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Create a Target Data Extension in Marketing Cloud Engagement

Set up a target data extension in Marketing Cloud Engagement to map the fields in the segment that you’re exporting. After you create the data extension, save the external key to set up data extracts in Automation Studio.

Required Editions

Permissions Needed
To create a target data extension: A role with Administrator permissions
  1. From the main navigation in Engagement, select Audience Builder | Contact Builder.
  2. Click Data Extensions.
  3. Click Create.
  4. Complete the information in the Properties section.
    Item Description
    Creation Method Select Create from New.
    Name Enter a name that matches the segment so that you can identify the data extension in Contact Builder.
    Description Enter a description to identify the data extension.
    Is Sendable Makes the data extension available as the source of a send.
    Is Testable Makes the data extension available for testing.
  5. Click Next.
  6. To set a data retention policy for your data extension, turn on Data Retention.
  7. To apply the data retention policy, select Apply To.
  8. Configure an option for the Retention Period. For a revolving time period, enter a value in the text field and select a time frame from the dropdown. For a fixed date, select the date.
  9. Click Next.
  10. Configure the mandatory attributes.
    Attribute names in the segment that you’re exporting must match field names in the data extension. When you begin entering column values in a row, an empty row is added to receive the next group of attributes.
    Note
    Note If the Personalization system populates the sfmcContactKey attribute, map SubscriberKey to sfmcContactKey.

    Primary Key

    Name

    Data Type

    Required (is this “Nullable”?)

    Length

    Default Value

    Selected

    userId

    Text

    Not selected

    50

    N/A

    Not selected

    segmentMembership

    Boolean

    Selected

    Blank

    N/A

    Not selected

    emailAddress

    Email Address

    Selected

    254

    N/A

    Not selected

    sfmcContactKey

    Text

    Selected

    50

    N/A
  11. Map any other attributes, like country or language using these values:

    Primary Key

    Name

    Data Type

    Required (is this “Nullable”?)

    Length

    Default Value

    Not selected

    <Field name that maps to the attribute>

    Text

    Not selected

    50

    N/A
  12. Click Create.
  13. Click OK.
  14. Open the data extension and save the external key. You need the external key when you set up data extracts in Automation Studio.