External data

6 min

This topic describes how to process external data using field functions.

Note

Use your specific data and recipient list fields, and test the field functions before using them in a mailing.

Displaying a JSON string as text in a mailing

If you retrieve data via API and store it as a JSON string, you can display the content as text with the following velocity code:

#set ($jsonContent = $json.readFromString(${jsonString}))

If recipient list fields contain data as JSON, you can display the content as text using the following velocity code:

#set ($jsonContent = $json.readFromString($!{user.data.RECIPIENTLISTFIELD}))

Example

You have a recipient list with a custom field in text format that contains the following JSON string:

{"clearname": "John Smith", "unsubscribelink": "http://www.example.com/unsubscribe/user-id-1234"}

In the mailing, you can use the JSON string using velocity code as follows:

#set ($jsonContent = $json.readFromString($!{user.data.custom}))Hello ${jsonContent.clearname}! To unsubscribe from the newsletter, click <a href="${jsonContent.unsubscribelink}">here</a>.

Displaying post-click data

Velocity lets you access the following post-click data and display it in a mailing:

service ("name_of_service")

stringValue("x")

is()

isNot()

floatValue("X")

isGreaterThan("y")

isLessThan("y")

isGreaterThanOrEqualTo("y")

isLessThanOrEqualTo("y")

Tip

Using velocity field functions, you can display only the most recent post-click data. You cannot display older data.

Example

The following Velocity code lets you display the value of gvalue10 in the serviceName service:

#set($strGvalue = $!postClick.find().where().service().is("serviceName").getStringResult(10))$strGvalue