Importing external data into a dataset

You can use the append CSV feature to add external data to your dataset. External data is any data that does not come from the activities or profile variables associated with the dataset.

You can import third-party data to analyze on its own or in combination with activity and profile variable data. You can append CSV data to an existing dataset that contains activity and profile variable data, or a new dataset that defines the structure of the data you will import, but doesn't contain any activity or profile variable data.

You can select Pending activities for your dataset, which means you don't have to distribute and wait for responses to your activity before you append data to it. For example, you can create an activity to contain third-party data and append data to it once or multiple times while the activity is in Pending state. However, if you want to combine the appended data source with other data sources or profile variables, it must be in the Closed or Open state in order to sync the dataset. Datasets with pending activities can be used in Dashboards, but they cannot be used to create crosstab reports.

Once it's appended to the dataset, CSV data is treated the same as other data in a dataset and you can create custom fields, crosstab reports, and dashboards based on this data.

Ways you can use this feature include:

• Import additional responses from a CSV. The responses in the appended CSV must match the questions in the activity you are appending to.
• Consolidate multiple surveys into a single survey for reports and dashboards. For example, combine the responses from monthly surveys into one survey to graph the changes over a full year.
• Integrating external data into a dashboard, such as non-Alida survey responses or sales data.