---
schema_version: "1"
id: af33ae4d883477feaa77532a70535bd29814bf70fd0adc10ddaae7e0f1081d07
title: Selecting a Data Extension for Entry
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/mktg/264-0-0/mc_jb_select_data_extension_for_entry.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_jb_select_data_extension_for_entry.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: 1e98863161edbdb084628d71499f2dfadb4d5006843bf802b52013b515c33348
description: Consider these recommendations when you select a sendable data extension as an entry source.
products:
  - Marketing
  - Marketing Cloud Engagement
release: "264"
---
# Selecting a Data Extension for Entry

Consider these recommendations when you select a sendable data extension as an entry source.

- Include fields needed for personalization or dynamic content in the data extension.
- If the data for the journey is stored in multiple data extensions, create a single entry source data extension using a query. Create queries in Automation Studio using the SQL Query Activity.
- If possible, filter your audience data extension to speed processing.

<table class="slds-table slds-table_bordered slds-max-medium-table_stacked slds-m-bottom_small ">
        <colgroup>
          <col style="width:50%">
          <col style="width:50%">
        </colgroup>
        <thead class="slds-text-title_caps ">
          <tr class="">
            <th scope="col" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" id="d24445e50">Data Source</th>
            <th scope="col" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" id="d24445e53">Notes</th>
          </tr>
        </thead>
        <tbody>
          <tr class="">
            <td data-label="Data Source" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d24445e50 ">Contact Builder</td>

            <td data-label="Notes" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d24445e53 ">Sendable data extensions created or managed in Contact Builder
              are the recommended data source for journeys that use Marketing
              Cloud
              Engagement
              data.</td>

          </tr>
          <tr class="">
            <td data-label="Data Source" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d24445e50 ">Salesforce Data Extensions</td>

            <td data-label="Notes" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d24445e53 ">
              <p>Salesforce data extensions are no longer selectable as entry
                sources within Journey Builder. To use a Salesforce data
                extension as an entry source, use an automation to move its data
                into a supported format for entry.</p>
              <ul>
                <li>Create a data extension that you can populate with data from
                  a Salesforce data extension.</li>

                <li>To populate the new data extension with data from a
                  Salesforce data extension, create an automation with a query
                  activity.</li>

              </ul>
            </td>

          </tr>
          <tr class="">
            <td data-label="Data Source" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d24445e50 ">Synchronized Data Sources</td>

            <td data-label="Notes" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d24445e53 ">
              <p>Use synchronized data extensions to populate an entry source data
                extension in journeys that use Sales Cloud or Service Cloud data and
                Engagement data. You can also use synchronized data extensions to
                allow contacts from Google Analytics 4 audiences to enter your
                journeys.</p>
              <p>To use a synchronized data source’s data to populate
                an entry source data extension, follow these steps. </p>
              <ul>
                <li>Use a query activity or another process to target specific
                  data in the data extension that results from your
                  synchronized data source.</li>
                <li>Then segment the data into a sendable data extension that
                  you can use as an entry source.</li>
              </ul>
            </td>

          </tr>
        </tbody>
      </table>

#### See Also

- [Contact Builder in Marketing Cloud Engagement](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_cab_contact_builder.htm&language=en_US)
- [Synchronized Data Sources](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_co_synchronized_data_sources.htm&language=en_US)