Configure dynamic filters in eNotify

This article refers to our legacy product, eNotify. For the best Finalsite experience, we recommend using our newest product, Messages. To learn more, read the Self-Enabling Messages Guide or contact the Support team for assistance.

Dynamic filters are used to ensure that any and all constituents meeting certain criteria are included on a list, and that list remains continually up to date. When creating a dynamic filter in eNotify, you can create multiple conditions within the same filter or add multiple filters. The selection mechanism for dynamic filters varies depending on how the filter or filters are set up.

"AND" logic

Filters that are constructed with more than one criterion will use "AND" logic to choose which constituents to add to a mailing list. A single filter that has multiple restrictions will only select those constituents who meet ALL of the specified requirements.

For example, if you set up a filter for constituents who are members of the group "Parents," then add another clause to that same filter for members of the group "Faculty/Staff," that filter will only choose constituents who are both parents and faculty/staff members.

To create an "AND" filter that requires more than one condition to be met, add a dynamic filter to your mailing list and configure it with more than one selection criterion before you click "add filter." For example, a dynamic filter with "Children in grade 9" and "Children in grade 10" criteria will only reach parents with students in both 9th and 10th grade. 

The "AND" in the "Recipients" view of the mailing list indicates that the constituents selected by this list must have students in Grade 9 and Grade 10. 

In general, "AND" logic results in highly restrictive selections that greatly limit the number of users added to a mailing list. Each constituent must meet several requirements in order to be selected.

"OR" logic

Conversely, "OR" logic is a much more permissive structure. Constituents who meet just one of any number of requirements will still be added to a mailing list.

When multiple filters with only one selection criterion each exist alongside one another, eNotify will use "OR" logic to populate the mailing list.

For example, two separate filters, one for "Parents" and one for "Faculty/Staff," will populate a mailing list with constituents who are either parents or faculty/staff members.

To use OR logic to create more permissive selections, create two filters, using only one selection criterion each. Create the first filter as above, then click "add filter" to save and go back to the "Recipient Sources" screen.

Then use the green "Add Filter" button there to create a new, separate dynamic filter.

Each filter will be displayed on a separate line under "Dynamic Filters" on the "Recipient Sources" screen and will not be separated by an "AND."

Constituents who meet ANY of these selection criteria will be added to the mailing list.

Dynamic filters in action: Set up a mailing list for parents

As an example, let’s create a new list specifically for 10th grade parents. This list will automatically update itself and will always go out to parents of students who are listed in Constituent Manager as being in the 10th grade.

1. First, create a new list using the green "New Mailing List" button on the eNotify dashboard. Give it a descriptive name, and save it by clicking "add new list."

   

2. Go to the Recipients tab and create a new dynamic filter by clicking on the green "Add Filter" button under "Dynamic Filters."

   

3. Add a new filter using the dropdown menus, working from left to right. Click the "Add" button next to the menus to add the condition to the filter.

   

   In this case, we've created a filter that selects all constituents who have children in Grade 10.

4. You can add more conditions if you want. For instance, you could create a filter for parents with children in both Grade 10 and Grade 11 by adding another set of criteria alongside the first one.

5. After you have established your selection criteria, you can use the "test filter" button to get a preview of which constituents will be added to the list, based on their current settings in Constituent Manager.

6. When you have finished adding and testing criteria, click "add filter."

7. You can also create multiple filters for a mailing list to include more constituents. Make a separate filter for children in Grade 9 to include parents with children in either Grade 9 or Grade 10, for example.

As you create your filter(s), eNotify will automatically populate your mailing list. The names and email addresses of all constituents who meet the filter criteria will be displayed in the Recipient List.