📅 How to Create a Group matching a Specific Timeframe (Expression Filters)

ConveYour allows you to create dynamic groups based on time-based events—such as orientation sessions, account creation, or other timestamped activities. This guide breaks down how time field expressions work and how you can use them to segment your audience based on past, present, and future activity (watch the video if TL;DR).

🧠 Key Concepts & Terminology

1. The Outcome

You would use Group Filter Time Expressions to answer questions like, "How do I create a group of people who were created in the last 7 days?" or "How do I find contacts who are scheduled to attend an event this week?"

In the examples below, you'll learn how to set up groups of people who have orientation in the next 14 days, or who had orientation in the last 14 days. But wherever you see + or - 14 days, you can substitute the amount of time you want (for example: +3 days, -7 days, etc.).

2. Time Field Requirement

To apply time-based filters, your data must include a time field. This might be a custom field like Orientation Time, or built-in fields like Created At.

3. Operators: Greater Than & Less Than Expressions

• Greater Than (means after): Filters for entries after a certain point in time.

• Less Than (means before): Filters for entries before a certain point in time.

4. Signs: Positive, Negative & Zero

• + (Positive): Indicates a point in the future (e.g., +14 days means 14 days ahead).

• - (Negative): Indicates a point in the past (e.g., -14 days means 14 days ago).

• 0 (Zero): Represents right now, down to the second.

🧪 Example: Upcoming Orientation Group

To create a group of contacts whose orientation is scheduled within the next two weeks, you'd use:

• Orientation Time is Greater Than 0 (after now)
  The Steps to Do this are:
  1. Create a New Group
  2. Select "Add Filter"
  3. Select the time field you're checking against (orientation time, created at, etc.)
  4. In the "When" input, scroll down to "Expressions"
  5. Select "Greater Than"
  6. Input the value "0 days"

• Orientation Time is Less Than +14 days (before 14 days from now)
  The Steps to Do this are (In the New Group you just created):
  1. Select "Add Filter" (this is the second filter)
  2. Select the same time field you previously used (orientation time, created at, etc.)
  3. In the "When" input, scroll down to "Expressions"
  4. Select "Less Than"
  5. Input the value "+14 days"

Explanation:

• Greater Than 0 ensures the orientation is in the future.

• Less Than +14 days limits the range to only the next 14 days, excluding events far in the future.

This filters in only those whose orientation time is between now and 14 days ahead.

⏮ Example: Last Orientation Group

To gather contacts who completed orientation in the past 14 days, you'd use:

• Orientation Time is Less Than 0 (before now)
  The Steps to Do this are:
  1. Create a New Group
  2. Select "Add Filter"
  3. Select the time field you're checking against (orientation time, created at, etc.)
  4. In the "When" input, scroll down to "Expressions"
  5. Select "Less Than"
  6. Input the value "0 days"

• Orientation Time is Greater Than -14 days (after 14 days ago)
  The Steps to Do this are (In the New Group you just created):
  1. Select "Add Filter" (this is the second filter)
  2. Select the same time field you previously used (orientation time, created at, etc.)
  3. In the "When" input, scroll down to "Expressions"
  4. Select "Greater Than"
  5. Input the value "-14 days"

Explanation:

• Less Than 0 Days ensures the event is in the past.

• Greater Than -14 days ensures it's no more than 14 days ago.

This gives you a group of people who recently participated in orientation.

🕒 Time-Sensitive Precision

The system tracks not just dates, but hours, minutes, and seconds. A contact with an orientation time just a minute into the future would not match the “Less Than 0” (past) filter. This precision helps with high-stakes timing and automation.

🔄 Real-Time Group Updates

After updating a contact's time field:

1. Refresh the group view to see changes.

2. A contact will enter or exit a group based on whether their time field matches the filter expressions.

🔍 Bonus: Use Created At Field

You can apply the same logic to the default Created At field. For example:

• Created At is Greater Than -7 days gives you all contacts who joined ConveYour in the past week.
  The Steps to Do this are:
  1. Create a New Group
  2. Select "Add Filter"
  3. Select the "created at" field.
  4. In the "When" input, scroll down to "Expressions"
  5. Select "Greater Than"
  6. Input the value "-7 days"

💬 Need Help?

Tap the Help button in ConveYour to:

• Ask the AI assistant for clarification

• Reach out to support for personalized guidance

We’re here to help you filter smarter!