What ad attributes can be updated after an ad is trafficked?

The following table lists the ad attributes that can be updated after an ad is trafficked.

What types of ads are available?

APT from Yahoo! supports the following types.

How can I suppress the APT from Yahoo! ad marker?

If your creative contains an ad marker and/or if you do not wish to display the APT ad marker, you can suppress the APT ad marker for image, Flash, custom HTML, and third-party ads by setting the value for the boolean parameter suppressAptAdMarker to true.

What are the limits for bumper video ads?

The video file should not exceed:

• File weight of 750 MB.
• Maximum allowable dimensions of 1024x768 pixels.
• Minimum duration of 3 seconds.
• Maximum allowable duration of up to 10 seconds.

You can specify up to 10 impression tracking URLs.

What are the limits for clickable video ads?

The video file should not exceed:

• File weight of 750 MB.
• Maximum allowable dimensions of 1024x768 pixels.
• Minimum duration of 10 seconds.
• Maximum allowable duration of 120 seconds.

If you choose to use image creative for the message, the dimensions must be 42-300x32-80. For text message, you can specify a maximum of 2 lines up to 30 characters per line. The order is determined by the line order; for example, string[0] = Line 1 and string[1] = Line 2. Either text or image creative ID is required.

Note: The product message will not be used if the ad is targeted to mobile devices.

You can specify:

• Up to 10 impression tracking URLs.
• Invitation text message of 2 lines with a maximum of 15 characters per line.
  The order is determined by the line order; for example, string[0] = Line 1 and string[1] = Line 2.
• Product message:
  • Graphic - Image must be 42-300 pixels in width and 32-80 pixels in height.
  • Text - 2 lines with a maximum of 30 characters per line.
    The order is determined by the line order; for example, string[0] = Line 1 and string[1] = Line 2.

How does the API handle control characters?

As you add ads and creatives, the system checks all the fields for certain control characters that are not allowed. The system will remove the following characters if they are found in the fields:

• Any character below #x0020
  Exceptions: #x0009 (tab), #x000A (line feed), #x000D (carriage return)
• Character range #xD800 to #xDFFF (permanently unassigned code points)
• Characters #xFFFE and #xFFFF (special-purpose characters)
• The Delete character (Oct 177, Dec 127, Hex 7F)

Exception: The system will not check the htmlTagWithMacros field in custom HTML ads and tagWithMacros field in third-party ads for control characters.

What are the requirements for the name field?

The name must be:

• Unique within the folder.
• Less than 100 alphanumeric characters.

What macros are supported for non-video ads?

A macro is a piece of code that is replaced during serving with a predetermined value or set of values. We support the following macros for custom HTML and third-party ads:

What macros are available for video ads?

A macro is a piece of placeholder code that tells the platform to insert a predetermined value or set of values at a later point, usually when the ad is served. When you paste third-party ad XML, the code should include the macros. When the ad runs, the macros are replaced with the URLs set up in the application. We support the following macros for third-party video ads:

Note: When setting up third-party XML video ads, you must exclude the three outer tags: AdResults, position, and addata. Since each tag has a beginning and an end, you’ll need to delete the first three lines of code, and then the last three.

How can I resolve macro-related errors?

When you add macros to your code, make sure you get the exact syntax of the macro correct. Remember the $ at the beginning of the macro name, if there is one.

When validating the code, the application checks that the macro exactly matches one of the valid macros. Errors are generated if characters are missing from the beginning or end of the macro name. For example, you will see an error message if:

• You forget one of the characters at the beginning of the macro name. For example, you should be using one of the mandatory click URL macros; make sure it is delimited by ${ at the beginning. If you don’t, it isn’t recognized as a valid macro.
• The macro doesn’t end with one of these valid characters or sets of characters: }, enc}, or ?(at least one character)}.
  Examples: ${CLICKURL}, ${CLICKURLENC}, and ${CLICKURL?OVERLAY}.

If you see one of these errors, make sure you’re using the correct macro, correct the code so that the macro name is exactly correct, and then validate again.

What are the limits and requirements for custom HTML ads?

The maximum HTML file size is 16 KB and you can have as many image files (GIF, JPG, or PNG) as you want as long as the combined (creative) file weight does not exceed 100 KB.

See also: Macros

What are the limits and requirements for customizable Flash creatives, templates, and ads?

The customizable Flash creative (CSWF file) must include either the swappable image or text variable. Refer to Creating a Customizable SWF File with Flash Variables for more information. The swappable images for the SWF file must be stored in the creative library. When you create the customizable Flash ad, the total weight of the SWF file plus any image files must be no more than the per-ad limit of 100 KB. You can specify up to 5 click-through URLs and corresponding click-tracking URLs for customizable Flash ads. The customizable SWF name cannot exceed 100 characters.

How can I prepend or append HTML to the APT from Yahoo! platform generated ad code?

You can add (prepend or append) to the platform generated ad code using the image and/or Flash ad preCustomAdCode and postCustomAdCode (optional) elements. If:

• An already trafficked ad is modified to have pre/post ad code, the trafficked instance of the ad will also be modified.
• A VAST video's companion image/Flash ad is modified to add (prepend/append) ad code, the VAST Video ad will reflect the new ad code.
• The additional ad code cannot exceed 4000 characters.

What are the limits and requirements for adding a comment?

You can add a comment of up to 300 characters to an ad in the ad library. Once you add a comment to an ad, you cannot edit or remove the comment associated with the ad.

What are the limits for Flash creatives?

For creatives, the following limits apply:

What are the requirements for Flash files?

• The Flash version must be 6, 7, 8, or 9.
• The play time must be no longer than 15 seconds.
• The frame rate must be less than 24 fps.
• The ActionScript version must be 2 or 3.
• The Flash file must include at least 1 (or up to 5) clickTAG variable(s) so that you can track where the ad appears on a webpage and where it is clicked. If there are multiple clickTAG variables in the original SWF file, enter the URLs in the same sequence set up in the SWF file so that you can assign the URLs to the correct clickable areas on the SWF file.
  For more information, see Inserting clickTAG Variables in Flash Creatives.

What are the limits for folders?

You can add a maximum of 1,000 folders up to five levels deep. The folder name must be unique to that level of the folder hierarchy.

What are the limits for image creatives?

For creatives, the following limits apply:

What types of image files are supported?

The following types of image files are supported: GIF, JPG, and PNG.

What are the limits and requirements for interactive four stage video ads?

This ad type includes several creatives. Dimensions vary according to where the creative is used. For details, refer to the table below.

Make sure the video creative meets these constraints:

• No more than 750 MB in weight.
• 10-30 seconds in duration.

Make sure the Flash creative meets these constraints:

• Flash (SWF) file must be ActionScript 3, Flash Player version 8, 9, or 10 (including dot releases).
• No more than 100 KB in weight.
• 15-60 seconds in duration.

The clickTAG variables, if any, will be ignored. You can specify up to 10 impression tracking URLs.

What are the limits and requirements for mobile ads?

To create a mobile ad, you must specify an image creative and enter either a click-through URL or a click-to-call number. You can include creatives for up to four different ad sizes when defining the ad. For each ad size, the maximum file size is shown in the following table:

When updating a mobile ad, you cannot change the size of an ad that has already been trafficked.

What ad sizes are supported for dynamic mobile ads?

You can pass one of the following ad sizes (height and width of the image ad) to create a standard size mobile image ad with third party dynamic URL:

• 120x20
• 168x28
• 216x36
• 300x50

What are the limits and requirements for click to site overlay video ads?

• If you choose to use text for the headline in the overlay banner, you don't need any creative for this ad type. You can specify a headline text up to 45 characters long.
• You can specify up to 10 impression tracking URLs.
• The supported file types for the message graphic in a video overlay banner are GIF, JPG, or PNG.
  The image must be 42-300 pixels in width and 32-80 pixels in height.
  The creative (graphic) file must be no more than 100 KB in weight.

What are the limits and requirements for click to video overlay video ads?

• The ad can include a graphic and must include a video file.
• For the banner graphic, the following types of files are supported: GIF, JPG, PNG, or SWF.
  Image files can be up to 100 KB and 300x50 pixels.
  SWF must be ActionScript 3, Flash Player 9.
• The text message can be up to 90 characters long.
• You can specify up to 10 impression tracking URLs.
• For the video, the following types of files are supported: AVI, MPG, MOV, or WMV.
  Ensure that the video file is no more than 750 MB in weight and 10-30 seconds in duration.

What are the limits for playback beacon URLs?

The playback beacons can be used to track how much of the video actually plays. The application automatically runs beacons at the 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% positions. You can set up to three third-party playback beacon URLs per playback point. Depending on which playback points you set, the beacons can be triggered when the ad starts playing (0% position) and when it has played 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%. The results of this user activity tracking are available in the video performance reports.

What are the limits and requirements for serving secure ads?

To ensure that image, Flash, customizable Flash, custom HTML, and third-party ads are served securely, that all components of the ads are secure, and that rotational ads are evaluated on an ongoing basis for secure compliance, you can:

• Mark ads as secure or non-secure.
  Note: Ads are non-secure by default. Hosted ads will be systematically evaluated as secure or non-secure and flagged accordingly.
• Use the ${protocol} macro when defining click-through, click-tracking, or impression URLs associated with the ad that enables them to serve on either https (secure) or http (non-secure) pages.

All ads marked as secure are validated by the platform to ensure all components (such as image, beacons, creative content, and impression tracking URLs) are indeed secure. Ads are checked upon their initial submission, and if rotating components (e.g., ads, landing pages, beacons, etc.) are detected, the ads are monitored on an ongoing basis to ensure they remain secure. If an ad is already serving and a subsequent review is initiated, the subsequent review will not impact ad serving unless an ad is found to be non-secure.

What are the limits and requirements for third-party ads?

You can create a maximum of 20 third-party ads at one time. The maximum file size is 16 KB and you can have up to 2 images in an ad. Third-party ads must:

• Support JavaScript, iFrame, or standard HTML.
• Include a URL in standard format.

Because the ad is hosted outside the platform, you must also specify:

• The vendor's third-party tag (HTML or XML code) The maximum supported code weight is 16 KB.
• The ad format and ad behavior.

Each URL must satisfy one of the following conditions:

• Contain no unsafe characters.
• Any unsafe characters are encoded and can be decoded by the landing page.

Note: Vendors that require URL encoding should also provide the necessary decoding so that the URL works correctly. If you use the ${CLICKURLENC} macro in the third-party ad code provided by a vendor that does not require encoding, the URL might not be decoded and therefore might not work as expected. Please check with your vendor before encoding the URL.

See also: Macros

What are the limits and requirements for redirect URLs?

If the creative code contains the (third-party) redirect URL:

• Screen type is required.
• The ad format must be video.

You cannot switch between redirect URL and ad code.

What are the requirements for URLs?

For the URL fields, supply the fully-qualified Internet adress. The URL must include the http:// or https:// protocol and cannot exceed 1024 characters.

For the click-through URL field, supply the fully-qualified Internet adress. The URL must include the http:// or https:// protocol. The click-through URL must point to a valid file type such as an HTML page, an image file, or a PDF file. The URL must also point to a creative with a valid MIME type. The following table lists the valid MIME types with examples of corresponding file types.

For the click-tracking URL field, supply the fully-qualified Internet adress. The URL must include the http:// or https:// protocol. A click-tracking URL can support single or multiple redirects so that more than one organization can track user behavior. Please note that a link to a PDF file is not valid for a click-tracking URL.

The character set that is considered safe for URLs is a subset of the US-ASCII character set. Any characters not included in this character set are considered unsafe for use in URLs. Unsafe characters must be encoded to ensure they are not misinterpreted, causing errors. The encoding allows you to replace any special characters in the URL with special codes that can be correctly transmitted and interpreted upon receipt. If you use URL encoding in a URL, ensure that the URL target—the webpage to which the URL points—can perform the necessary decoding of information carried in the URL.

There are also some characters that are defined as restricted. These characters have clearly-defined functions when used in URLs, and cannot be used in any other way. For example, the percent sign (%) is reserved for use with predefined encoding values. Because it has a reserved use, that is the only way the percent sign can be used within a URL.

What are the limits and requirements for VAST video ads?

VAST 2.0 XML format is supported for both network template and third-party video ads. VAST XML code is only supported for clickable, bumper, and click-to-site overlay video ads.

What are the limits and requirements for video files?

The following types of video files are supported: AVI, MPG, MOV, MP4, WMV, and FLV. The following table lists the constraints for video files.

APT from Yahoo! does not support video assets that include video encoding by the following video codecs: h263p, theora, ljpeg. For video encoding, use other types of encoding (such as X264, xvid, libx264, and mpeg4 video codecs).

APT from Yahoo! does not support video assets that include audio encoding by the following audio codecs: AAC3 (a utility for resynchronizing multiple MPEG sound streams), SONICL. For encoding the audio in your video asset, use other types of encoding (such as FAAC (Freeware Advanced Audio Coder), wmav2, or adpcm_ima_qt).