Getting Started Working with Data

Compose

Overview of how data can be used in Chorus

Use Data to collect, store, and download the information your users enter while using your app. You can collect data using any type of Chorus app, whether it's mobile, SMS, or interactive voice.

In the Getting Started With Mobile Interactions help article, we've reviewed how to create new apps and mobile interaction pages. We've also reviewed the page elements you can choose to add to your interaction pages that are be used to display and collect information from your users. In the Data section we will provide an overview of how data works in Chorus and review the basics of how to set data up to collect and access user information.

To get started, it's helpful to understand a few of the key definitions for Data we've outlined below:

• Data: Taking a step back, let's to define what we mean by "Data" in Chorus - it's the information (text, numerical etc.) a user enters via an interaction with your app.
• Variables: If we think of data as information that's stored - we now need an efficient way to organize it. That's where variables come about -  think of "variables" as the structures that help organize the data we work with into discrete categories.
• Fields: Fields are always related to a variable. Think of fields as the one or many dimensions of a single variable. For example - if you think of an item like a car, the car could be considered the "variable" and the color, make, model, and year, could be considered the fields that are dimensions of the variable.

Variable Categories in Chorus

When you begin working with variables, it's important to consider what type of information you will be collecting and how you'd like to organize it.

There are two different categories of variables that Chorus can be used to store information with. The category of variable you select to organize your data will depend on your specific storage needs. Below we've explained the two and provided some tips on how to select which to use:

• App Variables: Think of app variables as variables that will be relevant for all users of an app. For instance, if you are creating an app about cars you can include a variable that will apply to all users such as "Cars" with the corresponding variable fields: make, model, color, and year, which you'd like to collect from all users that are accessing your app.
• Client Variables: Think of client variables as those that are specific to the entries of a particular client. For instance, you can set up your data to collect the inputs for: make, model, color, and year entries that are specific to particular user.

Variable Types in Chorus

There are two types of variables that Chorus can use to store information. Variable types are associated with either category of variable (App or Client). When you configure your variables, you will have to indicate a variable type. So let's review them:

• Single Item: a single item variable means that your variable can only store one value at a time. This is useful for collecting information that will not change, such as a user's birthday.
• Collection: a variable collection means you are able to store multiple values associated with a unique variable. This is useful for collecting information where there can be multiple answers, such as collecting the make, model, color, and year of each of a single user's cars.

Next Steps

Set up your variables in the variable section within Compose by following our guide here.