> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.impact.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.impact.com/brand/what-would-you-like-to-learn-about/account-administration/program-settings/exception-lists/create-and-manage-general-exception-lists.md).
# Create & Manage General Exception Lists
General lists let you group values associated with an attribute[^1] so you can affect payments for all of them at the same rate. For example, if you want to increase the payout by 10% for certain customer cities, add those cities to the same list, then reference the list in your [payout rules](/brand/what-would-you-like-to-learn-about/platform-features/contracts-and-template-terms/template-terms/payout-adjustments.md) instead of configuring a separate rule for each city.
```mermaid
flowchart LR
subgraph Setup["Setup (one-time)"]
A["Create list: Target Cities
Event type: Online Sale"] --> B["Add values: Chicago, Austin, Seattle"]
B --> C["Map to payout rule
Customer City in list Target Cities"]
end
subgraph Payout["At payout time (per conversion)"]
D["Conversion comes in
Customer City = Austin"] --> E["Match found → 10% rate applied"]
end
C --> D
style A fill:#EEEDFE,stroke:#534AB7,color:#26215C
style B fill:#EEEDFE,stroke:#534AB7,color:#26215C
style C fill:#EEEDFE,stroke:#534AB7,color:#26215C
style D fill:#E1F5EE,stroke:#0F6E56,color:#04342C
style E fill:#E1F5EE,stroke:#0F6E56,color:#04342C
```
## Create & map a general exception list
Creating a general list is a three-step flow: first, you define the list, add its values, then reference the list in a payout rule.
{% stepper %}
{% step %}
### Create the list
1. From the top navigation bar, select  **\[User profile] → Settings**.
2. On the right, under *Exception Lists*, select [**General**](https://app.impact.com/secure/advertiser/campaign/itemlist/view-generalitemlist-flow.ihtml).
3. Enter a name for the list in **List Name**.
4. Under **Associate Event Type**, select the event type to associate with the exception list.
5. Optionally, select **Show advanced settings** to set a match expression. Enter a regular expression to match specific patterns.
6. Select **Save and Add Items** to continue and add values to the list, **Save** to save the list without adding items yet, or **Cancel** to discard the list.
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
### Add values to the list
1. After you select **Save and Add Items**, the *\[List Name] : Add General Values* screen opens. Under *Add Value Items*, add values one of two ways:
* **Enter values manually:** enter a *Value* and, optionally, a *Display Value*, then select **Add Item** to add another row.
* **Upload a file:** under *Upload CSV or Excel File*, select **Choose file** and select a `.csv` or Excel file. Select **Show/hide file format details** to review the required file format.
2. Select **Save** to save the values, or **Cancel** to discard them.
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
### Reference a list in a payout rule
1. [Modify](/brand/what-would-you-like-to-learn-about/platform-features/contracts-and-template-terms/template-terms/modify-template-terms.md) or [create](/brand/what-would-you-like-to-learn-about/platform-features/contracts-and-template-terms/template-terms/create-template-terms.md) the template term where you want to use the general exception list.
2. Next to the payout modification, configure the payout rule by adding the attribute associated with the exception list, for example `Customer City`.
3. In the rule's operator dropdown menu, select `in list`, `not in list`, or `when present is not in list`, depending on which conversions you want the rule to affect.
* `in list`: The rule applies when the attribute's value is found in the list you select.
* `not in list`: The rule applies when the attribute's value is not found in the list you select.
* `when present is not in list`: The rule applies only when the attribute has a value, and that value isn't found in the list you select. Use this if you want to leave conversions untouched when the attribute is missing entirely, rather than treating a missing value the same as one that doesn't match.
{% hint style="success" %}
**Note:** Date, money, and numeric attributes don't support `in list`, `not in list`, and `when present is not in list`.
{% endhint %}
4. In the text box, add the general exception list by typing the list's name.
5. Select **Add**.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}
## Update, view, or remove a general list
{% hint style="success" %}
**Note:** When you update a general list, the payout rule referencing the list will use the updated version.
{% endhint %}
1. On the *General Exception Lists* screen, hover over the general list you want to update, then select  **\[More]**.
2. Choose your action:
* **Edit:** Update the list's name, associated event type, or match expression.
* **Add Value:** Add more values to the list, either manually or by file upload.
* **View Values:** View the list's current values without downloading it.
* **Clear Values:** Remove all values currently in the list.
* **Deactivate:** Stop the list from being available for use, without deleting it. When deactivated, the list's *status* will update to `Deactivated`.
* You can either reactivate or delete the deactivated list.
* **Download CSV:** Export the list's current values as a `.csv` file.
[^1]: The property of a conversion that a rule evaluates.
---
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