Create or update one or more people (merge)

The merge Ortto endpoint of the person entity is used to create or update one or more person records in Ortto’s customer data platform (CDP).

This page provides descriptions of this endpoint’s:

request resource and method,
valid parameters, headers, and request body values, as well as
the response payload.

HTTP method and request resource

POST https://api.ap3api.com/v1/person/merge

Path and query parameters

This endpoint takes no additional path and/or query parameters.

Headers

This endpoint requires a custom API key and content type (application/json for the request body) in the header of the request:

X-Api-Key: CUSTOM-PRIVATE-API-KEY
Content-Type: application/json

Request body

The request body consists of a JSON object whose valid elements are listed in the table below.

The following JSON object is an example of field and object data that Ortto can recognize to create or update one or more person records in your Ortto account’s CDP.

Example create/update people request body in Ortto’s CDP

{
  "people": [
    {
      "fields": {
        "str::first": "Chris",
        "str::last": "Smith",
        "str::email": "chris.smith@example.com",
        "str:cm:job-title": "Technician"
      },
      "location": {
        "source_ip": "119.18.0.218"
      }
    },
    {
      "fields": {
        "str::first": "Alex",
        "str::email": "alex@example.com"
      },
      "location": {
        "source_ip": "119.18.0.218",
      }
    }
  ],
  "async": false,
  "merge_by": ["str::email"],
  "merge_strategy": 2,
  "find_strategy": 0
}

Valid request body elements

The following table lists all valid request body elements (arrays, objects, or fields), which are available to this endpoint.

Element Type Description

Element	Type	Description
`people`	`array` of objects	The `people` array consists of an array of objects, where each object contains data associated with a person being created or updated in your Ortto account’s CDP. Each of these objects can contain: `fields` and `location` objects. `tags` and `unset_tags` arrays. Between 1 to 100 people (each as individual objects of this `array`) can be created and/or updated in a single request body call to this endpoint.
→ `fields`	Object containing person field members	The object containing the fields for a person being created or updated in your Ortto account’s CDP. This person is either created or updated in Ortto’s CDP based on these criteria: If this `fields` object contains a person field member whose value matches the `merge_by` member’s value submitted in this request, and this person field’s value does not match that of an existing person in Ortto’s CDP, then Ortto creates this person as a new record. Otherwise, if the person field member’s value does already match that of an existing person in Ortto’s CDP, then Ortto updates the fields of that person’s record in the Ortto CDP, based on the `merge_strategy` value of this request.
→ `location`	Object containing location field data	The `location` object either accepts a single IP address (as a `source_ip` field member), or a full address (in either a `custom` or `address` object). The `location` object provides more flexible options for specifying a person’s location and address details rather than having to specify this information via `geo`-type person fields in a `fields` object (above).
→ `tags`	`array` of `string` values	Each `string` value in the `tags` array represents a tag that is applied to this person in this request. Tags can be applied to a person, regardless of whether their record is being created or updated in your Ortto account’s CDP. If a specified tag already exists in the CDP, then that tag is re-used when applied to this person. Otherwise, a new tag is automatically created in the CDP and applied to this person.
→ `unset_tags`	`array` of `string` values	Each `string` value in the `unset_tags` array represents a tag that is removed from this person in this request. Be aware that if the `unset_tags` array: is used in conjunction with the `tags` array in a single request, avoid specifying the same tag in both arrays, since the processing order of these arrays may differ from one request to the next, resulting in unpredictable tagging outcomes. contains tags which were not applied to this person, then specifying them in this array has no effect. Therefore, a construct like: `"people": [ { "fields": { "str::email": "chris.smith@example.com" }, "tags": ["Tag2", "Tag3"], "unset_tags": ["Tag1"] } ]` would result in Tag2 and Tag3 being applied to this person. Tag1 would be removed if it had already been applied to this person. Otherwise, if Tag1 were not applied to this person, the tag’s explicit removal (as depicted in this code example), has no effect.
`async`	`boolean`
`merge_by`	`array` of one or two `string` values	The `merge_by` element’s array allows up to two field ID values that specify the person fields used to determine whether the people’s records are either created or updated in your Ortto account’s CDP. When the value of the person field member (determined by the relevant `merge_by` member value), submitted in this request matches that of an existing person in Ortto’s CDP, then this person’s record is updated in the CDP and where appropriate, existing field values are merged according to the strategy below. Otherwise, Ortto creates a new person’s record in the CDP. These values respectively override the default person fields associated with the custom API key submitted in this request. These default field values are defined by the Merge strategy associations configured for this custom API key. If a `merge_by` element is not specified in the request, then these default person field values are utilized instead. The first of these values determines the main `merge_by` person field utilized by Ortto in the request, whereas the second (optional) value determines the fallback `merge_by` person field (which behaves as a backup should the first field - e.g. a custom field - not be available within the person’s record of Ortto’s CDP).
`merge_strategy`	`integer` (default value is `2` Overwrite existing)	When the `merge_by` member value (and its corresponding person field member value) submitted in this request determines that an existing person’s record in Ortto’s CDP will be updated, then this `merge_strategy` member value determines how the person’s existing field values are merged. Learn more about this value in Merge strategy below. If `merge_strategy` is not specified in the request, then the default value of `2` (Overwrite existing) is used.
`find_strategy`	`integer` (default value is `0` [any])	The Find strategy determines how the `merge_by` fields are used in finding existing people to merge with, in particular, whether both `merge_by` fields are used, or just one. Learn about the different options in Find strategy below. If find_strategy" is not specified in the request, then the default value of `0 ([any]) is used.
`skip_non_existing`	`boolean`	The `skip_non_existing` flag enables you to perform updates to existing contacts and not add contacts that do not already exist in your CDP. For example, this is useful when you want to update the email address for a contact by their data source ID (in this example, a Chargebee customer ID): `"people": [ { "fields": { "str::email": "customer@email.com", "str:cb:c_id": "123456789" } } ], "async": false, "merge_by": ["str:cb:c_id"], "merge_strategy": 1, "find_strategy": 0, "skip_non_existing": true` `skip_non_existing` works at the record level, not the field level. As such, where the person exists in the CDP, the merge strategy comes into play. Using the example above, when used in conjunction with `merge-strategy`: with a value of `1` (`"merge_strategy": 1`; append), the API will only add email addresses to contact records if the email address does not already exist (it will not add new contacts). with a value of `2` (`"merge_strategy": 2`; overwrite), the API will only overwrite exiting contact records to update existing email addresses.

people

array of objects

The people array consists of an array of objects, where each object contains data associated with a person being created or updated in your Ortto account’s CDP. Each of these objects can contain:

fields and location objects.
tags and unset_tags arrays.

Between 1 to 100 people (each as individual objects of this array) can be created and/or updated in a single request body call to this endpoint.

→ fields

Object containing person field members

The object containing the fields for a person being created or updated in your Ortto account’s CDP.
This person is either created or updated in Ortto’s CDP based on these criteria:

If this fields object contains a person field member whose value matches the merge_by member’s value submitted in this request, and this person field’s value does not match that of an existing person in Ortto’s CDP, then Ortto creates this person as a new record.
Otherwise, if the person field member’s value does already match that of an existing person in Ortto’s CDP, then Ortto updates the fields of that person’s record in the Ortto CDP, based on the merge_strategy value of this request.

→ location

Object containing location field data

The location object either accepts a single IP address (as a source_ip field member), or a full address (in either a custom or address object).
The location object provides more flexible options for specifying a person’s location and address details rather than having to specify this information via geo-type person fields in a fields object (above).

→ tags

array of string values

Each string value in the tags array represents a tag that is applied to this person in this request.
Tags can be applied to a person, regardless of whether their record is being created or updated in your Ortto account’s CDP.
If a specified tag already exists in the CDP, then that tag is re-used when applied to this person. Otherwise, a new tag is automatically created in the CDP and applied to this person.

→ unset_tags

array of string values

Each string value in the unset_tags array represents a tag that is removed from this person in this request.
Be aware that if the unset_tags array:

is used in conjunction with the tags array in a single request, avoid specifying the same tag in both arrays, since the processing order of these arrays may differ from one request to the next, resulting in unpredictable tagging outcomes.
contains tags which were not applied to this person, then specifying them in this array has no effect.

Therefore, a construct like:

"people": [
  {
    "fields": {
      "str::email": "chris.smith@example.com"
    },
    "tags": ["Tag2", "Tag3"],
    "unset_tags": ["Tag1"]
  }
]

would result in Tag2 and Tag3 being applied to this person.
Tag1 would be removed if it had already been applied to this person. Otherwise, if Tag1 were not applied to this person, the tag’s explicit removal (as depicted in this code example), has no effect.

async

boolean

merge_by

array of one or two string values

The merge_by element’s array allows up to two field ID values that specify the person fields used to determine whether the people’s records are either created or updated in your Ortto account’s CDP.

When the value of the person field member (determined by the relevant merge_by member value), submitted in this request matches that of an existing person in Ortto’s CDP, then this person’s record is updated in the CDP and where appropriate, existing field values are merged according to the strategy below. Otherwise, Ortto creates a new person’s record in the CDP.

These values respectively override the default person fields associated with the custom API key submitted in this request. These default field values are defined by the Merge strategy associations configured for this custom API key.
If a merge_by element is not specified in the request, then these default person field values are utilized instead.
The first of these values determines the main merge_by person field utilized by Ortto in the request, whereas the second (optional) value determines the fallback merge_by person field (which behaves as a backup should the first field - e.g. a custom field - not be available within the person’s record of Ortto’s CDP).

merge_strategy

integer
(default value is 2
Overwrite existing)

When the merge_by member value (and its corresponding person field member value) submitted in this request determines that an existing person’s record in Ortto’s CDP will be updated, then this merge_strategy member value determines how the person’s existing field values are merged. Learn more about this value in Merge strategy below.
If merge_strategy is not specified in the request, then the default value of 2 (Overwrite existing) is used.

find_strategy

integer
(default value is 0
[any])

The Find strategy determines how the merge_by fields are used in finding existing people to merge with, in particular, whether both merge_by fields are used, or just one. Learn about the different options in Find strategy below.
If find_strategy" is not specified in the request, then the default value of `0 ([any]) is used.

skip_non_existing

boolean

The skip_non_existing flag enables you to perform updates to existing contacts and not add contacts that do not already exist in your CDP.

For example, this is useful when you want to update the email address for a contact by their data source ID (in this example, a Chargebee customer ID):

"people": [
{
"fields": {
  "str::email": "customer@email.com",
  "str:cb:c_id": "123456789"
}
}
],
"async": false,
"merge_by": ["str:cb:c_id"],
"merge_strategy": 1,
"find_strategy": 0,
"skip_non_existing": true

skip_non_existing works at the record level, not the field level. As such, where the person exists in the CDP, the merge strategy comes into play. Using the example above, when used in conjunction with merge-strategy:

with a value of 1 ("merge_strategy": 1; append), the API will only add email addresses to contact records if the email address does not already exist (it will not add new contacts).
with a value of 2 ("merge_strategy": 2; overwrite), the API will only overwrite exiting contact records to update existing email addresses.

Person fields

In Ortto, a person field:

contains the data for a specific piece of information (i.e. field) about each person in Ortto’s CDP,
is referenced via the Ortto API using a specific ID format,
could be a built in Ortto field or a custom field you have defined yourself (which also has its own ID format), and
is defined as a member for each person (within their respective fields : { … } object) submitted in the request to this endpoint.

The following built-in person fields are accessible through Ortto’s API when creating or updating people in the CDP.

Field name (in product) Field ID Example Description

Field name (in product)	Field ID	Example	Description
First name	`str::first`	`"str::first": "Chris"`	A string whose value is this person’s first name.
Last name	`str::last`	`"str::last": "Smith"`	A string whose value is this person’s last name.
Phone number	`phn::phone`	`"phn::phone": { "c": "61", "n": "401234567" }`	A phone number object of two members consisting of valid country code digits (`c`) and a phone number (`n`), representing this person’s phone number. For the phone number, omit the initial trunk prefix/digit (e.g. `0`) that is typically dialed when calling the number locally.
Email	`str::email`	`"str::email": "chris.smith@example.com"`	A string whose value is this person’s email address. This person field and its value is commonly used as the main `merge_by` field that determines whether a person’s record in Ortto’s CDP is either created or updated. This field is mandatory if the External ID field is not provided in the containing `fields` object.
City	`geo::city`	`"geo::city": { "name": "Melbourne" }`	A geographical data object consisting of a member `name` whose string value is this person’s current city.
Country	`geo::country`	`"geo::country": { "name": "Australia" }`	A geographical data object consisting of a member `name` whose string value is this person’s current country.
Birthday	`dtz::b`	`"dtz::b": { "year": 1980, "month": 3, "day": 4, "timezone": "Australia/Sydney" }`	A date object consisting of members `year`, `month` and `day` whose respective integer values represent this person’s date of birth, along with a `timezone` string representing the person’s current time zone.
Region	`geo::region`	`"geo::region": { "name": "Victoria" }`	A geographical data object consisting of a member `name` whose string value is this person’s current region (e.g. state or province) within their country.
Postal	`str::postal`	`"str::postal": "90210"`	A string whose value is this person’s current postal code.
External ID	`str::ei`	`"str::ei": "c533532fe5d16c7d4fa4c7f0"`	A string whose value is any ID used to uniquely identify this person. This value is mandatory if the Email field is not provided in the containing `fields` object.
GDPR	`bol::gdpr`	`"bol::gdpr": true`	A boolean value where `true` flags that GDPR is a requirement for this person, or `false` if not.
Email subscription permission	`bol::p`	`"bol::p": false` (default value is `true`)	A boolean value where `true` flags that the person has their Email permission set to true, or Subscribed through the Ortto user interface (UI), and `false` flags that this person’s permission is set to false (or Unsubscribed). If this person field is not specified in the request, then this value is assumed to be `true` by default.
Custom context message for the email unsubscribe action	`str::u-ctx`	`"str::u-ctx": "Unsubscribed from email using a custom context message"` (default value is `"Unsubscribed via API"`)	A string value that allows you to customize the default activity context message from Unsubscribed via API to something else, when setting the email subscription permission to `false`. These messages appear in people’s Activities updates in the Ortto UI.
Custom context message for the email subscribe action	`str::s-ctx`	`"str::s-ctx": "Subscribed to email using a custom context message"` (default value is `"Subscribed via API"`)	A string value that allows you to customize the default activity context message from Subscribed via API to something else, when setting the email subscription permission to `true`. These messages appear in people’s Activities updates in the Ortto UI.
SMS subscription permission	`bol::sp`	`"bol::sp": true` (default value is `false`)	A boolean value where `false` flags that the person has their SMS permission set to false, or Unsubscribed through the Ortto UI, and `true` flags that this person’s permission is set to true (or Subscribed). If this person field is not specified in the request, then this value is assumed to be `false` by default.
Custom context message for the SMS subscribe action	`str::soi-ctx`	`"str::soi-ctx": "Subscribed to SMS using a custom context message"` (default value is `"Subscribed via API"`)	A string value that allows you to customize the default activity context message from Subscribed via API to something else, when setting the SMS subscription permission to `true`. These messages appear in people’s Activities updates in the Ortto UI.
Custom context message for the SMS unsubscribe action	`str::soo-ctx`	`"str::soo-ctx": "Unsubscribed from SMS using a custom context message"` (default value is `"Unsubscribed via API"`)	A string value that allows you to customize the default activity context message from Unsubscribed via API to something else, when setting the SMS subscription permission to `false`. These messages appear in people’s Activities updates in the Ortto UI.
Language	`str::language`	`"str::language": "de"`	A string which determines the person’s preferred language. This can be used to present email campaigns in the person’s preferred language (where supported) using Ortto’s multi-language feature. See a list of available language values at List of languages.

First name

str::first

"str::first": "Chris"

A string whose value is this person’s first name.

Last name

str::last

"str::last": "Smith"

A string whose value is this person’s last name.

Phone number

phn::phone

"phn::phone": {
  "c": "61",
  "n": "401234567"
}

A phone number object of two members consisting of valid country code digits (c) and a phone number (n), representing this person’s phone number. For the phone number, omit the initial trunk prefix/digit (e.g. 0) that is typically dialed when calling the number locally.

str::email

"str::email": "chris.smith@example.com"

A string whose value is this person’s email address. This person field and its value is commonly used as the main merge_by field that determines whether a person’s record in Ortto’s CDP is either created or updated. This field is mandatory if the External ID field is not provided in the containing fields object.

City

geo::city

"geo::city": {
  "name": "Melbourne"
}

A geographical data object consisting of a member name whose string value is this person’s current city.

Country

geo::country

"geo::country": {
  "name": "Australia"
}

A geographical data object consisting of a member name whose string value is this person’s current country.

Birthday

dtz::b

"dtz::b": {
  "year": 1980,
  "month": 3,
  "day": 4,
  "timezone": "Australia/Sydney"
}

A date object consisting of members year, month and day whose respective integer values represent this person’s date of birth, along with a timezone string representing the person’s current time zone.

Region

geo::region

"geo::region": {
  "name": "Victoria"
}

A geographical data object consisting of a member name whose string value is this person’s current region (e.g. state or province) within their country.

Postal

str::postal

"str::postal": "90210"

A string whose value is this person’s current postal code.

External ID

str::ei

"str::ei": "c533532fe5d16c7d4fa4c7f0"

A string whose value is any ID used to uniquely identify this person. This value is mandatory if the Email field is not provided in the containing fields object.

GDPR

bol::gdpr

"bol::gdpr": true

A boolean value where true flags that GDPR is a requirement for this person, or false if not.

Email subscription permission

bol::p

"bol::p": false
(default value is true)

A boolean value where true flags that the person has their Email permission set to true, or Subscribed through the Ortto user interface (UI), and false flags that this person’s permission is set to false (or Unsubscribed).
If this person field is not specified in the request, then this value is assumed to be true by default.

Custom context message for the email unsubscribe action

str::u-ctx

"str::u-ctx": "Unsubscribed from email using a custom context message"
(default value is "Unsubscribed via API")

A string value that allows you to customize the default activity context message from Unsubscribed via API to something else, when setting the email subscription permission to false.
These messages appear in people’s Activities updates in the Ortto UI.

Custom context message for the email subscribe action

str::s-ctx

"str::s-ctx": "Subscribed to email using a custom context message"
(default value is "Subscribed via API")

A string value that allows you to customize the default activity context message from Subscribed via API to something else, when setting the email subscription permission to true.
These messages appear in people’s Activities updates in the Ortto UI.

SMS subscription permission

bol::sp

"bol::sp": true
(default value is false)

A boolean value where false flags that the person has their SMS permission set to false, or Unsubscribed through the Ortto UI, and true flags that this person’s permission is set to true (or Subscribed).
If this person field is not specified in the request, then this value is assumed to be false by default.

Custom context message for the SMS subscribe action

str::soi-ctx

"str::soi-ctx": "Subscribed to SMS using a custom context message"
(default value is "Subscribed via API")

A string value that allows you to customize the default activity context message from Subscribed via API to something else, when setting the SMS subscription permission to true.
These messages appear in people’s Activities updates in the Ortto UI.

Custom context message for the SMS unsubscribe action

str::soo-ctx

"str::soo-ctx": "Unsubscribed from SMS using a custom context message"
(default value is "Unsubscribed via API")

A string value that allows you to customize the default activity context message from Unsubscribed via API to something else, when setting the SMS subscription permission to false.
These messages appear in people’s Activities updates in the Ortto UI.

Language

str::language

"str::language": "de"

A string which determines the person’s preferred language. This can be used to present email campaigns in the person’s preferred language (where supported) using Ortto’s multi-language feature.

See a list of available language values at List of languages.

Person field ID format

Each person field is referenced by an ID.

Since Ortto integrates with many third-party products, references to person fields in Ortto’s CDP are both strongly-typed and namespace-specific. Therefore, each person field’s ID is based on the format:

type:namespace:field-name

For:

Ortto’s own built-in person fields, the namespace value is unnecessary and is omitted. Hence, these built-in fields are referenced by an ID based on the format:
- type::field-name
Your own custom person fields in Ortto, the namespace value is cm, and hence, these custom fields are referenced by an ID based on the format:
- type:cm:field-name
Up to 100 custom fields can be added to an Ortto account/instance.

The field-name for custom fields is typically based on their configured names converted to kebab-case.

Person field type abbreviations

The following person field type abbreviations are used to form the first part (type) of each person field’s ID for built-in fields:

Field type abbreviation Type of value

Field type abbreviation	Type of value
`bol`	Boolean
`dtz`	Date (object)
`geo`	Geographical data (object)
`int`	Integer. For internal operations and calculations, the Ortto API treats decimal values as integers multiplied by 1,000. This is done to preserve the precision of values resulting from these calculations.
`phn`	Phone number (object)
`str`	String

bol

Boolean

dtz

Date (object)

geo

Geographical data (object)

int

Integer.
For internal operations and calculations, the Ortto API treats decimal values as integers multiplied by 1,000. This is done to preserve the precision of values resulting from these calculations.

phn

Phone number (object)

str

String

Merge strategy

The merge strategy determines how a person’s existing field values are merged.

merge_strategy
(integer) Strategy Description

Append only

Using this strategy, all fields with existing values in Ortto’s CDP are not changed. Ortto only adds new data (for fields without a value).
For example, assuming you have a custom field str:cm:place-of-birth, and the request contains the person field value:
"str:cm:place-of-birth": "Oslo",

If this person’s existing str:cm:place-of-birth value is "Sydney" in the CDP, then this existing value would not be changed after the request is submitted, and the value would remain "Sydney" in the CDP.
If, however, this person’s existing str:cm:place-of-birth value is empty in the CDP, then this empty field would be updated to "Oslo" in the CDP.

Overwrite existing
(default)

Using this strategy, any person fields specified in the request are updated in Ortto’s CDP, even when existing values are present, and hence are overwritten.
A person’s field in the CDP can be cleared by specifying the corresponding person field’s value in the request as null.
For example, assuming you have a custom field str:cm:place-of-birth and this person’s existing str:cm:place-of-birth value in the CDP is "Sydney", then a request containing the person field value:

"str:cm:place-of-birth": "Oslo" would be changed to "Oslo" in the CDP after the request is submitted,
"str:cm:place-of-birth": null would be cleared and made empty in the CDP after the request is submitted.

Any person fields which are not specified in the request are not cleared (and retain their value) in the person’s CDP record.

Ignore

Using this strategy, no updates are applied to the existing person’s record in Ortto’s CDP, but a new person will be created if it doesn’t exist. If you do not wish to create a new person you need to provide the skip_non_existing to true.

Use this merge strategy to enforce only adding new people to the CDP, leaving existing people’s records untouched.

Find strategy

The find strategy determines how the merge_by fields are used to detect an existing person match.

The find strategy is only relevant if you have 2 merge_by fields provided. When you have only 1 field, this setting makes no difference to the outcome. When 2 merge_by fields are provided, the find_strategy value determines if we utilise both fields or just one, in detecting an existing person match:

find_strategy
(integer) Strategy Description

find_strategy (integer)	Strategy	Description
0	Any (default)	Using this strategy, all `merge_by` fields are used in detecting an existing person to merge with. For example, assuming you have `str::email` and `phn::phone` as your two `merge_by` fields, and provide both fields in your request: Starting with the first `merge_by` field (in this case, `str::email`), try to find an existing person match using that field, and if a match is found, merge. If a match is not found using the first field, the second field is then used (in this case, `phn::phone`) to try and find a match, and if found, merge.
1	Next only if previous empty	Using this strategy, the first `merge_by` field is prioritized, and the second field is only used if the first field was not provided. For example, assuming you have `str::email` and `phn::phone` as your two `merge_by` fields, and provide both fields in your request: Starting with the first `merge_by field (in this case, `str::email`), try to find an existing person match using that field, and if a match is found, merge. If a match is not found using the first field, the second field is ignored (even if there would be a match). If the first field is not provided for a person in the request, only then will the second field be used to detect a match.

Any
(default)

Using this strategy, all merge_by fields are used in detecting an existing person to merge with.
For example, assuming you have str::email and phn::phone as your two merge_by fields, and provide both fields in your request:

Starting with the first merge_by field (in this case, str::email), try to find an existing person match using that field, and if a match is found, merge.
If a match is not found using the first field, the second field is then used (in this case, phn::phone) to try and find a match, and if found, merge.

Next only if previous empty

Using this strategy, the first merge_by field is prioritized, and the second field is only used if the first field was not provided.
For example, assuming you have str::email and phn::phone as your two merge_by fields, and provide both fields in your request:

Starting with the first `merge_by field (in this case, str::email), try to find an existing person match using that field, and if a match is found, merge.
If a match is not found using the first field, the second field is ignored (even if there would be a match).

If the first field is not provided for a person in the request, only then will the second field be used to detect a match.