Announcement: Simplification of Dataset Types (01/15/26)

To simplify data collaboration within LiveRamp clean rooms, we’ve removed the need to assign a dataset type for most data connection types when connecting your data.

Dataset types initially served as an indicator of the “type” (such as CRM, Ad Logs, Transactions, etc.) of the dataset you were connecting to your clean rooms. Question authors also assign a dataset type to dataset macros when writing questions to indicate what type of dataset they are expecting partners to assign to that macro. We are also removing the requirement to assign a dataset type when creating most data connections and for dataset macros, and defaulting the dataset type to “generic”.

Our strict criteria for ensuring dataset types on datasets matched the dataset macros assigned to questions created unnecessary friction in the dataset assignment process. Many datasets are multi-purpose, and we now have a richer mechanism to indicate what you expect your partners to assign to dataset macros using our taxonomy macros feature.

There will be no interruption to clean room operations and no action required by you due to these changes. Existing data connections and dataset macros will continue to function as before, essentially becoming ”generic” types. For new connections and macros, the ”generic” type will be the default (a few specific dataset types will still be available for specialized uses, such as WHEEL packages for Clean Compute on Apache Spark or those specific to walled garden clean rooms).

If you have any questions about this change, contact your LiveRamp Customer Success Manager.