Upload data

Upload data lets you enrich your existing records by appending new data from a CSV or TXT file, without waiting for it to become part of your core data build.

This is useful for data you want to use right away, such as from data events, data gathering, temporary analysis or campaign needs, or a feed that isn't yet part of your system. Rather than waiting for a full data build, upload it and use it alongside your regular data straight away.

Orbit matches your file to your existing records using a common attribute, such as URN, mobile number, email, or postcode. Bring in multiple columns in one go. Each becomes its own custom variable, ready to use in Orbit.

Create a variable by uploading data¶

To create a custom variable from a file:

1. Open Custom variables.
2. Click + New Variable, then Upload Data.

Data source¶

Choose the Existing File or Upload File tab. Select a file you've used before, or upload a new one by dragging and dropping your CSV or TXT file, or clicking Select file to browse for it. You can delete your selected file and choose another at any point before moving on.

Configure your file settings:

• Delimiter: the character that separates your columns, such as a comma or tab.
• Encloser: the character that surrounds your values, such as double or single quotes.
• Toggle First row are headers if your file has a header row with column names.

Click Next.

Key variable¶

Choose the key column in your file, under Data Source Column, that matches a System Variable in your system, such as URN, mobile number, email, or postcode. Orbit uses this to match each row in your file to an existing record. Set the System Variable Format, then click Next.

Variable settings¶

Click + Add Column for each column in your file you want to create as a custom variable. Orbit creates one variable per column.

For each column, choose its variable Type and its settings:

• Text
• Numeric: choose Integer or Decimal — for Decimal, set the number of decimal places, up to 6
• Selector: choose Automatic, or Data Source and set its description column
• Currency: set the currency format
• Date: set the date format, and the earliest and latest year to accept
• DateTime: set the date format

Name each variable (up to 80 characters) and choose the destination folder to save it in, then click Create.

Edit an uploaded variable¶

Edit a custom variable created from an uploaded file without recreating it. This opens the same dialog you used to create it, pre-populated with its current settings, including the source file reference, name, and folder. Change what you need and save, then you'll see a confirmation notification once your changes are applied.

Editing only covers the single variable you opened it from. You can't add further columns from an existing upload this way. If you change the variable's Type, you're limited to converting within these groups:

• Selector: no conversion to another type
• Date and DateTime: interchangeable with each other only
• Text, Numeric, and Currency: interchangeable with each other only