Programmatic inventory rules for formats

Google Ad Manager uses inventory rules to control experiences for different ad formats. 

Ad Manager applies default format rules that target all inventory, but you can create custom rules to define ad behavior. You can target one or more inventory types and formats with a format rule.

For example:

• You create a rule to have high-engagement ads in rewarded but not interstitial ads. 
• You create one rule for web banners, and another rule for mobile app banners. 

Format settings are applied to all creative types, including video, images, and other formats.  

In this article:

• Access format settings
• About the controls in format rules
• View and manage your format rules
• Create a format rule

Access format settings

Tip: "Size settings" has been renamed to "Format settings." Format-related settings were previously found by navigating to "Inventory," then "Inventory rules," and then "Video settings" because they were exclusively applicable to video creatives.

1. Sign in to Google Ad Manager.
2. Click Inventory, then Inventory rules, and then Format settings.
3. Select an existing rule or create a new format rule.

About the controls in format rules

When you create a format rule, you can apply the following controls:

• Ad expansion: Allows larger creatives to compete for your inventory. Ad expansion applies to display and non-in-stream video ads. Available only for anchor and banner.
• Ad contraction: Allows smaller creatives to compete for your inventory. Ad contraction applies to backfill display and non-in-stream video ads. Interstitial ads are not subject to the "Ad contraction" control and always allow smaller creatives.
• Collapsible ads: Ads that initially appear as larger overlays with an option to collapse them to a standard banner size. Available only for anchor and banner.
• High-engagement ads: The high-engagement ads setting activates high-performing ads that boost user engagement and improve overall ad performance. Learn more about high-engagement ads.
• Ad podding: Podding allows multiple creatives to be displayed together in a sequence in a single placement within your content. Learn more about ad podding. 

View and manage your format rules

You can view and manage your format rules. For example, you can change the status of a rule, edit a rule, or run an experiment on a rule. To help locate a rule, you can apply filters or search by name.

To view and manage your format rules:

1. Sign in to Google Ad Manager.
2. Click Inventory, then Inventory rules.
3. Click Format settings.
   Tip: On the "Format settings" page, you can reorder the table columns. To do so, click , then drag column names to the desired order and click Apply. 
4. (Optional) To find your inventory rules, you have several options:
   • To view rules by inventory type, click All format rules, Web, or App.
   • To search by the name of the rule, in the search box at the right, enter the name. 
   • To filter by status, click the Status filter, then select Active or Inactive and click Apply.
   • To add another filter, click Add new filter, make your selection, and click Apply.
5. You can manage a format rule as follows:
   • To change the status of a rule, next to the rule name, check the box and select Activate or Deactivate.
   • To edit a rule, click the rule’s name, then make your updates and click Save.
   • To run an experiment, edit a rule's controls, then click Experiment, configure the experiment, and click Save.
   • To view experiment results, next to the rule's name, click . 

Create a format rule

To create a format rule:

1. Sign in to Google Ad Manager.
2. Click Inventory, then Inventory rules.
3. Click Format settings, then New format rule.
4. Next to "Name," enter a meaningful name for your rule.
5. Next to "Inventory type," select one or more options: 
   • All inventory types: Note that if you select this option, new inventory types are included as they become available.
   • Web
   • App 
6. Next to "Inventory format," select one or more options:
   • All inventory formats: Note that if you select this option, new inventory formats are included as they become available.  
   • Banner
   • Interstitial
   • Rewarded
   • App open
7. Next to "Targeting," make your targeting selections.
8. To configure controls, such as for ad expansion, check the boxes and select from available options.
   Note that available controls vary based on the inventory type and inventory format you selected.
9. To finish creating the rule, click Save.   

Related article

• Programmatic inventory rules for video