Standard Activity Exports
The Cheetah Messaging platform allows you to extract data from your marketing database in order to use that data outside of the platform for further analysis, or as input into some other process or system. This document provides an overview of the standard activity Exports, as well as the different options that exist to configure these Exports.
The platform also allows you to define your own Exports be creating "Export Templates." An Export Template controls the content and layout of the extract, the schedule of when and how often it runs, and the destination of the Export file (such as an FTP server, for example).
This document focuses solely on the standard activity Export options; for more information on how to set up your own Export Templates, please see the platform's Online Help system.
Standard activity exports
Messaging supports five standard activity Exports, all of which are related to customer activity in the email marketing channel. A unique file is generated for each activity type and includes data only from a single deployment table (usually a "Recipient" or "Customer" table).
The five standard activity Exports are as follows:
| Activity | Description | Recommended File Name |
|---|---|---|
| Sends | Export records for all email messages sent | <client>__send_YYYYMMDD.csv |
| Opens | Export of records for recipients who have clicked on a link within a message | <client>__open_YYYYMMDD.csv |
| Clicks | Export of records for recipients who have clicked on a link within a message | <client>__click_YYYYMMDD.csv |
| Bounce | Export of records that bounces | <client>__bounce_YYYYMMDD.csv |
| Unsubscribe | Export of records for recipients who have opted-out from future communications | <client>__unsubs_YYYYMMDD.csv |
Note: The file names listed above are only recommendations; file naming conventions can be modified to meet your needs.
Retention
Once an Export file is generated, the file will be available to be downloaded from the Messaging platform. Files are retained for at least seven days. Please note that smaller files (under one gigabyte) will remain available for a longer duration.
Export options
This section describes the options available to you in regard to the content, schedule, and delivery of the standard activity Exports.
Export criteria
By default, each of the standard activity Exports will include all relevant customer activity for the activity type. Optionally, you can further limit the data that's included within an Export by setting specific additional criteria. The options described below are available for all five activity types:
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Date-based calculations: Restrict the Export to include data based on the time that the activity occurred.
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Frequency: Restrict the Export to include data based on how often the activity occurred.
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Channel: Restrict the Export to include activity data from Campaigns sent in a single specific marketing channel.
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Folder: Restrict the Export to include activity data from Campaigns stored within a specific folder in your account.
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Tags: Restrict the Export to include activity data from Campaigns flagged with one or more "tags."
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Cell Code: If you use the "Cells & Splits" feature in Messaging, you can restrict the Export to include activity data from only a specific Cell Code (note: the system will also include all cells "below" the selected Cell Code).
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Metadata: Restrict the Export to include activity data from Campaigns flagged with specific Metadata values.
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Campaigns: Restrict the Export to include activity data from one or more selected Campaigns.
The "Bounce" activity Export includes the following additional criteria:
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Bounce Category: Restrict the Export to include data with a specific bounce-back category (that is, the reason the email message bounced).
The "Click" activity Export includes the following additional criteria:
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Link: Restrict the Export to include activity related to a specified link within a specified Campaign.
File layout
The file layout controls the contents of the Export file. The following configuration options are available for the file layout:
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Header Row: Select either include or exclude.
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Delimiter character: Select either Tab, Comma, Semi-colon, or Pipe.
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Fields: Add any fields that exist in the sending table.
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Field Sequence: Adjust the sequence in which the fields appear within the Export file.
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System Fields: By default, Messaging will include various system-generated fields in the Export, such as Campaign ID and Campaign Name (see Appendix A for a full list of these System Fields). Optionally you can exclude one or more of these fields from the Export file.
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Metadata Fields: Include any Metadata fields that exist within your account.
Scheduling
Exports can be executed manually, or based on an automated schedule. If using the automated schedule feature, the platform provides the following options:
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Start / End dates: Enter the date range for when the automated schedule should be used.
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Frequency: Select how frequently an Export is executed: Daily, Weekly Monthly, or Annually.
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Number of times per day: Enter how many times a day the Export is executed.
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Time of day: Enter the time of the day that the Export executes.
Delivery options
All finished Export files (within the file retention period) are available to be downloaded from the Messaging application.
In addition, if you set up an automated scheduled, you can optionally have the platform send the Export file to an FTP server and / or email the Export file as an attachment to a selected group of recipients.
All file transfers are done via SFTP using an account that is set up specifically to receive or pull data from your specific Messaging account.
Files can optionally be PGP encrypted and / or compressed. Encryption is recommended, especially if using FTP as the transfer protocol. If using the PGP encryption option, you should add a ".pgp" extension to the file name.
Custom exports
If you require more advanced customization options, your Cheetah Digital Client Services account team will work with you to define your requirements and to provide a scope of work for the hours and costs associated with setting up a custom Export.
Some of the more commonly requested advanced custom Exports include:
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Consolidation of Activity Types: Combine data for all activity types into a single Export file (as opposed to one Export file for each activity type).
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Consolidation of Multiple Tables: If Campaigns are executed from multiple tables, combine the data into a single Export file (as opposed to one Export file for each activity type per Campaign execution table).
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Addition of data from multiple tables: Add data from multiple tables (via joins) into the activity file Export.
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Consolidation of Activity Types and Channels: Combine data for all activity types and marketing channels into a single Export file.
Common configuration
Though Messaging does provide a great deal of flexibility in setting up your Exports, we've found that most clients utilize similar configurations for each Export type. This section describes the file layout and fields most commonly requested for each activity Export type.
File layout
The typical file layout for an activity Export is as follows:
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Header Row: No
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Delimiter: Tab
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Fields: See specific activity Exports below
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System Fields: See specific activity Exports below
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Metadata Fields: none
Sends
The following table lists the fields mostly commonly used in the "Sends" activity Export:
| Field Name | System Field Name | Description | Example Values |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Key ID | pk_id | Unique, system generated ID for user record | 20489744 |
| Message ID | msg_id | Unique, system generated Message ID | 896486902 |
| Send Time | send_time | Date / Time message was sent | 2026-02-11 05:02:22.240 |
| Campaign ID | camp_id | Unqiue, system generated Campaign ID | 16381 |
| Campaign Name | camp_name | Campaign Name rom campaign set up | 120140210 Promo Mailing 1 |
| Email address | Recipient Email Address | test@zetaglobal.com |
Opens
The following table lists the fields mostly commonly used in the "Opens" activity Export:
| Field Name | System Field Name | Description | Example Values |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Key ID | pk_id | Unique, system generated ID for user record | 20489744 |
| Open ID | open_id | Unique, system generated Open ID | 180630837 |
| Open Time | open_time | Open Date / Time |
2026-02-11- 13:20:40.110 |
| Message ID | msg_id | Unique, system generated Message ID | 896486902 |
| Campaign ID | camp_id | Unqiue, system generated Campaign ID | 16381 |
| Campaign Name | camp_name | Campaign Name rom campaign set up | 120140210 Promo Mailing 1 |
| IP Address | ip_address | IP Address of Open | 10.24.64.180 |
| Email address | Recipient Email Address | test@zetaglobal.com |
Clicks
The following table lists the fields mostly commonly used in the "Clicks" activity Export:
| Field Name | System Field Name | Description | Example Values |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Key ID | pk_id | Unique, system generated ID for user record | 20489744 |
| Click ID | click_id | Unique, system generated Click ID | 180630837 |
| Click Time | click_time | Click date / time |
2026-02-11 13:20:40.110 |
| Message ID | msg_id | Unique, system generated Message ID | 896486902 |
| Link ID | link_id | Unique, system generated Link ID | 12345 |
| Link Name | link_name | Friendly Link Name followed by link URL | Link 01 - www.zetaglobal.com/marketing-services |
| Campaign ID | camp_id | Unique, system generated Campaign ID | 16381 |
| Campaign Name | camp_name | Campaign Name from Campaign set up | 120140210 Promo Mailing 1 |
| IP Address | ip_address | IP address of click | 10.24.64.180 |
| Email Address | Recipient email address | test@zetaglobal.com |
Bounces
The following table lists the fields mostly commonly used in the "Bounces" activity Export.
Note: This export reports on bounce activity at the Campaign level. Records that become non-mailable due to bounce activity are also passed in this file (and not included in the related “Unsubscribes” export). Such non-mailable records are identified with the corresponding Status ID values: 1300 (Soft Bounce) and 1350 (Hard Bounce).
| Field Name | System Field Name | Description | Example Values |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Key ID | pk_id | Unique, system generated ID for user record | 20489744 |
| Message ID | msg_id | Unique, system generated Message ID | 896486902 |
| Bounce Time | bounce_time | Date / time of bounce activity | 2026-02-11 15:04:54.000 |
| Campaign ID | camp_id | Unique, system generated Campaign ID | 16381 |
| Campaign Name | camp_name | Campaign Name from Campaign set up | 120140210 Promo Mailing 1 |
| Category ID | category_id | System assigned bounce category ID | 1400 |
| Category Name | category_name | Bounce category name | Bad-mailbox |
| Email Address | Recipient email address | test@zetaglobal.com | |
| Status ID | status_id | A status code that indicates the eligibility of a consumer to be included in a marketing Campaign | 1300 |
Unsubscribes
The following table lists the fields mostly commonly used in the "Unsubscribes" activity Export.
Note: The standard Unsubscribes export doesn’t include consumers who are un-mailable due to their email address being banned (Status ID = ‘1575’). Inclusion of these records will be sized and scoped accordingly.
This export doesn’t include consumers who are un-mailable due to their email address bouncing (Status ID = ‘1300’ or ‘1350’). Those records can be found in the Bounces extract defined above.
The standard Unsubscribes export also doesn’t include records that were manually opted-out through the Record Lookup screen within Messaging. Please speak to your Account Manager for more information if you need to pull these records.
| Field Name | System Field Name | Description | Example Values |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Key ID | pk_id | Unique, system generated ID for user record | 20489744 |
| Message ID | msg_id | Unique, system generated Message ID | 896486902 |
| Unsub Time | unsub_time | Date / time of unsubscribe activity | 2026-02-11 15:04:54.000 |
| Campaign ID | camp_id | Unique, system generated Campaign ID | 16381 |
| Campaign Name | camp_name | Campaign Name from Campaign set up | 120140210 Promo Mailing 1 |
| Email Address | Recipient email address | test@zetaglobal.com |
Schedule
The typical Export schedule is set to execute once a day at 2:00 AM in your local time zone.
Appendix A: System fields
This Appendix lists all of the system fields that are available for each activity type. As a reminder, these system fields will automatically appear in the Export unless you specify to exclude them.
Sends
| Field Name | System Field Name | Description | Example Values |
|---|---|---|---|
| Message ID | msg_id | Unique, system generated Message ID | 896486902 |
| Send Time | send_time | Date / Time message was sent | 2026-02-11 05:02:22.240 |
| Campaign ID | camp_id | Unqiue, system generated Campaign ID | 16381 |
| Campaign Name | camp_name | Campaign Name rom campaign set up | 120140210 Promo Mailing 1 |
Opens
| Field Name | System Field Name | Description | Example Values |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open ID | open_id | Unique, system generated Open ID | 180630837 |
| Open Time | open_time | Open Date / Time |
2026-02-11- 13:20:40.110 |
| Message ID | msg_id | Unique, system generated Message ID | 896486902 |
| Campaign ID | camp_id | Unqiue, system generated Campaign ID | 16381 |
| Campaign Name | camp_name | Campaign Name rom campaign set up | 120140210 Promo Mailing 1 |
Clicks
| Field Name | System Field Name | Description | Example Values |
|---|---|---|---|
| Click ID | click_id | Unique, system generated Click ID | 180630837 |
| Click Time | click_time | Click date / time |
2026-02-11 13:20:40.110 |
| Message ID | msg_id | Unique, system generated Message ID | 896486902 |
| Link ID | link_id | Unique, system generated Link ID | 12345 |
| Link Name | link_name | Friendly Link Name followed by link URL | Link 01 - www.zetaglobal.com/marketing-services |
| Campaign ID | camp_id | Unique, system generated Campaign ID | 16381 |
| Campaign Name | camp_name | Campaign Name from Campaign set up | 120140210 Promo Mailing 1 |
Bounces
| Field Name | System Field Name | Description | Example Values |
|---|---|---|---|
| Message ID | msg_id | Unique, system generated Message ID | 896486902 |
| Bounce Time | bounce_time | Date / time of bounce activity | 2026-02-11 15:04:54.000 |
| Campaign ID | camp_id | Unique, system generated Campaign ID | 16381 |
| Campaign Name | camp_name | Campaign Name from Campaign set up | 120140210 Promo Mailing 1 |
| Category ID | category_id | System assigned bounce category ID | 1400 |
| Category Name | category_name | Bounce category name | Bad-mailbox |
Unsubscribes
| Field Name | System Field Name | Description | Example Values |
|---|---|---|---|
| Message ID | msg_id | Unique, system generated Message ID | 896486902 |
| Unsub Time | unsub_time | Date / time of unsubscribe activity | 2026-02-11 15:04:54.000 |
| Campaign ID | camp_id | Unique, system generated Campaign ID | 16381 |
| Campaign Name | camp_name | Campaign Name from Campaign set up | 120140210 Promo Mailing 1 |
Appendix B: Status
Below is a list of the Status ID values used within Messaging. The Stauts ID field is used to determine the eligibility of an individual for inclusion in a marketing campaign.
Records with Status ID values less than or equal to 999 are eligible to be included in an email Campaign. Records with values of 1000 and greater will be automatically supressed from email Campaigns.
| Status ID | Definition |
|---|---|
| Null / 100 | Action - can receive an email |
| 500 | Opt Out via Proof - testing unsubscribe forms from a proof message; record can still receive email |
| 1100 | Inactive |
| 1300 | Soft bounce |
| 1350 | Hard bounce |
| 1500 | Opt out via form |
| 1525 | Opt out via reply |
| 1550 | Spam complain via ISP feedback loop |
| 1575 | Banned address |
