A linked attribute is a "Value list" type attribute that reconciles multiple data points derived from a reference value. A main attribute such as "store" can therefore have linked attributes like "brand", "region", "regional manager", "country", and "zone". It is particularly useful to update information that may evolve over time, to limit the amount of data carried in the data flow, and to better filter analysis data.
Prerequisites
Before reading this article, we recommend familiarizing yourself with the notion of attributes by checking out the following articles:
When you collect responses, the value of the attributes attached to those responses can no longer be modified. So how can you leverage the data already collected and make sense of it when the values of certain attributes change?
While some attribute values are fixed and factual (such as a customer ID or a date of birth), others may evolve (for example, the regional management of a store). It is therefore important to be able to reflect the changes of these attributes in order to give meaning to the feedback already collected and its analysis.
To be able to make real-time updates to attributes for responses already collected, and reflect the evolution of your attributes, you can create linked attributes.
To do so, you must first create a “Value list” type attribute. Once your attribute is created, you simply need to associate linked attributes with it.
Example: creating a linked attribute
Let’s take for example the attribute “store”, which contains a value list representing all the physical stores of a brand.
- Click on "Linked attributes" to create your new linked attribute.
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We want to attach all these stores to their respective regional management units. So create a linked attribute “regional management”.
- Once the linked attribute is created, import its values using the
button.
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We complete the downloadable CSV template with our values for the linked attribute “regional management”, then re-import it.
- Once the import is complete, you can view the values by clicking on
Display values.
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Don’t forget to save your changes.
You will also find your linked attribute represented by an icon in the “Attributes” tab:
Furthermore, your new linked attribute “regional management” is automatically available in all segments containing its parent attribute “store”. You can therefore use it to condition scenarios or filter reports, for example:
Let’s say that for strategic reasons, the company would like to split the Europe into 2 Head offices:
In that case, all you need to do is import back the updated CSV file. This way, the information will be updated for all past answers.