Creating Output Files Using Tactic Templates

A File Output is a file of fields that is output to an FTP site. Use File Output elements to set up output files.

You can use existing output definitions in Tactic templates created in Campaign Manager, this procedure is described here.

In the campaign flow, the audience that passes through a File Output element will be output to the defined file.

Templates should already have been created for you. This is typically done by an Administrator and is performed in the Campaign Manager screens.

There are two ways to create templates:

1. In Campaign Manager, open a new campaign, click the Tactics tab, select New Tactic, select File, enter a creative name, add settings and fields and save the tactic as a template.
2. In Campaign Manager, click the Tools tab, search for the tactic, drag the tactic to the document bar, set up the file definition and save the tactic as a template.

For more information on setting up Tactic template documents in Campaign Manager, see See Campaign Manager - Campaign Manager (Silverlight).

Prerequisites

• You need to set up the Audience for the output file using an Audience element in the campaign flow.
• If the Tactic template maps variables to the output file, you need to specify the values for the variables using a Variable element.

A simple campaign flow to create an output file that contains variables would look like this:

Procedure

1. Open an existing campaign in Campaign View that is in an editable state, or create a new campaign by clicking New Campaign in Campaign View.
2. To add a File Output element to the campaign flow, click the plus button on the edge of the element you want to add the File Output element to (plus buttons can be blue , red or green ). Select the File Output option in the drop-down list.
3. Click the File Output element, the Campaign Designer screen opens.
4. Optionally, enter a name for the File Output element in the Name field, or leave the name as the default, for example, 'File Output -1'.
5. Output Definition: Select the output definition (Tactic template) you want to use from the drop-down list. The configuration of the selected template is imported in to the campaign as a new definition. If you select an output definition that includes source data that you do not have access to, a warning message appears.
   

6. The file location, format and mapping fields are populated. You can make changes to those fields if required.
7. Click Done to close the File Output element and return to the Campaign Designer screen.

Refreshing the Tactic template

If any changes are made to the original template document in Campaign Manager, a message appears at the top of the File Output screen. You can choose to use the updated version of the template or not.

If you want to update the selected Tactic template and import the most recent version of the Template to the campaign, click the Refresh icon next to the Output Definition field.

The Refresh icon could be disabled depending on the campaign status. For example:

• If the campaign is running, you must pause it before you can refresh the template.
• If Approvals is switched on and the campaign is in the state 'Pending Approval', you would need to withdraw the approval request before you can refresh the template.
  

• File Output Elements
  • Create Output Files Using Tactic Templates
  • Creating Output Files From Scratch