Custom Upload

How to use Convergence Cloud custom upload

The custom upload feature in Convergence Cloud differs from standard in one significant way: it allows you to upload more information about your constituents than just first name, last name, and email address.

Follow these 3 steps to complete a Custom Upload:

1. Create your target data extension in Salesforce Marketing Cloud.
2. Create your .csv file
3. Upload your data file with Convergence Cloud.

Step 1: Creating your target Data Extension in Salesforce Marketing Cloud

1. Navigate to EmailStudio within Marketing Cloud.

2. Click on Subscribers.
3. Click on Data Extensions from the drop-down menu.

4. Create or navigate to the desired folder for your new data extension.
5. Click on Create on the right side of the page.

6. Select Standard Data Extension.
7. Click OK.

8. Under Creation Method, select Create from Existing.

9. From a dialog that will automatically appear, choose the Shared Data Extensions folder and click Convergence Cloud. 
10. Select Convergence Cloud Template. This data extension has settings already configured for your standard upload. 
11. Click OK.

12. Type a name for your data extension.
13. Add an optional description.
14. Leave External Key blank. Marketing Cloud will generate an external key.
15. Make sure Is Sendable? is selected.

16. Under the Data Retention Policy tab, leave Retention Setting as off.
17. Click Next.

18. Add your additional fields along with the default fields (e.g., I have added Favorite Color and Salary Plan Code). Note: You can add as many fields as you want and the fields can be anything you want.

18. Click Create.

Step 2: Creating your .csv data file 

1. Open a new or existing Excel file for your constituents, or download the spreadsheet.
2. Create columns with headers for at least these 5 fields below: 
   • Contact.firstname 
   • Contact.lastname
   • Contact.email
   • MC_Data_Extension__c.business_unit_id__c 
   • MC_Data_Extension__c.external_key__c

   Now after adding these 5 standard fields to your spreadsheet, it’s time to add your custom fields. These examples are the field names for the custom fields in our example data extension. You’ll need to use exactly the same field name in your data extension as in your upload spreadsheet.

   • Favorite Color 
   • Salary Plan Code

3.  Add your additional columns with your custom fields. Notice that unlike the standard fields, (first name, last name, email) the custom field names are the same in row 1 and row 2. This is intentional. Make sure that the custom field names in your data extension match the field names in row 1 and row 2 of your upload spreadsheet.

Note: Make Sure to leave Row 2 of the

MC_Data_Extension__c.business_unit_id__c and MC_Data_Extension__c.external_key__c fields empty as shown above.

4. Find your business unit name in the upper right corner.
5. Add your business unit name in row 3 under column header: MC_Data_Extension__c.business_unit_id__c

6. In Marketing Cloud, navigate back to your target data extension.
7. Open the data extension and copy the External Key.

8. Return to your Excel spreadsheet. 
9. Add the External Key under row 3 of the column header: MC_Data_Extension__c.external_key__c
10. Be Sure to copy-paste the same Business Unit Name and External Key for all your records in the spreadsheet.

Note: If you choose to use the Excel feature that drags the External Key down the cells to copy-and-paste, make sure the External Key remains the same and numbers do not count up. 

A Basic Spreadsheet looks something like this:

Note: Make sure your Spreadsheet is saved as a .csv file (e.g., Test.csv).

Step 3: Uploading Your Data File into Convergence Cloud

1. Go to One.iu.edu and search for Salesforce CRM. 
2. Click Start and log in.

3. Click the square of dots and select IU Convergence Cloud.

4. Select Custom Icon and hit upload

5. The data and constituent subscriber keys should then be added to your target data extension. Marketing Cloud will send an automated message to your inbox to indicate the import was successful. 
6. Review your data extension to ensure records are there. Your data extension is now ready to be sent an email.