An updated version of this helpdoc can be found here: 

Goal

After reading this article you'll:
  • understand what custom data is and how to use it 

Summary 

Custom Data is a way to create your own very simple database to reference dynamic or flexible content. 

 Name
Custom Data
 Benefit
Custom data can be modified by the facilitator during an exercise to react to player actions. 
 Feature
  • The custom data variables must be defined before you run your exercise but once defined and uploaded can be used in your scenario via smartwords with the structure {data.variable_name}.
Custom data is found in settings: 

Image Placeholder

Example Use - dynamic content

Custom data can be used to quickly personalize a template scenario. 
For example, using {data.company}  will print "Ford"  and {data.issue} will print "My motor parts have not arrived on time".

custom data table


your content
Image Placeholder

the result


Example use - Retweeting a link

Use a Patter of Life stack to create a group of people to retweet the same content and use Custom Data to refer to the Tweet they're retweeting. 
Image Placeholder

During the exercise, right click the publication time of the tweet and select "copy link address". If you're working in the moderator grid, remove the grid suffix (it looks like this: &test_mode=2&window_id=moderator_grid_1)

Image Placeholder

Now paste this into the custom data table where the link is expected and click Save.
Image Placeholder
You're now ready to start the PoL stack! When the content is published, Conducttr will render the link as though it's a retweet.

Image Placeholder


Importing

If you have a lot of prepared statements for the custom data table then you can prepare it in Excel and upload as a CSV file.
You'll find the buttons needed at the bottom of the custom data table:
  • Import - allows CSV file to be loaded into the table. Note that importing does not make the data live in your Space - it still needs to be uploaded.
  • Export - allows you to save your table as a CSV file
  • Upload - uploads the local table to your Space
  • Empty - deletes all entries in the custom data that's been uploaded to your Space
  • Clear - clears the local table




What's the correct CSV format?

Make sure that the file is formatted correctly and saved as UTF-8 CSV

The image below shows how the columns should be organized.

If you want to test a unique code (column B) against someone's email address then the email address should go in column C


If saving from Excel, the image below shows the file format you should use.