Importing and Exporting Lists

Lists are created in List Manager by importing lists created by other applications, such as Microsoft SQL Server (to create a SQL table), Notepad (to create an ASCII text file), Microsoft Excel (to create a spreadsheet) or Microsoft Outlook (to create .pst files which contain messages, appointments, contacts, and other Outlook items). You can also import Analysis reports and Segment Viewer lists into List Manager. You can then use these lists to run Direct Mailer jobs in order to target your users more successfully.

You can also export lists from List Manager to a file or SQL Server database, and then search on and view members of the exported list.

Note

• You cannot use List Manager to import generic lists with header rows as shown in the following example:

  Productid	ProductName	Unit
  1	Socks	100
  2	Shirts	20

  
  

If you want to use a generic list with header rows, you must first import the list into SQL Server, using a SQL Server import tool, such as the BULK INSERT command, and then import the list into List Manager. For more information about SQL import tools, see SQL Server Books Online.

To import a list

To export a list

To import a list

1. In Campaigns, click List Manager.
   
   
2. In the List Manager screen, click on the toolbar.
   
   
3. In the Import a list dialog box, do the following:

   Use this	To do this
   List type	Select the list type from the drop-down list. The available options are Static and Dynamic. Select Static to import a static, flat text file list. Select Dynamic to import a dynamic list (a list that changes, such as one from a SQL Server database).
   Type name of list to copy to	Type a name for the imported list.
   List source	Select the source type for the list. The available options are From File or From SQL Database. Select From File for a static list. If you select From SQL Database, do the following: In the Connection string box, enter the database connection string, which defines the location of a database and how to connect to it. In the SQL query box, enter the SQL query to return the wanted information. Example: SQL query: SELECT u_email_address AS rcp_email FROM UserObject WHERE d_date_registered >= '03/01/2000' For information about List Manager field name requirements, see Creating a Mailing List. Note Contact your system administrator for database properties and SQL query information. For information about writing SQL queries see Query Fundamentals in SQL Books Online.
   File name	Type the path, file name, and extension to the list you want to import, or click Browse to find the path for the list.

   
   
4. Click OK.

The new list appears in the List Manager. You can now use this list in a direct mail campaign.

To export a list

1. In Campaigns, click List Manager.
   
   
2. In the List Manager screen, select the list you want to export and click on the toolbar.
   
   
3. In the Export a List dialog box, do the following:

   Use this

   To do this

   Export list to

   Select File or SQL Database from the drop-down list. Select File to export the list to a file Select SQL Database to export the list to a SQL Server database. If you select File, in the File name box, type the path to the file to which you want to export the list. If you select SQL Database, in the Connection String box, type the connection string name from the SQL Server database. In the Table Name box type the name of the table to export the list to. Note Contact your system administrator for database properties information.

   
   
4. Click OK.

The report is exported to the selected source.

See Also

Exporting Segment Data to List Manager

Exporting a Static Report

Exporting a Dynamic Report

Importing a List of User Profiles