Data Extension Data Types

• You can increase the length of a text field, but you can’t decrease it.

• You can’t import decimal values into a column with the Number data type. To import a decimal value, use the Decimal data type.

• Various formats are accepted, such as 1/1/2025 or January 1, 2025.
• Use an AMPscript function to format. See AMPscript Date & Time Functions.
• All dates are stored in mm/dd/yyyy format. Marketing Cloud Engagement automatically updates dates entered in a different format.
• Marketing Cloud Engagement generates dates in US Central Standard Time unless documented otherwise.
• You can add a time value in hh:mm:ss.sss format after the date, such as 11/16/2025 18:24:02.718.

True values: 1, Y, Yes, true

False values: 0, N, No, false

• This field is required to send an email to a data extension.
• The username part can be up to 100 characters long. In total, the email address, including the domain name, can be up to 254 characters long.
• During an import or API insertion, the system checks the syntax and validity of the email address. If the syntax is incorrect or the email address isn’t valid, an error is shown.

• The Phone data type accepts 15-digit strings. During an import or API insertion, nondigit characters are removed. These examples are acceptable:
  • 555-555-5555
  • 1-555-555-5555
  • 1-(555)-555-5555
  • (555)-555-5555
  • 11555555555
  • 111555555555

• When you define a decimal field, the total number of digits is called precision, and the number of digits after the decimal point is called scale. The first field is precision, and the second field is scale.

  The precision can’t exceed 38 digits, and the scale can’t exceed 17 digits. For example, you define a decimal field with a length of 8.2. The maximum number of digits the field can hold is 8, with 2 digits after the decimal point and up to 6 digits before the decimal. If your import doesn’t declare the scale, the decimals are always filled with 0s—in this example, 2 digits.

• Examples of acceptable numbers for a length of 8.2 include:
  • 123456.78 (imported as 123456.78)
  • 123456 (imported as 123456.00)
  • 12.34 (imported as 12.34)
  • 1234 (imported as 1234.00)
  • 0.12 (imported as 0.12)
  • 12 (imported as 12.00)

  To include more digits on the left side of the decimal point, reduce the scale. For example, if you define a decimal field with a length of 23.15, the total number of digits is 23, with 15 digits after the decimal point and up to 8 digits before the decimal.

• Examples of acceptable numbers for a length of 23.15 include:
  • 12345678.012345678912345 (imported as 12345678.012345678912345)
  • 12345678.0 (imported as 12345678.000000000000000)
  • 0.123456789123456 (imported as 0.123456789123456)
• You can't alter the length of a decimal field after you create the field.

• A two-character country code is required. You can enter up to five characters to account for the language. For example, a resident of the United States who speaks English receives the EN-US Locale value.