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Define Dynamic Content to Merge » Specifying Symbol Data Type
## Specifying Symbol Data Type Each symbol listed in the Symbols tab has a data type that indicates the type of information that is substituted for the symbol when you mail the cell. Use the drop-down control to choose a data type that is suitable for the custom symbols you want to use in your e-mail. (The data type of intrinsic symbols is always Intrinsic. ) To use an intrinsic symbol in a cell, enter the symbol name (with underscores) in the Content tab of the cell. The symbol appears in the Symbols tab with the data type Intrinsic. If you use the Add Symbol button in the Symbols Tab, you can enter the name of an intrinsic symbol but this creates a symbol of a non-intrinsic data type. You cannot assign the data type Intrinsic to a symbol created this way. If you use the name of an intrinsic symbol with a non-intrinsic data type, you cannot use the intrinsic symbol in the cell content. The following are intrinsic symbols:
Intrinsic symbol | Description
_#BASE36(<content>)__ | BASE36 encodes the value within the (). The value may also be a merge field.
_#BR__ | Tag for HTML. Line feed for text.
_#CELLNAME__ | Cell name.
_#DROPDATE__ | Drop date in (SQL) format YYYYMMDDHH24MISS.
_#LF__ | Line feed. ASCII character 10.
_#MAILINGNAME__ | Mailing name.
_#URLENCODE(<content>)__ | URL encodes the value within the (). The value can also be a merge field.
_#URLENCODE(<content>)__ | URL encodes the value within the (). The value can also be a merge field.
_#VM__ | Virtual MIME type. A single character: t | a | h
CELLID | CellID.
CID | Unique identifier of e-mail recipient.
CLIENTID | ClientID
COMPFIRSTLASTNAME | Computed first/last name. If the value seems invalid, the default value is merged into the cell content.
COMPFIRSTNAME | Computed first name. If the value seems invalid, the default value is merged into the cell content.
COMPFULLNAME | Computed full name. If the value seems invalid, the default value is merged into the cell content.
DATEDAYABBRNAME | Day name abbreviated. Example: Sun
DATEDAYFULLNAME | Full day name. Example: Sunday
DATEDAYFULLNUM | Full day number. Example: 05.
DATEDAYNUM | Day number in date. Example: 30
DATEMONTHABBRNAME | Month abbreviated. Example: Jun
DATEMONTHFULLNAME | Full month name. Example: June
DATEMONTHFULLNUM | Full month number. Example: 06.
DATEMONTHNUM | Month number. Example: 6.
DATEYEARABBRNUM | Year number abbreviated. Example: 05.
DATEYEARFULLNUM | Full year number. Example: 2005.
DROPDATE | Date when the mailing is schedule to be sent, in the format YYYYMMDDHH24MISS.
ECELLID | BASE36 encoded cellid.
ECID | BASE36 encoded cid.
ECLIENTID | BASE36 encoded detectexpires value.
EDETECTEXPIRES | BASE36 encoded detectexpires value.
EDSECUREI | For internal use only.
EDUSERHASHKEY | For internal use only.
EEMAIL | BASE64 encoded _EMAIL__ value.
EFIRSTNAME | BASE64 encodeded _FIRSTNAME__ value.
EFULLNAME | BASE64 encoded _FULLNAME__ value.
EGROUPID | For internal use only.
EINSTANCEID | For internal use only.
ELASTNAME | BASE64 encoded _LASTNAME__ value.
ELISTID | BASE64 encoded _LISTID__.
EMAIL | Recipient's e-mail address.
EMAILGROUPID | For internal use only.
EMIME | For internal use only.
EOCID | BASE36 encoded _OCID__.
EOEMAIL | BASE64 encoded _OEMAIL__.
EOLISTID | BASE36 encoded _IRIGINALLISTID__.
FORMAT | Format of the current row. One of: T | A | H | M.
FTFCELL | Whether the cell is original or has been forwarded to a friend.
FTFLINK | Abbreviation of actual link.
HOSTEDLINK | For internal use only.
INSTANCEID | For internal use only.
INVALID | Used to abort a merger.
ISPKEY | For internal use only.
LISTID | List that the e-mail recipient is part of for reporting purposes.
MAILACTION | For internal use only.
MAILINGID | MailingID.
MAILTAG | For internal use only.
OCID | Original CID. Only different for proofs and clones.
OECID | Original _ECID__.
OELISTID | Original _ELISTID__.
OEMAIL | Original _EMAIL__. Only different for proofs and clones.
ORIGINALLISTID | Original _LISTID__.
REDIRECTDNS | Domain Name to use to redirect the link.
TIME12HOUR | Hour portion of time in 12 hour format. Example: 5.
TIME24HOUR | Hour portion of time in 24 hour format. Example: 17.
TIMEAMPMLC | am or pm value of time in lowercase. Example: pm.
TIMEAMPMUC | AM or PM value of time in uppercase. Example: PM.
TIMEMINUTE | Minute portion of time. Example: 30.
TIMESECOND | Second portion of time. Example: 30.
TRANSACTIONID | For internal use only.
UNSUBDNS | Domain name to use for unsub link.
UNSUBLINK | Abbreviation of actual unsub link.
UNSUBVERSION | For internal use only.
The data types are: Content Case - Large block of text or image that varies according to a rule Content Constant - Large block of text or image that is the same for each recipient Custom - Custom content that varies by recipient Data Column - Value from data in the master database Grid Object - Binds a grid object to a call Grid Symbol - Value from data in a grid object Plugin Symbol - Created specifically for your organization, merges data from a source other than the Master Database, for example articles from your web site; symbol type names in the drop-down list indicate the data gathering technique, for example Article Lookup Quick Test Content - Large block of text or image that varies by Quick Test version number Quick Test String - Short text that varies by Quick Test version number String Case - Short text that varies according to a rule String Constant - Short text that is the same for each recipient The following are general rules to distinguish between data types: String vs. Content: Use string data types to merge just a few words or less. Use content data types for blocks of content or images stored in the Content Library. Constant vs. Case: Constant is the same for all recipients (the entire mailing audience). Case is rule based. All symbols require a default value as described in Specifying Symbol Default Value. Other required fields vary according to the data type. Some data types are based on profile information columns from the database. Some allow you specify rules. The following table provides an example of each data type:
Symbol | Data Type | Based On | Default | Rules | Actions
MAP | Content Case | CITY | 12345 | EDIT RULE | DELETE
LOGO | Content Constant |  | 23456 |  | DELETE
OFFER | Custom |  | 20 Percent Off |  | DELETE
FIRSTNAME | Data Column | FIRSTNAME | Valued Customer |  | DELETE
GRID01 | Grid Object |  | Team Data |  | DELETE
TEAM | Grid Symbol |  | Team Data.TEAM |  | DELETE
CELLID | Intrinsic |  |  |  | DELETE*
ARTICLE | Plugin Note: The name of the type is not Plugin; instead it is descriptive, for example Article Lookup. |  |  |  | DELETE
LOCATION | String Case | CITY | your town | EDIT RULE | DELETE
OURPHONE | String Constant |  | 1-800-555-5555 |  | DELETE
PRODUCT | Quick Test Content |  |  | EDIT RULE | DELETE
SUBJECT | Quick Test String |  |  | EDIT RULE | DELETE
* DELETE generally indicates that the symbol is not used in the cell content. Certain intrinsic symbols such as CELLID cannot be deleted even if not used in the cell content. In the previous table, the symbols are used as follows:
Symbol | Merges...
MAP | An image of a map of the city, which is stored in the Content Library with an ID of 12345, based on the value of CITY in the Master Database for each recipient.
LOGO | An image of the logo, which is stored in the Content Library with an ID of 23456. The image is the same in each e-mail.
OFFER | Content based on customization for your organization.
FIRSTNAME | The first name for each recipient, based on the value in the Master Database. If there is no value in the Master Database for the recipient, merges "Valued Customer."
GRID01 | Not intended for merging. Binds a grid object to a cell. See Using Grid and Grid Object Symbols.
TEAM | Content based on the data in the associated grid object. See Using Grid and Grid Object Symbols.
CELLID | The cell ID. This is not visible in the e-mail.
ARTICLE | The article that you want to appear in the e-mail.
LOCATION | The name of the recipient's city based on business rules. Merges "your town" if there is no value for CITY in the Master Database for the recipient.
OURPHONE | The phone number (1-800-555-5555) into each e-mail.
PRODUCT | Content object identifier based on the Quick Test version number. See Using Quick Test Symbols.
SUBJECT | String content based on the Quick Test version number. See Using Quick Test Symbols.
In This Section Using Case Symbols Using Constant Symbols Using Intrinsic Symbols Using Data Column Symbols Using Grid and Grid Object Symbols Using Quick Test Symbols Using Custom Symbols Using Plugin Symbols | See Also Define Dynamic Content to Merge About Symbols Symbols Tab Specifying the Based On Column Specifying Symbol Default Value
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