# Example expressions These examples show common patterns you can adapt when you [build an expression](). Each one says what it returns, so you can check [where you can use it](). The [FastStats expression reference]() describes each function. > [!NOTE] > > The variable names in these examples, such as `[DOB]` and `[Appeal]`, may not exist in your system. Replace each one with the exact name of a variable in your own FastStats system. Otherwise, Orbit shows an error such as `Variable 'Lastname' not found`. ## Dates Date functions work out ages, months, and time between dates. See the FastStats [date functions](). ### Age Work out each supporter's age in years from their date of birth: Expression ```apteco AgeYears([DOB]) ``` Returns a number, such as `34`. Use it to filter supporters by age, or in message personalisation to target milestone birthdays or adjust images for different age groups. ### Birthday month Work out the month of each supporter's birthday, from 1 for January to 12 for December: Expression ```apteco DateMonth([DOB]) ``` Returns a number, such as `3` for March. Use it as a filter to send birthday messages to everyone with a birthday in the coming month. ### Time since a first gift Work out how many years have passed since each supporter's first gift: Expression ```apteco DateDiff(Today(0),[FirstDonationDate],"years") ``` Returns a number of years, such as `7`. Use it to celebrate anniversaries of a supporter's first gift, or to thank long-standing supporters. ## Locations Location functions work out distances from UK postcodes, in miles. See the FastStats [location functions](). ### Distance to a location Work out the distance from each supporter's postcode to one location, such as your head office: Expression ```apteco UKPostcodeDistance([Postcode], "CV34 4EH") ``` Returns a number of miles, such as `82.05`. As the measure on a cube tile with a **Region** dimension, the **Mean** function shows the average distance for each region. ### Distance to the nearest location Work out the distance from each supporter's postcode to the nearest of several locations, such as your regional offices or shops: Expression ```apteco UKPostcodeDistMin([Postcode], "SW1A 1AA", "EH99 1SP", "CF99 1NA") ``` Returns a number of miles to the nearest location. Filter on it to find supporters within 20 miles of their nearest office. ## Text Text functions join and tidy text. The `If` examples under [Conditions](<#conditions>) also search text, with `StrContains`. See the FastStats [string functions](). ### Personalised greeting Join text and variables into a greeting: Expression ```apteco AddStr("Dear ",[Title]," ",[Initial]," ",[Surname]) ``` Returns text, such as `Dear Mrs J Smith`. Use it as a content field in message personalisation, or as a data grid column for a mailing export. ### Tidy capital letters Capitalise the first letter of each word, for names that were entered in lower case: Expression ```apteco StrProper([Forename]) ``` Returns text, such as `Sarah` for `sarah`. Use it in a greeting, so names look right in your messages. ## Numbers Maths functions round and calculate numbers. See the FastStats [maths functions](). ### Suggested gift amount Suggest a gift 20% higher than each supporter's last gift, rounded to the nearest £5: Expression ```apteco Round([LastGiftAmount]*1.2,5) ``` Returns a number, such as `60` for a last gift of £50. Use it in message personalisation to ask for an amount that suits each supporter. ## Conditions Conditions return different values for different supporters. These examples use the FastStats [logical functions](), [missing value functions](), and [selector functions](). ### Check an email address Check whether each supporter's email address is in a valid format: Expression ```apteco ValidEmail([Email Address]) ``` Returns `1` for a valid format and `0` for an invalid one. Filter on `1` to leave out badly formatted addresses before an email campaign. ### Flag missing values Flag supporters who have no date of birth recorded: Expression ```apteco If(IsMissing([DOB]),"Unknown","Known") ``` Returns text: `Unknown` or `Known`. Use it as a data grid column to check your data before an age-based campaign. ### Simple `If` statement An `If` statement returns one value when a condition is true and another when it's false. This one returns 1 for supporters whose segment code contains Y or Z, and 0 for everyone else: Expression ```apteco If(StrContains(CodeOf([Segment]),"Y", "Z"),1,0) ``` Returns `1` or `0`. Use it for basic segmentation, or as a flag for reporting. ### `If` statement with text values An `If` statement can return text as well as numbers. This one asks supporters whose last gift was £50 or more for £75, and everyone else for £40: Expression ```apteco If([LastGiftAmount]>=50,"£75","£40") ``` Returns text: `£75` or `£40`. Use it in message personalisation to set the ask in an appeal. ### `If` statement with two conditions Combine conditions with `And` or `Or`. This one returns 1 for supporters who gave to the emergency appeal and have agreed to email or SMS contact: Expression ```apteco If(And(DescOf([Appeal])="Emergency",StrContains(CodeOf([ContactPermissions]),"EM", "SMS")),1,0) ``` Returns `1` or `0`. Use it to target a follow-up to a specific group of donors. ### `If` statement with an exclusion Combine conditions with `Not` to include some supporters and exclude others. `And` can take any number of conditions. This one returns 1 for supporters in segment Y or Z who gave to the emergency appeal, but haven't agreed to email or SMS contact: Expression ```apteco If(And(StrContains(CodeOf([Segment]),"Y", "Z"), DescOf([Appeal])="Emergency", Not(StrContains(CodeOf([ContactPermissions]),"EM", "SMS"))),1,0) ``` Returns `1` or `0`. Use it to find gaps, such as engaged donors you can only reach by post. ### Several bands with `Case` When you need more than two outcomes, `Case` is easier to read than nested `If` statements. It takes pairs of a condition and the value to return when that condition is true. This one sorts supporters into tiers by their total giving: Expression ```apteco Case( [TotalGiven] >= 1000, "Major donor", And([TotalGiven] >= 100, [TotalGiven] < 1000), "Mid-level donor", [TotalGiven] < 100, "Regular donor") ``` Returns text, such as `Mid-level donor`. Use it as a data grid column, or in message personalisation to vary a message by tier.