Administration - Configuring the system > Managing profile fields

Managing profile fields

Personal data for each mailing recipient are stored in a separate profile in the OpenEMM database. This profile contains some data as default, e.g. name, title und email address. However, for many applications that is not enough information. If, for instance, you would like to mail your customers for their birthday, you need to save the date of birth as well. Sending out mailings by fax or letter require a fax number and a street address. You could also enter data on customers’ interests.

Fig. 12.1: The profile database has been extended by several fields.

Fig. 12.1: The profile database has been extended by several fields.

Since the required fields in the profile database differ according to their usage, OpenEMM offers you a great deal of freedom here.

Various data types are available. Dates, for instance a date of birth, are stored in a different way from, say, a town or street name. Changes made to the structure of the database will always apply to all recipients stored in your database. You should therefore decide in good time which fields you will require. It is not a problem to add fields to the profile database at any time. However, if you delete a field this may have consequences for many sections of OpenEMM.

A comprehensive introduction to the creation of profile fields and several practical examples can be found in chapter "Maintain recipient's profile with actions".