Deleting data

If privacy records or individual requests require you to delete customer data from Oracle CX Audience, you can do so by managing your customer data. CX Audience allows you to delete records from profile lists, custom tables, and Profile Extension Tables (PETs) in bulk.

Important: After completing the steps for deleting data, CX Audience will do a "hard delete" of PET data and a "soft delete" of profile lists and custom tables.
  • A "hard delete" of PET data means that the records will be completely wiped from CX Audience.
  • A "soft delete" of profile lists and custom tables means the records will be converted into hash values so that they cannot be identified.

Before you begin

To prepare for the bulk delete of necessary records, create a file that has the details of all the customer records that CX Audience needs to delete. Make sure the file has a field that can be mapped and matched to the appropriate customer record in the profile list or PET.

Deleting data

To delete data:

  1. From the navigation menu, choose Data, and then choose Manage Customer data.
  2. Click Actions and choose Bulk Delete. The Bulk Delete dialog displays.

Step 1: Inbound Source

In this step, you select the file you created previously with the list of records to delete.

  1. Choose the file that has the list of records to delete.
  2. Choose the file character set: Western European (ISO-8859-1) or Unicode (UTF-8).
  3. Click Next.

Step 2: File Handling

In this step, you specify file handling options.

  1. Select the field separator that separates the fields (columns) in the file: Comma, Tab, Semicolon, Space, Pipe, or Other.
  2. If a character is used to quote value fields, choose it from the drop-down list.
  3. If the first line in the file contains column names, rather than a data record, select the First line contains field names checkbox.

    4. Note: All column names must conform to the Oracle CX Audience naming conventions. For more information, see Field Name Requirements and Data Types.

  4. Click Next.

Step 3: Table Fields

In this step, you map incoming fields to corresponding fields in the list.

Mapping fields specifies which import field corresponds to which list field. The source and target fields must have the same name and compatible data types so that data is correctly mapped.

You can also save your mappings to a template, then re-use that template as the basis for future bulk deletes.

To map a field:

  • Under Matches with List field:, use the drop-down list to select the field that matches with the incoming field. You can choose from system fields, custom fields, and new fields.
  • If you don't want to import a field, select skip this field.

To create a mapping template:

  1. Create your mappings and click Save to Mapping Template.

    The Save Mapping Template page opens.

  2. In the Name field, type the name for the template.
  3. Optionally, add a description.
  4. Click Save.

To use an existing mapping template:

  1. Click Load Mapping Template.

    The Load Mapping Template page opens.

  2. In the Mapping Templates list, click the name of the template you want to use.

    The Selected Template section shows the mappings and any issues that need to be resolved.

  3. To make any changes to the mapping template or resolve issues, click Edit and make your changes, then click Save.

    Note: Any changes you make apply to the mapping template as well as to the current bulk delete.

  4. Click Select Mapping.

    The mapping template is applied to the bulk delete.

  5. When done mapping fields, click Next to continue.

Step 4: Record Handling

In this step, you define rules for the bulk delete.

  1. Select a Data Delete Date Format to use in timestamp fields.
  2. Choose how to match records for deletion to existing records: Using one profile list field or Using two profile list fields. Use the drop-down lists to choose the correct list fields for your selection.
  3. Define Record Rejection Options. If you want CX Audience to reject records if a field is empty, select the checkbox.
  4. Define Mobile Number Validation. Choose the Mobile number upload format. If you choose Local, choose the Default Mobile Country Code.
  5. Click Next.

Step 5: Load File

In this step, you provide load characteristics for the bulk delete.

  1. Enter a load name. Optionally, add a load description.
  2. Click Next.

You can then close the window and CX Audience will start processing the records to delete.

To monitor the progress of the bulk delete, click Actions from the Manage Customer Data page and select View History. Review the following items:

  • Parsed rows: Total number of rows in the file.
  • Valid rows: Rows processed and validated for deletion.
  • Rows updated: Rows deleted.

Note: If more than 20% of the rows in the file can't be correctly validated for deletion, CX Audience will automatically cancel the bulk delete job.

Learn more

Using Connect to import and export data