Managing Data Elements

You can create and customize data elements to act as descriptors and potential identifiers for your collection points and preference centers. Data elements bring structure to the data being collected across your organization's collection points and preference centers.

Note:

Data elements are available to be added to preference centers using the Multi Page template, but not to preference centers using the Original or Enhanced templates.

To add a data element

  1. On the Universal Consent & Preference Management menu, select Setup > Data Elements.

    The Data elements screen appears.

  2. Click the Add New button.

    The Create Data Element modal appears.


    Create Data Element modal with fields for configuring a new data element.
  3. In the Name field, enter a name for the data element.
    Note:

    Data Element Name values support up to 750 characters.

  4. In the Data Element Type field, select a data element type that will determine the format of acceptable entries or selections that can be made for the data element. For more information on the different options, see Data Element Types and Values.
    Note:

    Additional fields will appear when the data element type is set to Selection. For more information, see Data Element Types and Values.

  5. (Optional) In the Organization(s) field, select an organization.
    Note:

    If selected, the data element will show for users tied to that organization only and Site Admins will be able to filter the data element using organizational hierarchy.

  6. (Optional) Select the Can be used as an identifier check box to indicate that the data element identifies or could potentially identify the data subject. These data elements can then be selected in the Data Subject Identifier field of the Collection Point Details screen.
    Note:

    This check box may be unavailable depending on the data element type you select.

  7. (Optional) Select the Contains personally identifiable information check box to indicate if sensitive information is present on the data element. This allows the tracking of PII present on data elements for the purpose of enforcing retention policies and review procedures.
  8. Click the Create button.

Data Element Types and Values

Data element types determine the format of acceptable entries or selections that can be made for the data element. Each type requires a specific format and may have a predefined set of values that can be selected. The following data element types are available:

Note:

Values entered for data elements within collection points should match the format type defined for the data element in preference centers. If the value entered for a data element within a collection point does not match the defined format, the value will not be updated within the Data Subject Profile.

Data Element Type

Description

Text Input

Provides a field where free text entries can be made without restriction.

Date

Provides a calendar where a date can be selected. The required format is MM/DD/YYYY.

Selection

Provides a list of options that you predefine from which a data subject can select.

If this data element type is selected, the following field appears:

  • Allow multiple selections - Allows you to configure multiple selection options for the single data element.

Email

Provides a field where a valid formatted email can be entered.

Phone Number

Provides a field where a valid phone number can be entered. The required format is a valid country code along with the plus (+) sign and phone number.

For example, a valid United States phone number would be formatted as "+12345678901". However, "+11234567890" is not valid because area codes for the United States must start with digits 2 through 9.

Note:

A list of available country code entries is available in the Phone Country Code column in the Data Element Values spreadsheet. You can also reference this GitHub resource to validate whether a phone number is valid for a country.

Country

Provides a list of countries from which a data subject can select.

Note:

A list of available country entries is available in the Country column in the Data Element Values spreadsheet.

Note:

Data element types containing the word Country do not support the following characters:

  • [ ]

  • ( )

  • < >

  • { }

  • ; : ' #

  • € $

  • â œ

State

Provides a list of U.S. states from which a data subject can select.

Note:

A list of available state entries is available in the State column in the Data Element Values spreadsheet.

Number

Provides a field where any numerical digit can be entered.

To edit a data element

  1. On the Universal Consent & Preference Management menu, select Setup > Data Elements. The Data elements screen appears.

  2. Click the link in the Name column for the data element you want to edit and click the Edit button or hover over the data element and click the Context Menu icon that appears.
    Note:

    Data elements linked to a data subject cannot be edited or deleted.

    If a data element is linked to a collection point, it cannot be edited. This protects the integrity of the data that passes through the collection point to your external applications.

  3. On the Context menu, select Edit. The Edit Data Element modal appears.


  4. Update the details of the data element, as needed.
  5. Click the Save button.

To manage translations for a data element

  1. On the Universal Consent & Preference Management menu, select Setup > Data elements. The Data elements screen appears.

  2. Click the link in the Name column for the data element you want to add translations.
    Note:

    Data elements linked to a data subject cannot be edited or deleted.

    If a data element is linked to a collection point, it cannot be edited. This protects the integrity of the data that passes through the collection point to your external applications.

  3. Navigate to the Translations tab.
  4. Click the Manage Languages button. The Manage Languages modal appears.


  5. Select the check boxes for the languages you want to add to the Translations table.
    Note:

    Enable the Show advanced language options setting if you need regional variants.

  6. Click the Save button. The languages that you added will appear on the Translations tab.
    Note:

    By default, the original text will appear in the Name field for the added languages.

  7. In the Target Language field, select the new language you added.
  8. In the Translation column of the Translations table, add your translation of the content in the Name field for the respective languages.


  9. Click the Save button.

To delete a data element

Note:

Data elements linked to a data subject cannot be edited or deleted.

  1. On the Universal Consent & Preference Management menu, select Setup > Data Elements. The Data elements screen appears.

  2. Hover over the data element you want to delete, and click the Context Menu icon that appears.
  3. On the Context menu, select Delete. The Delete Data Element modal appears.


  4. Click the Delete button.