Use the Table of Contents below to jump to particular instructions.
Table of Contents:
Basic Steps to Create a Smart Connector
Specific Steps to Create a Multi-Level Smart Connector
What is the Multi-Level Smart Connector?
This Smart Connector feature allows you to join two or more datasets in a hierarchical structure. For example, if you have multiple datasets that you would like to show up in TapClicks as a single data source, you can use the multi-level feature to make the association between these datasets.
Let’s use an example to illustrate this:
You have collected data about campaigns and leads. These could be in separate files, separate tabs in a file, or separate tables in a database. One dataset pertains to information about the campaigns running. The other is information about the leads from the campaign. The campaign dataset contains things like the campaign name and metrics pertaining to the campaign. The leads dataset contains information such as their name, personal info, and the name of the campaign that procured the lead. On both forms, you collect Campaign Name.
The parent, or top level of the Smart Connector, would represent the campaign data where you would make Campaign Name the unique identifier of this dataset. The child, or lower level of the Smart Connector, would be the leads data. The two datasets would be associated using the Campaign Name field available in both datasets.
A multi-level Smart Connector is simply a way to join multiple datasets. The levels in the multi-level name refer to the parent-child relationship among data. The parent data is the one you relate the others to by making the association for a specific field or set of fields.
Important Terminology
When building a Multi-Level Smart Connector it helps to be familiar with a few terms and concepts that are used in this article.
Data Table
Think of a data table as one tab in a spreadsheet. You might have data on multiple tabs but they aren’t necessarily connected together.
Join
Many people are familiar with the concept of merging tables. When you compile multiple Excel tabs into one single tab, you are effectively merging the data. To join data, you are connecting separate data tables together using a common field. The data stays in separate places but you have made an association among them.
Relational Field
When joining two or more data tables, the field(s) used to associate the data tables is called the relational field. In the example above, the person’s email address was the relational field. We could use it to inform the system that the various data tables are related.
How to Create a Multi-Level Smart Connector
Basic Smart Connector Setup Steps
If you want to skip to just the Multi-level step, please click here.
1] On the left side menu, click Data.
2] Select Smart Connectors to get to the Smart Connectors list.
3] Click on the (+) plus sign to add a new Smart Connector.
4] Provide a name and other details.
5] Select a Delivery Type from the dropdown. In this example, we will use the Manual Upload Delivery Type.
| NOTE: The Multi-Level Smart Connector feature will work with all delivery types. |
6] Click on Select Sample File and choose the first file you want to upload.
7] Click on Upload.
8] A field mapping section will appear. Verify the fields are correctly mapped by ensuring the suggested field types are accurate for the data you have provided (dates for a date field, numbers for a number field, etc)
| NOTE: There are three pieces of data required to make a Smart Connector functional: At least one Date field, at least one field that associates with a client record, and at least one number field. |
9] Select the field(s) that will define the uniqueness of your dataset. You will need to map these unique fields to any other data table you join to this one. Effectively, these are your relational fields. For more information about Unique Fields, please see this article.
10] Save Changes.
Steps Specific to Create a Multi-Level Smart Connector
Once you have saved changes on your Smart Connector, the option will appear at the bottom of the page to add sublevels. A sublevel is simply another data table you want to join with the one you have already created.
1] Click on the (+) plus sign next to Smart Connector Sublevels.
2] The new page is nearly identical to the previous Smart Connector creation page. Simply fill out the details using the previous steps to include the name of the sublevel, delivery type, and field mappings.
3] Once you upload your sample file, you will see the field mapping window again. Configure your fields as you did on the previous page.
4] Once your fields are configured, you will notice new sections called Parent Inheritance and Expose Parent Field.
| NOTE: The dropdown options in the Parent Inheritance field are the Unique Fields you chose in the first smart connector mapping step. All of these will need to be mapped to the same data as it exists in the new sublevel file. |
5] The parent inheritance fields are the unique fields you chose in the first smart connector mapping step. All of these will need to be mapped to the same data as it exists in the new sublevel file. These are the relational fields and it is how the two levels of the smart connector are connected.
6] The Expose Parent field, unlike the parent inheritance fields, are fields that are not present at the sublevel but you would like to bring them down.
7] After you have selected these options, click Save Changes.