Introduction

As you dive into the world of Salesforce Marketing Cloud and AMPscript, having a handy reference for its syntax can be incredibly useful. This cheat sheet provides an overview of AMPscript syntax, functions, and best practices to help you create dynamic, personalised content for your marketing campaigns.

AMPscript Syntax Basics

Delimiters: All AMPscript code is enclosed within double percentage signs and square brackets, as shown below:

%%[
    /* Your AMPscript code goes here */
]%%

Variables: Variables store data values and are declared using the 'var' keyword, followed by the variable name:

%%[
    var @variableName
]%%

Functions: Functions perform specific tasks and can be used to retrieve, manipulate, or display data:

%%[
    FunctionName(arguments)
]%%

Output: To display the value of a variable, use the 'Output' function:

%%=v(@variableName)=%%

Comments: Single-line comments start with '/' and end with '/':

/* This is a single-line comment */

Multi-line comments start with '/' and end with '/':

/*
    This is a
    multi-line comment
*/

Common AMPscript Functions

Data retrieval:

Lookup: Retrieves a single value from a data extension.
Syntax: Lookup("DataExtension", "ColumnName", "LookupColumnName", "LookupValue")

LookupRows: Retrieves multiple rows from a data extension based on a specified condition.
Syntax: LookupRows("DataExtension", "LookupColumnName", "LookupValue")

Data manipulation:

Concat: Combines two or more strings.
Syntax: Concat(String1, String2, ...)

Uppercase: Converts a string to uppercase.
Syntax: Uppercase(String)

Lowercase: Converts a string to lowercase.
Syntax: Lowercase(String)

Substring: Extracts a portion of a string.
Syntax: Substring(String, StartIndex, Length)

Date and time:

Now: Returns the current date and time.
Syntax: Now()

DateAdd: Adds or subtracts a specified time interval from a date.
Syntax: DateAdd(Date, Number, Interval)

FormatDate: Formats a date value using the specified format.
Syntax: FormatDate(Date, "Format")

Conditional statements:

IF: Used for making decisions based on a condition.
Syntax:

%%[
    if Condition then
        /* Code to execute if condition is true */
    else
        /* Code to execute if condition is false */
    endif
]%%

IIF: Returns one of two values based on a condition.
Syntax: IIF(Condition, ValueIfTrue, ValueIfFalse)

AMPscript Best Practices

Use descriptive variable names to make your code more readable and easier to maintain. Avoid using excessive nested functions, as it can make your code harder to read and debug. Use comments to explain complex or unclear sections of your code. Test your AMPscript code thoroughly before deploying it in a live campaign.

Conclusion

With this AMPscript syntax cheat sheet, you'll have a handy reference to help you create dynamic, personalised content for your Salesforce Marketing Cloud campaigns. Remember to follow best practices and keep experimenting with different functions and syntax elements to take your email marketing campaigns to the next level.

Should you require any guidance or assistance with your AMPscript implementation, please feel free to reach out to us. Our team of seasoned professionals stands ready to aid you in unlocking the full potential of Salesforce Marketing Cloud and AMPscript, ensuring the success of your marketing endeavours.