---
title: Selections
slug: segment/selections
icon: {"faIcon":"fa-solid fa-bullseye"}
docTags: 
createdAt: 2026-05-30T02:15:22.841Z
---

Selections are the core building blocks in Unaric Segment. They are advanced filters that allow you to:

- Select and filter data from Data Extensions and Data Views
- Apply complex filtering rules and relationships
- Define target Data Extensions for results
- Generate SQL queries that run in Salesforce Marketing Cloud

## How it works

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### Pick or create Selection

Existing selections are available at the** Home** page. Here you can find Selections that you or your colleagues created. You can edit the existing Selections, copy them, or remove them.

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To create a new Selection:

1. In the** Home** page, click the **New Selection **button.
2. Provide a name for your Selection.

::Image[]{src="https://support.deselect.com/hc/article_attachments/29470639954705" size="80" width="1052" height="752" darkWidth="1052" darkHeight="752" position="center" showCaption="false"}

3. Choose a folder for saving your selection and click **Save.**

::Image[]{src="https://support.deselect.com/hc/article_attachments/29470639955985" size="70" width="1120" height="1008" darkWidth="1120" darkHeight="1008" position="center" showCaption="false"}
:::

:::WorkflowBlockItem
### [Selection Criteria](docId\:OE7f04Wth1Xbj0soOJ7Vl)  (Input)

Configure the input data to be segmented. You can provide an alias for your Data Extension or Data View at this moment for convenience purposes (the initial name of the data extension won’t be changed).

1. **Select your [data sources](docId:15d3guepxa0FkVzOjE5T9):** Drag and drop your input tables (including Standard, Shared, or Synchronized Data Extensions, System Data Views, or predefined Data Sets) from the *Available Data Extensions* panel to the *Selected Data Sources* area. You can optionally assign convenient aliases.
2. **[Define relationships between data sources](docId\:PJTeNUKvt5ib40-KNfxKT):** Combine multiple tables by dragging one on top of another to establish SQL-like relationships (such as *With Matching* or *Without Matching*).
3. **Apply [Filters](docId\:vOomv8gSNEjK9AFyMnMvA):** Drag fields to the Filter section to target specific audiences. You can combine criteria with AND/OR logic or leverage reusable **[Filter Sets](docId\:COQ3dCJPoHJi-5W8fNyFl)** and **[Behavioral Filter Sets](docId\:Cfa9X2lA4x7FZdWrIiN9A)**.
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:::WorkflowBlockItem
### [Target Definition](docId\:adEGubE9bfrSFwlIPpUN6) (Output)

Define the output by choosing how data is written to the Target Data Extension.

- **Create or choose [Target Data Extension](docId\:Y2nMBGSEGCTlxl6-eAc1S):** Select an existing Data Extension or create a new sendable Target DE on-the-fly directly inside Unaric Segment.
- **Create advanced **[Custom Values Values](docId\:L1w6vTgYZSIIruJK4SY32). These fields help you personalize data on-the-fly, including **Fixed Values** (static text), **Dynamic Values** (if/then conditional logic), **Aggregations** (sums, averages, counts), or **Formula Fields** (timestamps and date differences).
- **Define which fields from your Selected Data Extensions will populate the fields of your Target Data Extension**: Use **[Field Mapping](docId:7w-YENpxyaOeRZfR5cxuI)** to drag-and-drop source fields to map them to the Target Data Extension, or click **Automap** to match them automatically by name and type.
- **Handle duplicate records**: Set rules with **[Prio Deduplication](docId\:VKR1reInYO3puLdkKdvoU)** to handle duplicate records by selecting a unique field and defining priority criteria (e.g., keeping the order line with the highest quantity).
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:::WorkflowBlockItem
### [Preview & Run](docId\:C5EMU95Zi0eBmKZfZgzC0)

Preview and run your selection.

1. **[Run Preview](docId\:AFVLoJMPg9lrvaBMVJrtl):** Run a safe simulation of your query. This displays a sample results table in an empty, temporary Data Extension so you can validate joins, columns, filters, and record count before writing to production.
2. **Run Selection:** Once validated, click **Run** to execute the query and permanently write the results to your actual Target Data Extension in Salesforce Marketing Cloud.
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:::WorkflowBlockItem
### Automation

**Leverage **[Query Activities](docId:4hQ24eLfLpecYLGLtLG5B): After running selections, Query Activities can be integrated directly into broader SFMC workflows.

- Set up [Schedule Selections](docId\:wUPZtaR3qNmTjQPbi5Ic7)** (Optional):** Click the scheduling calendar icon on the top bar of your Selection to automate runs (once or recurringly at a specific time, date, and frequency).
- Integrate [Journey Builder](docId\:Q7C8zyYkGevDLH6WNu4bf): Running a Selection automatically generates standard SFMC SQL Query Activities in **Automation Studio > Activities > SQL Query > DESelect > Selections** that you can easily drag into multi-step Automations.
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