Group Session Variables

Group Session Variables are the specific variables configured to be tracked within a particular group session. Each session can have its own subset of global variables, allowing flexible data collection for different purposes.

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Overview

While Global Variables define your application's complete data schema, Group Session Variables determine which of those variables are active for a specific session. This allows you to:

• Collect different data sets for different purposes
• Simplify the user interface by showing only relevant fields
• Phase in data collection over multiple sessions
• Run different types of data collection simultaneously

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Session Schema

Each group session has a Schema that defines which variables to track:

Setting	Description
Selected	Whether the variable is included in this session
Editable	Whether users can modify values during the session

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Configuring Session Variables

Step 1: Open Schema Editor

1. Go to Variable Center → Settings
2. Find your session in the grid
3. Click the Schema button

Step 2: Select Variables

1. View the list of all Global Variables
2. Check the boxes for variables to include
3. Uncheck variables you don't need for this session

Step 3: Configure Settings

For each selected variable:

1. Set Editable to control if users can change values
2. Review the variable type and ensure it matches your needs

Step 4: Save

Click Save to apply the schema configuration.

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Variable Inheritance

Session variables inherit properties from their Global Variable definitions:

Property	Inherited From
Field Name	Global Variable
Data Type	Global Variable
Enum Values	Global Variable
Mandatory	Global Variable

Session-specific settings:

Property	Set Per Session
Selected	Yes
Editable	Yes

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Example Configurations

Basic Survey Session

Variables: firstName, lastName, email, surveyResponse, submittedAt
All Editable: true

View-Only Results Session

Variables: firstName, lastName, score, completionDate
Editable: false (all variables read-only)

Phased Data Collection

Phase 1 Session:

Variables: firstName, lastName, email

Phase 2 Session:

Variables: firstName, lastName, email, detailedProfile, preferences

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Mandatory Variables

Some variables are marked as Mandatory in the Global Variables definition:

• These must have values for every user
• Typically includes: First Name, Last Name, Email
• Cannot be skipped when adding users to the session

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Variable Display in User Data

When viewing User Data for a session:

• Only selected variables appear as columns
• Column order follows the variable definition order
• Use the Variable Panel to show/hide columns temporarily

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Best Practices

1. Start minimal - Include only essential variables initially

2. Consider user experience - Fewer fields mean faster data entry

3. Group related variables - Include logically related fields together

4. Test your schema - Add a test user to verify the configuration

5. Document your choices - Keep notes on why certain variables are included/excluded

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Questions?

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us. Alternatively, you can submit an issue on this platform.

Useful Links:

Global Variables - https://help.acenji.com/#/./shared-concepts/variable-center/settings/global-variables/index Group Session - https://help.acenji.com/#/./shared-concepts/variable-center/settings/group-session/index User Data - https://help.acenji.com/#/./shared-concepts/variable-center/user-data/index

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