Using Oracle Responsys’ Workbook to Templatize Content and Streamline Development

Ernest Salazar-Oracle

The following Post is intended to be used as a supplement to the MCX session titled above.

The goal with this post is two-fold.  I wanted to give anyone who is interested in creating a set of HTML templates a set of work files to begin with.  I also wanted to have a post where I could answer questions for anyone who is starting down this path, and wants to work with a community of people who are interested in the same.

You don't need to download the documents here if you have questions.

A note about the attached files:

• The PowerPoint, Responsys_Workbook_Templatize_Content.pptx is based off of the presentation that was done at MCX, and also goes through all of the designs of a little more detail. 
• The Zip file 2017_MME_TEMPLATES.zip is the HTML and Images for the demonstration files.
• The Zip file Documents.zip will have the Linktables for every example, as well as the data required to run the more complex campaigns.
• There are files in both that are there to assist with anyone who wants to also attempt the alternative use templates mentioned in the presentation.

To Begin:

• To use these files, download the zip files and place these on your desktop.
• open your content library in Responsys
• Open the Zip file 2017_MME_TEMPLATES.zip
• Load the content into your library.  NOTE:  Create a folder in your Content library, and upload the zip file directly in.
  • The folder structure is designed to recognize where the images are in most cases. You may have to modify some cases with your particular Library reference
  • This is specifically for the extended versions. To do so simply copy the location of one image and use that to replace the locations for the rest.

Once you have loaded in the HTML and Images.  Make a note of their location.

For the Basic Build Template

1. Create a New Campaign
2. Add Your Subject Line
3. From the library, select /BASIC/SHELL.htm
4. At this point you will see the outer shell come in.  In the Dynamic Content Region menu, select "Body"
5. Load in any body region you wish to see (Body1.htm, Body2.htm, and Body3.htm are in the same folder)
6. Once you have done this, navigate to "link tracking"
7. In the options, select "Generate link table"
8. Make a note of the linktable name
9. Save your notebook
10. Exit to your folders and load Basic1_Linktable.csv from the Documents folder (This is optional)
11. Preview your campaign

For the Expanded Version

1. Follow Steps 1-2 for Basic
2. From the Library, select /EXPANDED/EXPANDED_SHELL.htm
3. For each of the Dynamic Content regions, add in the corresponding file from EXPANDED/HEADERS_FOOTERS
4. The Body regions are shared from the /BASIC/ folders
5. Follow the same instructions for developing the linktable from the basic Example
6. Preview your Campaign

For Alternative 1

1. Follow Steps 1-2 for Basic
2. From the library, select ALTERNATIVE1/Alternative1.htm
3. Follow steps 6-9 in the Basic Setup, do not do step 10
4. Exit to your folders.  In the Documents Folder, load ALTERNATIVE1_linktable.csv for your linktable instead
5. Enter your workbook, and go to the Data Sources tab
6. At the bottom add in 9 Dynamic Variables
7. In the Documents Folder, open Alternate1_Development_Worksheet.xlsx
8. Under the Dynamic Variable tab, add every variable, and its value into your worksheet
   1. The image locations for HERO_IMG, and SECOND_IMG are hard coded in the example sheet, make sure they correspond to your location (if you have nested them in another folder, make sure to add that folder.)
9. Save and Preview

For Alternative 2

1. Follow Steps 1-2 for Basic
2. From the library, select ALTERNATIVE2/Alternative2.htm
3. Follow steps 6-9 in the Basic Setup, do not do step 10
4. Exit to your folders.  In the Documents Folder, load ALTERNATIVE2Example1_linktable.csv for your linktable instead
5. To use this template  you will need to load in a supplemental tables.
   1. From the Main menu, select Data / Create View or Supplemental Table
   2. 
   3. for the file to load, select Documents\Data PRESIDENTIAL_QUOTES.csv from your Documents zip file
   4. The file should load correctly, make sure the checkbox for "First line has Header Names"
   5. For each of the fields, use the field type "Text Field, up to 500 Characters"
   6. For the key field and the Data Extraction field menus, select PRESIDENT
   7. Save the table into your Template folder, and name it "PRESIDENTIAL_QUOTES"
6. One you have done this, you will need to add the table into your Data Sources as a supplemental data source.
   1. Follow the instructions here .The section to look at is Preparing my data:  adding and assigning my tables and fields
7. Save and preview.

For the Alternative use cases.

Once you have built the set above, and want to mix / match based on the sets shown in the Session.  The instructions are a little more barebones,

For the 01_BASIC_TEMPLATE_Include and 01_BASIC_TEMPLATE_MVT

• Follow the same basic structure for Basic Build Structure
• In the same content folder you will find the Shell you need.
• For the include, you need to physically add the body you want
• For the MVT, you use the MVT options to add your Bodies (it's a test template)

Please note that the Include will not generate the linktable automatically, and you will need to add any links to the linktable via the load.

For 03_ALTERNATIVE_BASIC_DV

• Follow the same basic structure for Basic Build Structure exept for step 4, make this modification
  • In the HTML library, find /ALTERNATIVE1/Alternative1_Body_Only.htm
• Follow steps 7 and 8 in the Alternative 1 build

For ALTERNATIVE2_Example1_2files

• Follow the instructions for Alternative 2 with the following changes
  • For step 2, select ALTERNATIVE2/Alternative2_2Tables.htm
  • For step 4, select ALTERNATIVE2Example1_2Table_linktable.csv as your linktable
  • You will need to follow the table load instructions twice,
    • GLOBAL_LINKS.csv is your link set
    • GLOBAL_QUOTES.csv is your content
  • You will need to follow the instructions on how to add the data into your data sources twice to add in both tables
    • for GLOBAL_LINKS, CAMPAIGN_NAME is our lookup key
    • for GLOBAL_QUOTES, PRESIDENT is our lookup key
• Because of the way the RPL loads in your table information, it is important that this workbook is named "ALTERNATIVE2_Example1_2files"
  • This is because the tables both use ${campaign.name} to load their data in.
  • You don't have to follow this, just make sure to modify the names for each of your tables.

I will revise this as needed to add more instruction, if needed.  Please let me know if you get stuck on anything.

Thanks again for your interest!

Nathan Iverson

Hi Ernest,

I'm really interested in looking through how you do this, but I missed the presentation and don't see the powerpoint Responsys_Workbook_Templatize_Content.pptx. Is there anything to help us or should I just dive on it?

Cheers,

Nathan

Myranda

The place I'm stuck in this tutorial (and in the RPL tutorial) is how to specifically call in one of the presidential quotes. What is the code to call in Lincoln's quote/image/URL from that table, for example?

Thanks,

Myranda

Ernest Salazar-Oracle

Hi Ernest,

I'm really interested in looking through how you do this, but I missed the presentation and don't see the powerpoint Responsys_Workbook_Templatize_Content.pptx. Is there anything to help us or should I just dive on it?

Cheers,

Nathan

Hi Nathan.

I've added the PPT to this post.  It was missing, as Topliners for some reason wouldn't allow me to add it when I originally published it.

Jimmie_Akagi

Ernest, I'm on this blog page and want to start with your instructions on building a campaign. I see you reference files that I need to download, but I cannot see where it is downloadable. Can you tell me where I can DL the files needed to make this work, please?

/jma

Ernest Salazar-Oracle

The place I'm stuck in this tutorial (and in the RPL tutorial) is how to specifically call in one of the presidential quotes. What is the code to call in Lincoln's quote/image/URL from that table, for example?

Thanks,

Myranda

Hi Myranda,

I am so sorry, I am just seeing this comment.  Are you still working on this, and do you still have the same issue?

Depending on the template.  The RPL for pulling the quote quote should be in the HTML associated.

In the basic examples, it is hard coded in the HTML in Body1 - Body3.htm

In Alternative 1, it is called from the Dynamic Variable calls:  ${HERO_TEXT},  for instance, will call the primary quote.

In the most complex, the quotes are actually pulled from a data source (the table mentioned), and assigned to a variable.  I've bolded the call below to show the one for the Hero Quote actually p

<#data PRESIDENTIAL_QUOTES as PQ><#filter PRESIDENT=CAMPAIGN_PRESIDENT><#fields S_HERO_ALT S_HERO_IMG S_HERO_TEXT S_HERO_URL S_SECOND_ALT S_SECOND_IMG S_SECOND_QUOTE S_SECOND_TXT_URL S_SECOND_URL><#assign HERO_ALT=PQ.S_HERO_ALT HERO_IMG=PQ.S_HERO_IMG HERO_TEXT=PQ.S_HERO_TEXT HERO_URL=PQ.S_HERO_URL SECOND_ALT=PQ.S_SECOND_ALT SECOND_IMG=PQ.S_SECOND_IMG SECOND_QUOTE=PQ.S_SECOND_QUOTE SECOND_TXT_URL=PQ.S_SECOND_TXT_URL SECOND_URL=PQ.S_SECOND_URL ></#data>

It is then called in the body with a simple call, again ${HERO_TEXT}

I hope this helps.

Ernest Salazar-Oracle

Ernest, I'm on this blog page and want to start with your instructions on building a campaign. I see you reference files that I need to download, but I cannot see where it is downloadable. Can you tell me where I can DL the files needed to make this work, please?

/jma

Hi Jimmie, apologies for not seeing this earlier.  The files mentioned are at the bottom of the article.  There should be 3.

Myranda

Hi Ernest, I've got all of the pieces working except the URL (different campaign than previous comment).

Example: ${TABLE.ITEM1} pulls in the correct text for Item 1.

However, ${TABLE.ITEM1URL} only works if I do not have a link table applied. Once I add a link table, the link goes to a blank page instead of to the correct place.

The URL in the supplemental table starts with https:// and ends with .html   so I'm not sure if there's anything there that is messing it up. We've used this exact URL directly in HTML before (rather than in a supplemental table) and it works perfectly with a link table.

User_2ESET

Using this example: <#data PRESIDENTIAL_QUOTES as PQ><#filter PRESIDENT=CAMPAIGN_PRESIDENT>...

I'd like to call out a field in my supplemental table and have the filter rule equal a field in a profile extension table...rather than my primary contact table. Is that possible?z

Dave Jacobsen-Oracle

Using this example: <#data PRESIDENTIAL_QUOTES as PQ><#filter PRESIDENT=CAMPAIGN_PRESIDENT>...

I'd like to call out a field in my supplemental table and have the filter rule equal a field in a profile extension table...rather than my primary contact table. Is that possible?z

If you are still looking for an answer to this, yes.  You can do what you are asking.  In the <#filter> tag, set supp_field = list_field.