Combine audiences

Combine audiences groups your existing audiences, selections, and behaviours into a single custom variable, with one category per group you define.

Once created, use it like any other variable in Orbit: as a dimension on a dashboard tile, a filter when building an audience, or a content field in message personalisation.

Selector or Array¶

When you create a variable, you choose whether it's a Selector or an Array. Both let you define categories and assign an audience, selection, or behaviour to each one, but the difference is how overlapping records are handled.

Selector¶

A record can only belong to one category. If a record matches more than one of your categories, Orbit resolves the overlap by taking the highest category in your list — category 1 wins over category 2, and so on.

Every Selector variable also gets an Unclassified category automatically, to catch any record that doesn't match one of your defined categories. It's fixed in the first position in your category list and can't be reordered.

Array¶

A record can belong to none, one, or several categories at once with no deduplication. Use this when categories aren't mutually exclusive, such as recording that someone plays multiple sports rather than picking their single favourite. Array variables don't have an Unclassified category.

Create a combine audiences variable¶

To create a new combine audiences variable:

1. Open Custom variables.
2. Click + New Variable, then Combine Audiences.

3. On the Variable Settings step, complete:

   

   • Variable Name (up to 80 characters).

   • Destination Folder: click Select Folder, then click a folder to choose it.

     Tip

     Click the + icon next to any folder to add a new sub-folder there. A newly added folder shows rename and delete icons so you can adjust it before moving on.

     

     Note

     If you've chosen the wrong folder, click the bin icon next to your selected folder on the Variable Settings step to clear it and choose again.

   • Type: Selector or Array. If you choose Selector, a Sort Order dropdown appears — Nominal, Ascending, or Descending — depending on whether your categories follow a scale or have no natural order. This step doesn't apply to Array variables.

   • Table: the table to build the variable on, such as People, Households, or Transactions.

     

4. Click Next.

5. On the Categories step, add a category for each group you want to define:

   

   • Enter a Code (text or numeric) and a Description.

   • Click + Add Filter to set which records belong to this category. The prompt above the button updates to match your chosen table, for example "Choose which people to include in this category".

     

     Under Search, choose Variables to build an ad hoc filter (see Filtering), Audiences to reference a saved audience, or Files to reference a FastStats file. Choose the Behaviours tab to reference a behaviour, such as a recency or value threshold.

     Note

     Referencing a saved audience or file copies its criteria into the category at the point you add it. It isn't a live link. If the source audience or file changes later, the category won't pick up the change automatically. You should update its filter directly to bring it up to date. A date shown against the filter records when it was copied, so you can spot when it might be out of date.

   • Click + Add Category to add another, and repeat for each group.

     

6. Click Create.

Your variable builds in the background and appears in your Custom Variables list, with its columns populated, once it's ready.

Edit a combine audiences variable¶

Use the options menu on a combine audiences variable, then Edit, to reopen the dialog at the Variable Settings step, pre-populated with its current settings.

Step through the dialog as you would to create a variable. You can rename it, change its folder, and add, edit, or delete categories, but you can't change its type (Selector or Array) after creation. You'll see a confirmation notification once your changes are applied.

Use a combine audiences variable¶

A combine audiences variable behaves like any other variable in Orbit. Add it as a Dimension when adding a tile to a dashboard, using the tile editor to configure how it displays.

Permissions¶

Access to combine audiences follows the same rules as the rest of Custom variables.