Update or Replace a Customer Dataset

This content is only for clients with Product Data and Customer Data options in the DATASETS menu in the top navigation bar. If no menu options appear when you click DATASETS, then this content doesn't apply to your account. Instead, see Update a Customer Attributes Dataset.

You may need to update a customer dataset, perhaps to add more customers with actionable data or to add new information about the customers already in the dataset.

The type of update you need to perform determines the method(s) available for accomplishing the task.

Updating or Adding Rows to a Dataset

Perhaps you must update the values that appear in the recently_viewed_products attribute in a dataset for customer IDs (cust_id) 111 and 115. Therefore, you must update the rows for those two customer IDs, which you can accomplish through a partial update.

Two rows from a customer data spreadsheet that includes the cust_id attribute and recently_viewed_products attribute

Maybe instead you must add new customers with the IDs 116, 117, and 118. Each customer ID represents a new row, which you can upload to the dataset through a partial update.

Three rows from a customer data spreadsheet that contain information for customer IDs 116, 117, and 118

If you need to add rows, replace rows, or add or replace values within rows of customer information in a dataset, you must perform a partial update through the Data API, via SFTP, or using the Datasets Upload wizard in the platform.

For more information about using the Data API for an update, refer to Update Customer Data via the Data API. See Update a Customer Dataset via SFTP for more information about using an account's specific SFTP setup to send an update.

Using the Datasets Upload Wizard for a Partial Update

Follow these steps to add rows to or update rows already in a customer dataset.

  1. Click UPLOAD DATA on the Customer Datasets list page.

    Callout of the UPLOAD DATA button on the Customer Datasets list page

  2. Click Update Existing Dataset, choose the dataset you want to update, and then click NEXT.

    Animated demonstration of a user selecting 'Update Existing Dataset' in the Datasets Upload wizard, then selecting 'VIP Members' from the 'SELECT DATASET' selector, and then clicking the NEXT button

  3. Click Partial Update and then click NEXT.

    Step 2 of the Datasets Upload wizard, with 'Partial Update' selected and a callout of the NEXT button

  4. Drag and drop the file with the updated data into the wizard and then click NEXT.

    The preview may show only some or may not show any of the new or updated data. The absence does not indicate the update failed.

    Animated demonstration of a user dropping a CSV file into the Datasets Upload wizard, the upload progress bar advancing, and then the user clicking the NEXT button

  5. Click NEXT on the screen showing the potential attributes because you cannot edit or exclude any of the attributes.

    The Datasets Upload wizard, with a list of identified attributes that cannot be edited and a callout of the NEXT button

  6. Click NEXT on the screen showing the Dataset Identifier and ID Collector because you cannot edit these settings.

    The Datasets Upload wizard, with the Dataset Identifier and ID Collector that cannot be edited and a callout of the NEXT button

  7. Review the dataset summary and then click FINISH.

    The Datasets Upload wizard, with a summary of the dataset information and a callout of the FINISH button

If the platform encounters an error with the update, then an entry appears in the Current Updates column on the Customer Datasets list page. Click it to view the errors.

Adding Attributes to a Dataset

Perhaps you need to add one or more columns, also called attributes or fields, to a customer dataset. You have two options to accomplish this task:

  • Send a full file update using the Data API.
  • Perform a full file update using the Datasets Upload wizard in the platform.

You cannot remove attributes from a dataset with a full update using the wizard. You must create a new dataset using the revised attributes and then remove the old one.

For more information about using the Data API for an update, refer to Update Customer Data via the Data API.

Before you update the dataset using the Datasets Upload wizard, ensure the CSV or TSV file you will upload meets these requirements:

  • The new attributes appear after the existing ones.
  • The order of the existing attributes matches their order in the dataset schema.

If the file fails to meet these requirements, an error message appears.

Example of an error message that appears when existing attributes are missing from a file uploaded for a customer dataset update

Correct the errors and then restart the update.

Using the Datasets Upload Wizard for a Full Update

Follow these steps to add attributes to a customer dataset.

  1. Click UPLOAD DATA on the Customer Datasets list page.

    Callout of the UPLOAD DATA button on the Customer Datasets list page

  2. Click Update Existing Dataset, select the dataset you want to update, and then click NEXT.

    Animated demonstration of a user selecting 'Update Existing Dataset' in the Datasets Upload wizard, then selecting 'VIP Members' from the 'SELECT DATASET' selector, and then clicking the NEXT button

  3. Click Full Update and then click NEXT.

    The Datasets Upload wizard, with Full Update selected and a callout of the NEXT button

  4. Drag and drop the file with the updated data into the wizard and then click NEXT.

    The preview may show only some or may not show any of the new or updated data in the preview table. However, the number of new attributes does appear above the preview table.

    The Datasets Upload wizard, with an upload progress bar, a preview of the schema, a callout of the total new attributes added, and a callout of the NEXT button

  5. Confirm that the data type selected for each new attribute is correct and then click NEXT. You can optionally take these actions for the new attributes:
    • Edit the attribute's name that appears on the new dataset's details page if you don't want it to match its field name as it appears in the column header of the file.
    • Click to change INCLUDE to EXCLUDE if you don't want an attribute to be part of the dataset.

    You cannot edit existing attributes, their corresponding format, or whether or not they are included when you replace a dataset. In addition, you cannot change the Dataset Identifier or ID Collector. If you must change any of these settings, upload a new dataset.

    The Datasets Upload wizard, with a callout of the new attribute and the NEXT button

  6. Click NEXT on the screen showing the Dataset Identifier and ID Collector because you cannot edit these settings.

    The Datasets Upload wizard, with the Dataset Identifier and ID Collector information and a callout of the NEXT button

  7. Review the dataset summary and then click FINISH.

    The Datasets Upload wizard, with a summary of the dataset information and a callout of the FINISH button

If the platform encounters an error with the update, then an entry appears in the Current Updates column on the Customer Datasets list page. Click it to view the errors.

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