Smart Connector: How to Map Data Fields

What are Smart Connector Data Fields?

When setting up or editing a Smart Connector, you will need to map and configure each field in your data source so it is interpreted correctly by the system. After you upload a sample file, you will be asked to state the type of data field and then select amongst the following mapping options. 

 

 

Field Types

Number

• Will be used for operations in the system like Sums and Formulas

• Note, cannot be used for assigning

• Note, cannot be used as date range

Decimal

• Displays the field with two decimals, also be used in system operations

• Note, cannot be used for assigning

• Note, cannot be used as date range

Percent

• Displays the field with a % and two decimals, also be used in system operations

• Note, cannot be used for assigning

• Note, cannot be used as date range

Currency

• Indicates that the field should work with the currency selection in the dashboard, also used in system operations

• Note, cannot be used for assigning

• Note, cannot be used as date range

Text

• Stores and displays the field as a text string

• Note, cannot be used as date range

Date

• Stores and displays the field as a date value

• Note, cannot be used for assigning 

URL

• Stores clickable URL links

Image

• Note, cannot be used for assigning

• Note, cannot be used as date range

 

 

Use for mapping?

• This is the field that you and your team will use to connect data from your files to Tap Dashboards.
• Typically this is something like an Advertiser Name, Client Name, Company Name, or Campaign Name. Think of this as the most granular thing that might represent one of your dashboards.
• If you have questions about how to approach this field, reach out to your Account Manager for guidance

 

Use for Date Range?

• This will indicate to the system what field is needed for the Date Range. This is an important field because it controls how data is impacted by the on-screen date range picker.
• If you have questions about how to approach this field, reach out to your Account Manager for guidance

 

Unique Field?

• Look at your data. What makes each row different from the row above it? Typically this is an ID type field like a Campaign ID or an Ad ID but could also be a Keyword. Alternatively, select up to three fields which when combined will always provide different combinations in rows.
• If you have questions about how to approach this field, reach out to your Account Manager for guidance

 

Is Metric?

• This is a field that is used to indicate if a value is a performance metric, like Impressions or Clicks. Most of the time, you’ll want to click this.
• The case where you would not use this designation is for say a budget or an impressions targeted value, an attribute on a campaign, something that doesn’t change from day to day.

 

 

More on "Uniqueness"

Uniqueness can be tricky, so let's discuss it in more depth here. It's a database concept that warrants some additional discussion.

When setting up a Smart Connector the system needs to be able to interpret your data correctly. There is a configuration called uniqueness that helps TapClicks understand what field or combination of fields make a particular entry in your dataset "unique". Where uniqueness is had to interpret, the system may treat two entries in your database the same. This can lead to over-writing errors or inaccurate reporting. 

The reason these errors can occur is because when you upload multiple files over time, the system has to correctly attribute one line of data with its historical counterpart. Without that, the system may interpret each new line of data an a new line or as duplicate lines, and not show the time series you want to display in reports.

Let's use an example...

Let's pretend I have a dataset that is used to track the performance of various ads for a car dealership client of mine. This dealer has 20 different storefronts, and uses the same ads for many of them. 

I want to upload this data using a Smart Connector. I have to ask, "What attributes of this data make a given line in my spreadsheet unique?" Said another way, what factors combine to make one line different than another? If i fail to

In this case, I have a few attributes that, if interpreted individually, could lead to misleading results. They are:

• The ad
• The location
• The product advertised
• The campaign

If I uploaded my data into the Smart Connector without telling it "All these things must be considered when deciding whether to match a field to a previous version of the file", then it might treat all lines with the same ad or same location as ... the same. 

However, if I tell the system "a single element in my dataset is a combination of these factors", then it will interpret things correctly. 

In this case, I would mark all four items as being factors to determine uniqueness.