Salesforce Marketing Cloud: AmpScript Basics

Ampscript in Marketing Cloud

AMPscript is a scripting language that is embedded within text emails, HTML emails, SMS messages, landing pages in the marketing cloud.

Variables:- Variables in amp script are used to store List or DE data for use. As we use in apex classes.

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Syntax:

This the syntax for declaring variables and syntax:

%%[ var @firstName
     set @firstName = "Test" 
     %%= v(@firstName) =%% 
]%%

INLINE Ampscript :

We can write inline Ampscript as -

%%= LOWERCASE(firstName) =%%

AmpScript Block 

AmpmBlock can be written as-

[%%LOWERCASE(firstName)%%]

Tags:

Amp Script also have opening and closing tab as in HTML

<script runat=server language=ampscript>
   Lowercase(firstName)
</script>

<script runat=server language=ampscript>
   IF @region == 'Bangalore' THEN
      SET @country = 'India'
   ELSEIF @region == 'California' THEN
      SET @country = 'USA’
   ENDIF
</script>

Example:

%%[FOR @count = '01' TO @Position = @rowCount DO ]%%
   SET @FirstName = FirstName
%%[NEXT @count]%%

Functions in Ampscript:

AddObjectArrayItem:-  This function is used for adding attributes of object to retrieve the request(ID & name).

CreateObject:- It is used to instantiate specified marketing cloud API objects.

set @var = CreateObject("object")

InvokeCreate:- This function is used to execute created objects of specified marketing cloud API.Also, this function returns status code, message, and error code.

set @createStatusCodevar = InvokeCreate(@var, @createStatusMessage, @createErrorCode)

InvokeExecute:- This function is used to execute created objects of specified marketing cloud API, and it returns ‘RequestID value and it runs asynchronously.

set @invokeStatusObjVar = InvokeExecute(@var,@invokeStatusMessage,@invokeRequestId)

InvokeRetrieve:- It retrieves the RetrieveRequest  of instigated marketing cloud API. This function returns a ‘status message’ as well as  ‘RequestID’ value.

set @dataExtensionFieldsVar = InvokeRetrieve(@var, @varStatus, @varRequestID)

InvokeUpdate:- This function executes an update on marketing cloud Api object instantiated and it returns error, status code and message.

set @updateStatusCodevVAr = InvokeUpdate(@Var, @updateStatusMessagevar, @updateErrorCodevar, @updateOptionsvar)

RaiseError:- This function is used to enable  suppression of an email send.

RaiseError("No offer is available")

SetObjectProperty:- This function is used to  set the property of the object, created by ‘CreateObject()’ function.

set @varSub = CreateObject("Subscribers")
SetObjectProperty(@varSub, "EmailAddress", "[email protected]")
SetObjectProperty(@varSub, "SubscriberKey", "6658")
SetObjectProperty(@varSub, "Status", "Inactive")

Lookup in AMPscript:- It returns required value from data extension.

Example:

%%=Lookup('postalcode','city','PostalCode',3562)=%%

Lookup(ordinal 1, ordinal 2, ordinal 3,ordinal 4)

ordinal 1: Name of DE from which we want to retrieve

ordinal 2: Column name from which we want to retrieve

ordinal 3:Name of column used to identify row contains value 

ordinal 4:Matched value

LookupOrderedRows:-

Returns numbers of rows.

Example: 

Set @row2 = LookupOrderedRows("Bikes",4,"HorsePower Break","MG1",Field(@Bikedata,"MG1"))

LookupOrderedRows(ordinal 1,ordinal 2,ordinal 3,ordinal 4,ordinal 5)

ordinal 1:-Name of DE from which we want to retrieve

ordinal 2:-Number of rows wants to return

ordinal 3:-Order of filed either ASC or Dec

ordinal 4:- Field used for where clause

ordinal 5:- Field used for where clause

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LookUpRows:

It returns a set of rows from a data extension where the field matches the given value.

Example:

LookupRows('ZipCode','city',Hometown City)

When a city row matches with Hometown City , it returns zipcode rows.

LookupRows(ordinal 1, ordinal 2,ordinal  3)

ordinal 1: Name of DE from which we want to retrieve

ordinal 2: Name of column used to identify rows 

ordinal 3: value to match with row that we want to return

Reference: Salesforce Developers