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Data Mapper (CX)


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About the Data Mapper (CX)

The easiest way to format your dashboard data is using the data mapper. This page covers how to create a dashboard data source using the data mapper, how you can format and edit your fields, and how to get your data ready so you can start building dashboards.

Qtip: This page covers how to map fields in CX Dashboards. While extremely similar, there are other factors to take into account if you are configuring fields an Employee Experience (EX) dashboard. If you are working with an Engagement, Lifecycle, or Ad Hoc Employee Research project, see Dashboard Data (EX) instead.
Qtip: Confused about what datasets are vs. data sources? Not sure how to tell the data mapper and modeler apart? Learn more about these and more key terms.

Creating a New Data Mapper Dataset

Qtip: When mapping dashboard data, make sure to only include data that is essential for end-user success. If you are restricting access to many fields, we recommend creating a separate dashboard(s) for just the users who should have access.

You can create a dataset from any surveys or distributions you have in your account, or any external data sources, including contact data or digital program data.

  1. Create a new dataset.
  2. Under Type, select Data mapper.
    create a new dataset page
  3. Name your dataset.
  4. Click Create dataset.
  5. Click Add Source.
    add source button center of new window
  6. Choose from a list of sources.
    Qtip: To add contact data to your dashboard, click External Datasources and select your contact dataset. See Using Contact Data as a CX Dashboard Source for more information.
    Qtip: To add digital program data to your dashboard, click External Datasources and select your Website / App Insights dataset. See Using Digital Program Data as a CX Dashboard Source for more information.
    Qtip: To use imported data in your dashboard, see the Importing Data as a CX Dashboard Source support page.
  7. Decide what data should be included in the mapping. This is a great way to prevent excess fields you don’t plan on using from being added to your mapper.
    adding a source to the mapper dataset

    Example: You can use the checkbox to deselect all Metadata – this will remove fields like Response Type and Finished. If you see yourself using some, but not all metadata, you can deselect Metadata and then individually select the fields you want.
    zoomed in image showing metadata deselected and most metadata then deselected, but a few specific ones selected
    Attention: Learn more about differences for derived data below.
  8. Click Add.
    Qtip: Any fields you exclude by accident, you can add back in later.
  9. Data will be mapped according to your choices.
    data mapper
  10. Click Save.

Once your dataset has been created, it can be reused in other dashboards. Learn more about creating datasets and managing datasets.

Adding New Fields

Qtip: When you map a new survey question, you will pull in its current recodes and labels from the survey. If you then add a new answer choice to the question, this answer choice will not automatically be mapped in your dashboard. You must manually add that label to your dashboard field, otherwise, the internal choice ID will display instead.
Attention: Learn more about differences for derived data below.
  1. Click Add Field.
    mapping a new field
  2. Provide or update a name for your field.
    Qtip: Updating the field name will not affect your survey and will only be visible within CX Dashboards.
  3. Select the field type.
    Qtip: Field types define the type of data mapped into the field and consequently determine which widgets will be available for each field. If you don’t see your desired field name when selecting the source of a widget, you may need to change the field type or use a different widget. Be aware that changing Field Types can break widgets on any Dashboard using the affected fields. As such, we often recommend adding a new field that maps to the same question rather than editing the field type or field mapping of existing fields (e.g., you may have a Text Set field for a NPS group as well as a separate Number Set field for a NPS value).
  4. Click on the Not Mapped box.
  5. Choose the field mapping of the question or embedded data field that will populate the field.
    mapping a field
  6. Click on the Save button at the bottom right.
Qtip: Hover over a field to see the move icon. You can use this to drag and drop the field around your mapper.
bento box icon that lets you move fields around the mapper

Mapping and Unmapping Fields

Unmapping a field is as simple as clicking the X to the right side of the field. Subsequently, the field will be grayed out.

field is mapped and has an X on it to unmap it

To map a field, click the down arrow to the right of any Not Mapped item. This will open a list of choices that will allow you to map to the appropriate field type.

lighter grap now that unmapped, says not mapped, and has a downward arrow you can click to choose a new field

The field type and the question type must be compatible. In this case, the Country field should be mapped to the survey question pertaining to countries.

list of options

Qtip: See the Field Type Compatibility page for which field types you should choose for each type of question.

Managing Multiple Sources

After adding in your first data source, you can click on the Add Source button and select a different survey to add additional sources.

add source button in data mapper

Additional data sources will not be automatically mapped, so you will need to map their fields manually. While you can map as many data sources as you want into your Dashboard Data, you cannot map the same survey or data source twice. After adding in an additional data source, you can either merge data from both sources into the same field or keep the data separate.

Merging vs. Separating Multiple Fields

You can merge data from multiple sources into the same field or keep the data separate. For example, you may want data from CSAT questions in 2 different yearly surveys to show up in the same widget, but want to separate your 2016 CSAT from your 2017 NPS score.

  1. Merge data into the same field by mapping both sources on the same row of the field type you want to merge.
    showing you a merged and a not merged row
  2. Separate your fields by making sure you only have 1 source mapped on each row.
  3. You should only merge questions if their data is in a similar format, and you are planning on mapping them with the same field type. In the example below, the NPS scale can only be Number Set for both sources; it cannot be mapped to 2 different field types on the same row. But this is fine, since NPS score is numerical data that suits the Number Set format.
    an NPS field in the mapper

    Warning: A Number Set is best for scale-point questions such as NPS (0-10) or Likert scales (1-5).  However, you shouldn’t merge a 7-point satisfaction scale question with an 11-point NPS question.
  4. When mapping a second data source, you will only be presented field types that match the current selection (i.e., Text Set questions). Choose and map from among the matching questions in the second source.
    mapping a field
Qtip: The data mapper does its best to guess the most compatible fields, but these selections may not be perfect. If you feel the wrong options are being offered here, click Show All to see more.

Deleting Fields

Once you delete a field, the action cannot be undone. Additionally, deleting fields can break widgets that are using the field you wish to delete. Please use caution when deleting any fields.

  1. Click on the X to the left of the field you want to delete.
    X button to delete a field
  2. Confirm that you want to delete the field by selecting Delete Field.
    new window where you confirm field deletion

Derived Data

Derived Data are any custom fields or scoring categories you’ve created in your source project.

Attention: When you map in a derived data field, its configuration is locked to how it was set up in the dashboard source the first time it was mapped. Note that unlike regular dashboard fields, derived data cannot be updated by only unmapping and remapping the field. Instead, to update a derived data field, you can add a new copy of the field with a different name. You’ll then need to edit any relevant widgets to use the new field instead.

Example: You had a survey with a bucketed field. You made your dashboard, then updated the bucketed field in your survey by adding a third choice group. However, your dashboard field only shows the first 2 groups, and doesn’t give you the option of adding the new bucket in the recode editor.

Recode editor shows choice group 1 and 2, but not 3

To solve this, you add the same bucket field again, but add “version 2” to the name.

Same exact field re-added with different name

The version 2 field shows all of your new data when you add it to a widget.

Side by side bar charts; one displays group 3 as uncategorized, the other correctly identifies them as group 3

Qtip: You can also unmap and remap your entire dataset to fix a derived field, but that will also require you to reconfigure your entire dashboard.
Qtip: You can only map concat/coalesce derived data fields as open text or text value field types.

More Ways to Use the Data Mapper

Here are some more actions you can take in the data mapper.

Supported Survey Features

Data collected with the following survey project features can be mapped to CX Dashboards:

Unsupported Survey Platform Questions & Features

Data collected with the following survey project features cannot be mapped to CX Dashboards:

Qtip: Scoring values are not directly compatible with CX Dashboards. However, you can save the scoring value as an embedded data field in the survey flow so that the field could be mapped into the dashboard via embedded data instead.

FAQs