The Suppression Files section has all the details of the suppression files you can add to a campaign, You can find it under the Validation section of your menu
Quick Overview of the Area
You can see the name of the file, the campaign/s that they are associated too, when it was created, last updated as well as the number of records in the suppression file.
Here is a breakdown of the icons you will see to the right of your Suppression files:
  | This icon will reveal a menu of suppression file settings including the option to: deactivate the file, set as inclusion or exclusion, map suppression file fields, update suppression time frame and update suppression lead message. |
 | This icon allows you to add an individual record to a suppression file to allow adhoc additions to a file |
 | This icon allows you to search for a record within a suppression file to check it is within the file. Please note that the format e.g. uses +447 rather than 07 for a UK mobile number |
 | This icon allows you to append/replace the suppression files. You have the option to remove existing data or simply append to the data already in the file. |
 | This icon allows you to delete any unused suppression files. You will be asked to confirm you are sure you want to delete before doing so. |
Databowl has a limit on the number of suppression files allowed depending on your package - if you get to your limit you will get a red warning and will no longer be able to add any additional files until you remove one.
File Requirements
A suppression file should be a loaded as CSV file (UTF-8 encoded).
If you have any telephone numbers they would need to be loaded in the international format, for example, a UK number would be: +441142999999
Adding a Global Suppression file
A global suppression file allows you to apply a suppression across all campaigns you have in Databowl. This is particularly useful if you have a list of numbers for example you want to suppress across any campaign you run.
When you click on the 'Add Global Suppression File' button you are presented with the import suppression file wizard which will take you through the steps required to add a new global suppression file.
Upload File - (UTF-8 CSV)- By default the option "Do you want to normalise (converted to lowercase, spaces removed)" is selected and we would recommend keeping this selected.
Map Fields - This is where you map the CSV header to the corresponding field in Databowl and define the type (Text Equals / UK postcode area). Selecting more than one mapped field requires both to match to apply a suppression.
Lead Message - you can Enter a custom lead message that will be displayed when a lead meets this suppression. If left blank it will give the default value "matched suppression/ inclusion"
Timeframe - optionally, if you wish to specify the length of a time that entries in a suppression file are used, please select the CSV field to containing the date and the time frame for valid entries. You can then enter the time period by entering a value. The format needs to be an ISO date format yyyy-mm-dd e.g 2022-01-30 to use this feature.
Finish - you can finally specify if the file is an Inclusion/Exclusion file and Activate the file.
tip - UK Postcode area
The suppression file mappings of type UK Post Code Area are a comparison against the outward code of the postcode (the first part).. caveat being it has to be a valid postcode format to start with. The logic needs to split the postcode into two parts and grab that first half so there's additional logic to check its a valid postcode first and it has to be in one of the following formats (A being letter, N being number):
AN NAA
ANN NAA
AAN NAA
AANN NAA
ANA NAA
AANA NAA
This example postcode of HA7 BB1 isn't a valid British postcode format so the formatter returns the full original string back to compare against.. which then leads to the direct comparison being HA7 == HA7 BB1 which obviously returns false, If the postcode on that lead was HA7 1AA for example it would have matched on the suppression as that is a valid format for a British postcode (AAN NAA)
Appending or Replacing a suppression File/Adding or replacing data
If you need to add more data to your suppression file (rather than creating a new file), say if a client has supplied you with an updated data set then this feature is what you need.
This icon:
Allows you to append(add data to) or replace the suppression file data.
You have the option to remove existing data or simply append to the data already in the file.
From here you'll be able to upload a new file and follow the prompts to complete the process.
Adding a Suppression File directly into a Campaign
If you're adding a Suppression file directly into a campaign, simply go to the Suppression file section from within your selected campaign and click '+ Add Suppression File' :
Then follow the steps in the Campaign Suppression File Wizard below:
If you've done this, you should now you're suppression lists should be in place and you should be getting the data you want and need! Nice!