How to Filter a Data Extension in Automation Studio – Global Marketing

This is the simplest way to filter a data extension.

In entry sources, decision split activities, and other Journey Builder components, marketers can create a filter to admit contacts based on attribute values. Filters consist of an expression, or an attribute, an operator like equals or begins with, and a default or restricted value you choose. The filter feature allows you to filter in a series of automations without needing to know SQL. Filter activities in Automation Studio use data filters in Email Studio.

Hover over Email Studio and select Email.
Hover over Subscribers and select Data Filters.
Select
Select Data Extension.
Select OK.
Navigate to and select the data extension you would like to filter.
Select OK.
Navigate to the attribute you would you like to use to filter. Note: The attributes are related in attribute groups based on how you linked them in Data Designer. More information on attribute groups is available here.
Drag the attribute of your choice into the center. Ex. DOB
Edit the filter criteria:
- Expression – The first component of the filter is the expression. In this case, the expression is the attribute selected. Journey Builder will search a contact’s information for this specific expression. EX. DOB
- Operator – The operator defines the relationship between the expression and restricted value. It is the criteria used to determine if contacts will be included in a Journey. Ex. Is equal to, Is null
- Restricted Value – The restricted value is optional depending on the operator used. It determines the specific value the attribute must adhere to. Ex. Today, True
Continue to add attributes by dragging them to the center panel.
Once you have two or more filter criteria, group filter statements can be used.

AND – The contact will be included if both statements hold true.
OR - The contact will be included if at least one of the statements holds true.

Select Save.
Now you are ready to create a filter activity. Hover over Journey Builder and select Automation Studio.
Select Activities.
Select
Select Filter from the Activity Types.
Select Next.
Provide properties for you filter:

Name – The name used to identify the filer activity in Journey Automation Studio.
External Key - A unique value that identifies the data extension, optional.
Location - Select Change Location to store the data extension in a different folder location, optional.
Description - A description of the data extension, optional. Use this description to further help identify the data extension within Journey Builder.
Filter Definition – Previously created filter to apply. If your data filter is applied to profile attributes, select a source list created in Email Studio and name the group that is created when this filter activity runs and choose a group folder to store it. Note: If your filter is applied to a data extension, selecting a source list is unnecessary.

Select Next.
Provide information for resulting data extension:
Select Next.
Select Finish.
Select Overview
Now you are ready to schedule your filter. Select New Automation.
Give your Automation a name.
Select Done.
Select
Drag and drop the Schedule icon to the canvas.
Select Configure.
Define Schedule:
- Start Date and Time – Time when Automation Builder begins filtering contacts.
- Repeat – Frequency of when contacts can be evaluated (how often the automation runs). Ex. If set to Weekdays, the automation will run once every weekday.

End – Number of cycles the schedule will last for. If set to a specific number of occurrences or a specified date, it will not filter any contacts after the number of occurrences occurs or that specified date is reached. Note: This is a common error in journeys. A best practice is to set End to Never.

Select Done.
Drag the filter icon to the canvas.
Select Choose.
Navigate to and select the filter you created.
Select Done.
Select Save.

Congratulations! You have successfully created a filtered data extension using Automation Studio.

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