Datasets are search queries that can be compared to one another. Think of this as ‘Super Search’. Aggregate and contrast multiple sets of data to perform sophisticated analysis.
Jump to section:
Filter operator | Union operator | Intersect operator | Difference operator
When to use Datasets
Use the Datasets function when you need to:
- Compare two or more distinct sets of data
- Combine (de-duplicate) records from searches or other datasets
- Exclude specific values from a query
- Create complex interrogations of your data where Advanced Search lacks dimensions
Create a Dataset
Access Datasets options via the Search menu:
Datasets can be created from two sources:
- from an existing Saved Search or
- from an existing Dataset
Name & save new dataset
In the Datasets page, click 
Name the new set something meaningful and then select your options:
- Main Group: choose to save the Dataset in one of two main groups, either: User Defined (accessible to you only) or as Publisher Shared (shared with colleagues)
- Sub Group: create a sub-group to help categorise your Datasets, e.g. ‘Upselling’, ‘North America’, ‘Gap Analysis’, etc. Click the pencil icon to name the Sub Group or leave Ungrouped
Then, select the category of data you wish to analyse:
- Base Dataset: choose from Ringgold’s primary datasets, your subscription datasets, or user defined datasets
- Base Saved Search: choose from any of your Saved Searches
Tip: what you choose as the Base Dataset matters later when using the ‘Difference’ operator, as it will show which organizations are in the Base Dataset but NOT in what is added subsequently
Create Dataset
Use one or more Drag and Drop operators to perform a sophisticated analysis of one or more Datasets.
Refine datasets in multiple dimensions.
I have a dataset of university prospects for all territories already created but want to create a version for our sales rep that only sells to organizations in Germany.
Step One: create a Saved Search
In Advanced Search Select Ringgold Tiers ‘A3+A4+A5’ Select Misc Filter ‘is not a customer of any product’
Then, Click Save Search As and name it ‘All Products A3-5 Prospects’. This Dataset contains all territories.
Step Two: create and name a New Dataset
To create a separate new Dataset containing just the German prospects, in Datasets:
Click Create New Set Enter New Set Name ‘All Products A3-5 Prospects Germany’
To share the Dataset with colleagues, Select Main Group ‘Publisher Shared’
To load the Saved Search dataset that you created in Step One, Select Base Saved Search ‘All Products A3-5 Prospects’
Click Save New Set. The new Dataset is now ready for editing.
Step Three: add Dataset operators
To set a country Filter, Click and Drag the Filter operator from the Drag and Drop Operators area and Drop it into the Drag for New box
Options for Filter 1 will now be available on the page. Select ‘Germany’ in the Country area. The Dataset automatically remembers how the Filter has been set but Click Edit on the Filter to change any options.
A data summary including Counts will display. You may download the Dataset or View the results onscreen.
Tip: there is no limit as to how many Filter operators can be added to a Dataset. Each Filter added will be numbered sequentially.
Tip: to remove a Filter operator, Drag it into to the Delete Component box.
Union joins datasets and eliminates duplicates.
I run several Saved Searches, export them, combine them, and deduplicate the results regularly. I’d like to create just one Dataset that combines these searches to provide a single deduplicated list of organizations.
Step One: create a Saved Search for Journal A customers
In Advanced Search, Products, Select ‘Journal A’ Save Search As ‘Journal A customers’
Step Two: create a Saved Search for Journal B customers
In Advanced Search, Products, Select ‘Journal B’ Save Search As ‘Journal B customers’
Step Three: create a Saved Search for Journal C customers
In Advanced Search, Products, Select ‘Journal C’ Save Search As ‘Journal C customers’
Step Four: create and name a New Dataset
To join all above Saved Searches and eliminate duplicate organizations, in Datasets:
Click Create New Set Enter New Set Name ‘Journal A+B+C customers’
To share the Dataset with colleagues, Select Main Group ‘Publisher Shared’
To load the Saved Search dataset that you created in Step One, Select Base Saved Search ‘Journal A customers’
Click Save New Set. The new Dataset is now ready for modification.
Step Five: add Dataset operators
Click and Drag the Union operator from the Drag and Drop Operators area and Drop it into the Drag for New box
Step Six: create New Union
As Union operators are added, a pop-up box will appear. Choose which Dataset to add to create the New Union:
To add the Saved Search dataset that you created in Step Two Select Join Saved Search ‘Journal B customers’ from the drop-down menu, then Click ‘Create Union’
Repeat this process to join ‘Journal C customers’ produced in Step Three.
As each Union is added, a data summary including Counts will be displayed and updated. You may download the Dataset or View the results onscreen.
Tip: there is no limit as to how many Union operators can be added to a Dataset. Each Intersect added will be numbered sequentially.
Tip: to remove a Union operator, Drag it into to the Delete Component box.
Intersect displays records common to two or more sets.
I want to find all academic organizations that offer programs in BOTH Computer Programming and Mathematics.
Step One: create a Saved Search for Math Subjects
In Advanced Search Select Ringgold Subjects ‘Mathematics’ (select all)
Then, Click Save Search As and name it ‘All Maths Subjects’.
Step Two: create a Saved Search for Computer Programming Subjects
In Advanced Search Select Ringgold Subjects ‘Applied Sciences/Computer Science/Computer Programming‘ (select all)
Then, Click Save Search As and name it ‘All Computer Programming Subjects’.
Step Three: create and name a New Dataset
To create a separate new Dataset containing organizations common to both the Mathematics AND Computer Programming subjects, in Datasets:
Click Create New Set Enter New Set Name ‘Academic Math and Computer Prog’
To share the Dataset with colleagues, Select Main Group ‘Publisher Shared’
To load the Saved Search dataset that you created in Step One, Select Base Saved Search ‘All Maths Subjects’
Click Save New Set. The new Dataset is now ready for modification.
Step Four: add Dataset operators
Click and Drag the Intersect operator from the Drag and Drop Operators area and Drop it into the Drag for New box
Step Five: create New Intersect
As Intersect operators are added, a pop-up box will appear. Choose which Dataset to add to create the New Intersect:
To add the Saved Search dataset that you created in Step Two, Select Join Saved Search ‘All Computer Programming Subjects’ from the drop-down menu, then Click ‘Create Intersect’
A data summary including Counts will be displayed. You may download the Dataset or View the results onscreen.
Tip: there is no limit as to how many Intersect operators can be added to a Dataset. Each Intersect added will be numbered sequentially.
Tip: to remove an Intersect operator, Drag it into to the Delete Component box.
Finds records that are unique to joined datasets.
I need a list of all Academic prospects that do not have a subscription to the Journal of Bones and Breakages
Step One: create a Saved Search for Academic prospects
In Advanced Search Select Academic Filters: Ringgold Subject ‘Health/Clinical Medicine/Orthopaedic Surgery’ AND Level ‘0’ AND Ringgold Tier ‘A4’
Then, Click Save Search As and name it ‘All A4 Orthopaedic Surgery’.
Step Two: create a Saved Search for journal subscribers
In Advanced Search Select Product: ‘Journal of Bones and Breakages’ [example].
Then, Click Save Search As and name it ‘JBB Subscribers’.
Step Three: create and name a New Dataset
To create a separate new dataset containing organizations who are not subscribers to JBB journal in Datasets:
Click Create New Set Enter New Set Name ‘A4 JBB Prospects’
To share the Dataset with colleagues, Select Main Group ‘Publisher Shared’
To load the Saved Search dataset that you created in Step One, Select Base Saved Search ‘All A4 Orthopaedic Surgery’
Click Save New Set. The new Dataset is now ready for modification.
Click and Drag the Difference operator from the Drag and Drop Operators area and Drop it into the Drag for New box
Step Four: create New Difference
As Difference operators are added, a pop-up box will appear. Choose which Dataset to add to create the New Difference:
To add the Saved Search dataset that you created in Step Two, Select Join Saved Search ‘JBB Subscribers’ from the drop-down menu, then Click ‘Create Difference’
Tip: what you choose as the Base Dataset matters later when using the ‘Difference’ operator, as it will show which organizations are in the Base Dataset but NOT in what is added subsequently
A data summary including Counts will be displayed. You may download the Dataset or View the results onscreen.
Tip: there is no limit as to how many Difference operators can be added to a Dataset. Each Difference added will be numbered sequentially.
Tip: to remove a Difference operator, Drag it into to the Delete Component box.
Dataset Options
- Show Data Sample: provides an illustrative view of the Dataset for quick review
- Download Dataset: save the Dataset to your desktop in either .csv or .xlsx formats
Tip: if ‘include Customer Data’ is selected then ALL customer data will be included in the download file, not just what is relevant to the Dataset logic
- View Results: click to see the Dataset results listed onscreen in Identify Online
- Delete Component: drag and drop any Dataset operator here to remove it
View or Edit Existing Datasets
View or Edit any pre-created Dataset in the Datasets page:
Click on any Dataset – primary, publisher shared, or user defined – to view its properties. Details will display at the top of the page:
Dataset Properties options
Recalculates the amount of organizations in the Dataset. Click to refresh.
Shows a quick sample of the Dataset
View the Dataset as Identify Online search results
Download the Dataset, save to your desktop in either .csv or .xlsx formats. If ‘include Customer Data’ is selected then ALL customer data will be included in the download file, not just what is relevant to the Dataset logic.
Edit the Dataset operators, filters, or name
Delete the Dataset. Be sure before you click this as there is no Undo option!
See also: Identify Online FAQ