Attribute Targeting in SnapComms

Overview

Attributes help you define specific audiences when sending messages in SnapComms. They can be used during message setup to quickly target the right users or machines. SnapComms supports both user and machine attributes from Active Directory.

Prerequisites for attribute targeting

Choose attributes to collect

Before attributes can be used for targeting, they must first be imported into SnapComms. This can be done through the SnapComms Windows app or through integrations such as Azure.

For more information about choosing which attributes will be collected by the SnapComms app, see the App Profiles overview.

Once you have selected the attributes you want to use for targeting, publish the updated app profile to the relevant users.

It may take some time for the attributes to become available in SnapComms after the updated app profile has been published. To speed up the update:

• Go to Management > General Settings, then select Click Here for Additional Settings
• Find Resynchronize Active Directory
• Select Initiate Now

Map the attributes available for targeting

This step ensures that only relevant attributes are available for targeting in SnapComms. Active Directory supports a large number of attributes, and not all of them are kept up to date. Mapping only the relevant attributes makes it easier for content administrators to target the right audience.

Log in to Content Manager as an administrator with access to Users & Groups, then go to Users & Groups > Attributes.

You will see a list of all currently mapped user and machine attributes. From here, you can edit, remove, or disable attributes mapped in SnapComms.

Select + Add Attribute at the bottom of the list to map a new attribute.

Select the Active Directory attribute to map from the dropdown list.

You can customize the display name of the attribute in SnapComms. This is the name that will appear when targeting messages.

Make sure the attribute is enabled so content administrators can use it.

Map the attributes required for user targeting

This step is required if your organization needs to target messages using any of the following user attributes:

• Username
• UserPrincipalName
• DomainName
• MobileUsername
• Email

Log in to Content Manager as an administrator with access to Users & Groups, then go to Users & Groups > Attributes.

Select + Add Attribute to map a new attribute.

Select SnapComms as the data source.
Select the data source attribute.
Enter a unique name.
Select Enable this attribute to make it active.
Select Save.

Once these steps are complete, you will be able to target your audience using this attribute.

Enable the required permissions

Once attributes are being collected and the relevant ones have been mapped, the final step is to make sure administrators who need to use them have the correct permissions. Enable the The administrator can target by attributes permission for the relevant administrators.

For more information about administrators and permissions, click here.

Using attributes for targeting

Consider this example: you want to inform all managers in Houston about an upcoming change to your work-from-home policy. To do this:

1. Select the attribute type User
2. Select the attribute City, then select the value Houston
3. Select Add another Attribute
4. Select the attribute Role, then select the value Manager

You can add multiple attributes and select multiple matching values for each attribute. You can also target by partial values. For example, when targeting by the State attribute, you can type New and then select All values containing: New. This will target all users whose State value includes New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, or New York.

To be included in the target audience, users or machines must match at least one value for each selected attribute.

For Mac and mobile users, the client applications do not automatically collect attributes from Active Directory. To use attribute targeting, make sure the attribute is properly defined and populated in Content Manager.

Using attributes for reporting

Enabling Reportable for an attribute allows it to appear in user-based reports, such as content success reports.

Once this is enabled, you can select the user attribute from the column selector in supported reports.

Attributes can also be added directly from the reports. 

1. Click Customize Columns
2. Click Add an attribute column.
3. Select the attribute you would like to appear in the report
4. Click Add attribute to report.