Profile variables for upgraded customers

This topic applies to upgraded customers who are still using a Sparq 1 recruitment study.

The Community Profile Data (CPD) study

The Community Profile Data (CPD) study is a back-end component that Alida uses to map members' existing profile data from a Sparq 1 recruitment study to corresponding Community profile variables. When a new member completes the Sparq 1 recruitment study, their responses are passed to Community as profile variable values. The CPD study is also used during the upgrade process to migrate members' current profile data to Community profile variables.

The CPD study is accessible by Alida only. Please contact your Account Representative if you need to implement any of these changes:

  • Update mappings between the Sparq 1 recruitment study and Community profile variables.
  • Update profile data collection at the time of recruitment.
Important:
  • Not all Sparq 1 recruitment studies use the CPD study on the back end; some may use scripting to post Community profile variables. If you are unsure which method your Community setup uses, please contact your Account Representative.
  • The CPD study syncs values to Community profile variables every 24 hours, whereas scripting posts updated Community profile variables instantly.
  • Do not rename a profile variable that was migrated from Sparq 1 yourself. If you rename a migrated profile variable from A to B, the next time data is synced from Sparq 1 to Community, profile variable A is re-created.

You can create new profile variables in Community

As an upgraded customer, there is nothing stopping you from creating new profile variables on the Community side. Creating new profile variables does not break any data mappings between your Sparq 1 recruitment study and Community.

Here are some advantages of creating and managing new Community profile variables yourself:

  • Community profile variables are easy to create and edit. You can do so through the Profile Variables page.
  • Community profile variables are easy to update. You can update profile variable values at any time by using a Profile action in any survey. The Profile action maps a question response back to a profile variable so that the response automatically updates a member value.
  • You can do this at any time, without requiring the assistance of an Account Representative.

CPD profile variables and Profile actions

You can use Profile actions to update a profile variable that is synced from the CPD study. The daily CPD sync will not overwrite the newer value collected through the Profile action.

CPD profile variables and member hubs

The latest profile variable value is always the one that is used, regardless of whether the value came from the CPD study, a CSV file import, or a member hub update. The daily CPD sync will not overwrite a newer value collected through the member hub.