Add Source Code Parts

Source code parts are the building blocks for your source codes. Each source code part contains a specific type of information and each layout defines how those parts are used in the source code. Because these components are commonly used in source codes, the program automatically includes parts for Channel, Package, List, Effort, Segment and Test Segment. You can also create user defined parts such as Department, Program, Initiative, or Fundraising Area.

On each part type, you define all the possible values you want available for different source codes. These values can be fixed or variable. “Fixed” means the values are locked down so you can only select from the values provided. For example, you can define fixed values for the “Department” source code part, such as ‘M’ for Membership or ‘D’ for Development. Other part types need to allow variable values so you can enter different values for different situations. For these values, you can create a string of wildcard characters that defines the format allowed for that value. @ represents any letter, # represents any number and ? represents any letter or number. For example, you can define the format for the “Month” source code part as a two digit code (i.e. May = 05). The field displays ## to indicate that you need to enter two digits. Values can also be a combination of fixed and wild card characters. For example, P# means the code must start with a P and be followed by a single number, and @P means the code must start with any single letter, and be followed by a P.

For parts that require only a few possible values, such as Channel and Test Segment codes, use fixed values. For others that require a large number of code values, such as List, Package and Segment codes, use a combination of fixed and wild card characters.

Because your organization has its own unique rules for source code length and structure (your source code layouts may even change among types of marketing efforts), the program allows you to create as many source code parts and layouts as you need.

For certain record types, such as segments, lists and packages, you may manage a very large number of records that require a large number of unique code values. Because there are so many records, it is not important that you can recognize the code value for a particular record; you just need it to be unique. In this case, you can select Automatically increment source code values during data entry for a source code part and the program will automatically generate a unique part value when you create a new record of that type. The table below explains how the program generates the code values based on the specified code format.

Note: It is possible to run out of code values. The program starts with the next highest code it can generate. For example, the Segment code part uses a two digit format (##). If the last code value generated for a segment was 50, then the next value will be 51. When the code values reach 99, the program starts over at 00 and then increments up to 49. Once you reach 50 again, the program notifies you that you will create a segment with a duplicate code. When you run out of values for packages or lists, you cannot save the record and you will need to create a new source code part with a wider format range. To avoid running out of unique code values, plan ahead and create a format wide enough to accomodate all your records. For example, a three-digit alphanumeric (0-9, A-Z) code provides over 46,000 unique codes, while a two-digit code provides over 1,200 unique combinations.

 

Format	Starting Code Value	Next Increment
###	000 009 099	001 010 100	This format uses only numbers so the result is a range of codes from 000 to 999.
@@@	AAA AAZ AZZ	AAB ABA BAA	This format uses only letters so the result is a range of codes from AAA to ZZZ.
???	000 009 0AA	001 00A 100	This format uses letters and numbers. The program starts with 0 – 9, then continues with A – Z before cycling back to 0. This results in a range of codes from 000 to ZZZ.
@#?	A00 A09 A0Z A9Z	A01 A0A A10 B00	This format uses all three wild cards. Reading from left to right, the first position (@) allows letters only: A – Z. The next position (#) allows numbers only: 0 - 9. The last position (?) uses any character, 0 – 9, then A – Z. This format results in a range of codes from A00 to Z9Z.
X##	X01	X02	This format includes the fixed value ‘X’. In this case, the program only increments the wild card positions (##). This format results in a range of codes from X00 to X99.