Temporary Data Extensions
Temporary Data Extensions are intermediary tables automatically generated by Unaric Segment during specific operations. These Data Extensions are stored in SFMC within the DESelect folder.
How it works
Temporary Data Extensions are internally generated in the following scenarios:
- Running a previewPreview: When you preview a selection, Unaric Segment stores the preview results in a temporary Data Extension to ensure that the Target Data Extension remains unaffected. Once you run the selection after previewing, the temporary Data Extension is automatically deleted.
- Using Prio DeduplicationPrio Deduplication: In this case, Unaric Segment creates two temporary Data Extensions. The first Data Extension runs the selection as usual, while the second applies the deduplication rules.
Clean temporary Data Extensions
Starting May 2025, all newly created selections are automatically subject to the retention policy. This ensures that all associated preview and de-duplication Data Extensions are automatically deleted, optimizing storage usage without requiring manual intervention.
For Data Extensions created before June 2025, this automated clean-up process does not apply. These pre-existing DEs must be manually deleted to free up storage space.
All the temporary Data Extensions are stored under the DESelect folder in SFMC Data Extensions. Temporary Data Extensions generated during a preview are automatically deleted once you officially run the Selection. However, administrators can configure a Data Retention Policy to automatically delete older temporary Data Extensions and free up storage space.
To this end, best practices include:
- Set the correct Data Retention Policy for temporary Data Extensions in the Admin Panel. In this way, the temporary Data Extensions will be automatically deleted after a selected period of time.
- Delete old Selections that you don't need, as it will delete the Temporary Data Extensions related to it.
- Clean up existing temporary Data Extensions, based on the LastModifiedDate. Older temporary Data Extensions have fewer chances of being in use, so you can start by deleting the older ones.
Even after deleting the Temporary Data Extensions, the Selections related to them will still be accessible and work perfectly.