its place in the call).

Key facts

Inline limit
Detail
One function per inline section; nesting allowed
Source
Adding AMPscript (opens in a new tab)
Closing a block
Detail
Same delimiter type that opened it
Source
Adding AMPscript (opens in a new tab)
Script tag default language
Detail
JavaScript, unless language="ampscript"
Source
SSJS Syntax Guide (opens in a new tab)
Declaring variables
Detail
Blocks only; a new variable is null
Source
Variables in AMPscript (opens in a new tab)
Comments
Detail
/* */ in blocks and script tags, never inline
Source
Using Comments (opens in a new tab)
Skipping an optional parameter
Detail
Pass null or "" in its position
Source
Function Parameters (opens in a new tab)
Else per If block
Detail
Only one; ElseIf can repeat
Source
If Statements (opens in a new tab)
Output() with a literal
Detail
Returns an error
Source
Output() (opens in a new tab)
OutputLine() break
Detail
CRLF, so HTML shows one line
Source
OutputLine() (opens in a new tab)
IndexOf() not found
Detail
Returns 0; positions are 1-based
Source
IndexOf() (opens in a new tab)
Date units
Detail
Y, M, D, H, MI
Source
DateAdd() (opens in a new tab)DateDiff() (opens in a new tab)
Empty() vs IsNull()
Detail
Empty catches null and ""; IsNull only null
Source
Empty() (opens in a new tab)IsNull() (opens in a new tab)
Sources for this section (13)

Check yourself

  • When does a variable declared with Var hold null?
  • Why does a <script runat="server"> tag with no language attribute run as SSJS?
  • What does FormatDate() return when you pass it only a date string?
  • Which input types can an If condition evaluate?

The questions are free to read. Answers with their sources and self-grading are included with the pack.

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