How to use dynamic and relative dates in segment filters?

In Webmecanik, date filters allow you to accurately target your contacts in an automated way. When configuring a filter based on a "Date" or "Date/Time" field, you have the choice between several types of values.

1. Available value types

To configure a date filter, you first need to understand the interface options:

• Absolute: Allows you to set a fixed date in the calendar (e.g., 2026-01-01).
  

• Relative: Allows you to select a standard duration based on a number of days, months, or years via the graphical interface.
  

• Text Formulas (Dynamic): Allows you to enter text or mathematical modifiers to create smart filters that update every day.

⚠️ IMPORTANT: To use the text expressions and dynamic formulas listed below, you must strictly select the "Absolute" type in the interface, then enter the formula directly into the text field.

2. List of usable dynamic values

Standard time expressions

Advanced expressions (Start / End of month)

• first day of previous month

• last day of previous month

• Note: You can also target a specific month, e.g.: first day of January 2022

Using day modifiers (future and past)

To target a specific date in the future or past without using standard keywords, you can apply direct numerical increments. For example, to add one day (target tomorrow), enter +1 day (the simplified writing 1 day also works). Conversely, to go back in time, using negative values like -2 days is exactly equivalent to the text expression 2 days ago. This flexibility allows you to adjust your targeting windows very precisely.

Specific cases: Birthdays and Anniversaries

These values ignore the year of the date field to rely only on the day and month. Ideal for loyalty filters.

• birthday or anniversary

• Possible modifiers: birthday -7 days or anniversary -7 days

3. Concrete application examples

To fully understand the behavior of the filters, here are simulations based on specific reference dates.

Case 1: Using numerical modifiers (Precise relative)

Consider that today is 2022-03-05:

• Date identified [equals] -1 week (or -7 days): Returns all Contacts identified exactly on 2022-02-26.

• Date identified [less than] -1 week: Returns all Contacts identified before 2022-02-26.

• Date identified [equals] -1 months: Returns all Contacts identified exactly on 2022-02-05.

• Date identified [greater or equal] -1 year: Returns all Contacts identified 2021-03-05 and after.

• Date identified [greater than] -1 year: Returns all Contacts identified after 2021-03-05.

Case 2: Using text expressions (Periods and specific dates)

Consider that today is 2022-03-05:

• Date identified [equals] last week: Returns all Contacts identified in the specified date range, for example 2022-03-01 to 2022-03-07.

• Date identified [less than] last week: Returns all Contacts identified before 2022-02-22.

• Date identified [equals] last month: Returns all Contacts identified in the specified date range, for example 2022-02-01 to 2022-02-28.

• Date identified [greater or equal] last year: Returns all Contacts identified 2021-01-01 and after.

• Date identified [greater than] last year: Returns all Contacts identified after 2021-12-31.

• Date identified [greater than] first day of previous month: Returns all Contacts identified after 2022-02-01.

• Date identified [greater than] last day of previous month: Returns all Contacts identified after 2022-02-28.

Case 3: Automating Anniversaries (Annual recurring)

The keyword birthday allows you to create automated campaigns that run every year on the same date, regardless of the contact's birth year.

• Date field [equals] birthday -1 day: This filter will target every year all contacts whose birthday is the next day. If today is March 5th, it will find contacts born on March 4th (03-04).

• Date field [equals] anniversary -1 month: This filter will target every year all contacts whose anniversary is exactly one month away. If today is March 5th, it will find contacts whose target date is February 4th (02-04).