Subscriber and Data Management26% of the exam
Choosing an import method and file location
How to pick the Import Wizard, a Contact Builder import definition, a Data Copy or Import activity or the API; when a file must come from FTP instead of your computer; what list and data extension imports do to All Subscribers, List Detective and publication lists; and how long the SFTP and Safehouse keep files.
Given a customer's business requirements, determine how to import data into Marketing Cloud.
~7 min read · 11 practice questions ·
What the exam expects
- Choose the Import Wizard, a Contact Builder import definition, a Data Copy or Import activity or an API call from how often the load runs and how it starts.
- Choose My Computer or an FTP file location from the file's size and where it lives, and know how long the SFTP and Safehouse keep files.
- Predict what a list import and a data extension import do to All Subscribers, List Detective and publication-list opt-outs.
- Retrieve an import results file that is too large to attach to the notification email.
- Key terms: Import Wizard (the manual import on a data extension's Records tab); import definition (saved import settings, reusable from Contact Builder or Automation Studio); Data Copy or Import (the Automation Studio activity formerly called Import File); Safehouse (secure, short-term storage for decrypted or unzipped files); publication list (manages opt-ins and opt-outs for data extension sends).
Key facts
Ways into a data extension
- Detail
- Import Wizard, Data Copy or Import activity, API
Import definition
- Detail
- Reusable from Contact Builder; usable in an automation or API call
Wizard file size
- Detail
- Can't exceed 20 MB; larger files use an import activity
FTP file names
- Detail
- Case-sensitive
SFTP and Safehouse
- Detail
- Files removed after 21 days
Encrypted file on external FTP
- Detail
- Two File Transfers: move to Safehouse, then decrypt
Data extension import
- Detail
- All Subscribers and List Detective wait for the send
Publication list import
- Detail
- Adds unsubscribes only
Oversized results file
- Detail
- Only readable through a Data Copy or Import activity
Sources for this section (5)
- Data Extension Importstrailhead.salesforce.com (opens in a new tab)
- Data Transfer and Import Activitiestrailhead.salesforce.com (opens in a new tab)
- Import into a Data Extensionhelp.salesforce.com (opens in a new tab)
- List vs. Data Extensionhelp.salesforce.com (opens in a new tab)
- View Import Results File Datahelp.salesforce.com (opens in a new tab)
- Why might each regional business unit get its own SFTP user instead of sharing one?
- Why shouldn't an admin delete the Import, Export and Reports folders on a new SFTP?
- When you build a data extension to read an import results file, which fields and retention does the article use?
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 Specialist pack
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- Worked scenario
The pack includes:
- All 31 lessons of the Marketing Cloud Engagement Specialist guide, with reading progress
- Interactive decision walks and step-by-step sequence steppers
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