Before you begin: The TapClicks Data Lookup feature is an advanced functionality that is only available on an as-needed basis. Please connect with your Customer Success Manager or customercare@tapclicks.com if you would like to explore this feature for your needs.
What is a Data Lookup?
A TapClicks Data Lookup enables the joining of two Data Sources based on specific join fields, or keys. This function allows users to inject fields from one Data Source into another as metrics or dimensions for downstream operations, alongside the original Data Source metrics. Once these fields are available in the original Data Source, they can be displayed in visualizations on dashboards and reports, and utilized in other data features like calculations and data exporter.
Use Cases for Data Lookups
1] Joining Data Across Two Sources: Consider two Data Sources - Facebook Ads with campaign performance data and a spreadsheet with conversion metrics linked by Campaign ID or Account ID. A Data Lookup can integrate conversion fields from the spreadsheet (ingested via a TapClicks Smart Connector) into the Facebook Ads Data Source, allowing for the attribution of conversions to specific Facebook Ads campaigns.
2] Currency Conversions: In cases where you have daily currency conversion rates between source and destination currencies, a Data Lookup can merge these rates with a Data Source. This integration enables the application of currency conversion to cost metrics, facilitating the translation into local currency values.
3] Exposing Friendly Names: Users can utilize Data Lookup to import a user-friendly name to substitute an existing field in the original Data Source. This enhanced field can then be used in visualizations for clearer dashboard presentations or as filter criteria.
How to Set up a Data Lookup
1] Log into TapClicks and on the Data menu, click Data Lookups.
2] If you have not made a data look up yet, click Create FIrst in the center of the page.
3] Otherwise, click Add Data Lookup (plus icon) in the top right of the page.
4] The New Data Lookup Page will open. Start by naming this new Lookup using the textbox.
5] In the Source Data View Fields, select the Data Source and Data View that you want to append data to.
6] Next in the Join With fields, select the data that you want to append to the Source Data.
| Note: This Data Source must be a Smart Connector. |
7] In the Join On section, indicate which fields will be used to connect the two data sets together. These fields must have the same data type for the join to work. For example, below we have joined Facebook Ads Campaigns and Google Sheets Campaigns using the Fields Account ID and ID, respectively.
8] Now, in the Expose Fields section add the fields from the "Join with" Data Source that will be appended to the "Source Data" Data Source. You may add as many fields as you like by clicking the plus icon.
9] Finally, decide if you need to use the final checkbox labeled “Ignore Customer From Lookup Table”. By default, the TapClicks Customer ID is added as a join to the resulting Lookup. This ensures that data between both data sets also respects the Client assignments when surfacing data for specific clients. If your Smart Connector is only assigned to a single client or not assigned to any clients, you can uncheck this box.
10] When you are finishing setting up your Data Lookup, click Save at the bottom of the page.
Congratulations on creating a Data Lookup! You can now generate visualizations using the original Data Source and view the new fields introduced from the Smart Connector, integrated into your Data View through the Data Lookup Fields.
Additional Considerations
Implicitly Joined Fields
Data Lookups have two implicit join fields (Based on the Smart Connector/File ingested):
- Date
- Client ID (This can be turned off in the Data Lookup Setting UI)
This means that regardless of how you have configured your Data Lookup, Dates and TapClicks Client IDs will always be connected between an Instant On Connector and a Smart Connector. There is a way to override the Client ID join from the Data Lookup by using the checkbox for “Ignore Customer From Lookup Table”.
As mentioned above, the TapClicks Customer ID is automatically included as a field to the resulting Lookup. This ensures that data between both data sets also respects Client assignments when surfacing data for specific clients. If your Smart Connector is only assigned to a single client or not assigned to any clients, you can uncheck this box.
As an example, let’s say you are going to bring in currency conversion data through a Smart Connector and you assign that whole Smart Connector to “Demo Advertiser” in Manage Services to bring the data in. When you create the Data Lookup and check the "ignore Customer From Lookup Table" box, the system will append the currency data to the source data for all rows regardless of the Client. This way, the fields from the Smart Connector and any related calculations would be available for all Clients in your instance.
If you have questions about how to leverage this feature, please reach out to your Customer Success Manager or customercare@tapclicks.com to explore your use case with the TapClicks Solutions Expert Team.
Different Types of Smart Connectors
Variation 1: With Dates in the Smart Connector
Most commonly, TapClicks Smart Connectors bring in data from spreadsheets that contain daily data. To use date as a join parameter, the Smart Connector should be set up with a row for each day.
As an example:
| Client | Campaign ID | Margin | Date |
| Toyota | TA123 | 2 | 2023-05-01 |
| Toyota | TA123 | 2 | 2023-05-02 |
| Toyota | TA123 | 2 | 2023-05-03 |
| Toyota | TA123 | 2.5 | 2023-05-04 |
| Toyota | TA123 | 2.5 | 2023-05-05 |
Variation 2: With Dateless Smart Connector
If you need to have a constant or reference value that is not going to change over time, a date-less Smart Connector can be created. This is a setting in the Smart Connector UI.
| Location Code | Location Name |
| TA123 | Sunnyvale |
| TA124 | San Jose |
| TA125 | Santa Clara |
| TA126 | Mountain View |
| TA127 | Fremont |
FAQs
Can I use a Data Lookup to bring together data from one Instant On Data Source to another Instant On Data Source?
No, but feel free to submit a request to our product team to explore this feature for you and your team!
Can TapClicks help me with my Data Lookups?
Absolutely! TapClicks Solutions Experts are available to consult with your team about your unique needs. Reach out to your Customer Success Manager or customercare@tapclicks.com today to start the conversation.