Create or edit entities with Structured Data Files

Structured Data Files (SDF) can be useful if you need to:

Quickly create many campaigns, insertion orders, or line items.
Bulk edit across multiple campaigns, insertion orders, or line items at the same time.

This article outlines how to perform some of the most common tasks using Display & Video 360's Structured Data Files (SDFs). Learn more about the different versions of Structured Data Files and their features.

CSV format is recommended when editing or creating SDF.

Avoid using excel, Python, TextEditor, or other tools to edit or create SDF.

Using other formats or tools could corrupt your targeting settings, change your targeting settings in unexpected ways, or prevent you from being able to upload your files successfully. Learn more about downloading, editing, and uploading SDF.

Create new campaigns, insertion orders, and line items

You can create new insertion orders and line items entirely using SDFs or you can add line items using SDFs to preexisting insertion orders.

Create new campaigns, line items, and insertion orders using SDFs

Start by reviewing the SDF specifications.
In Display & Video 360, upload your SDF files (for insertion orders, line items, YouTube ad groups, and YouTube ads) from your advertiser's insertion orders page by clicking More options, then Upload.

Use temporary identifiers to link files

If you're simultaneously creating new line items within a new insertion order—or new YouTube ads in a new YouTube ad group—make sure you upload SDF files with temporary, custom identifiers (temporary IDs) to link your files together.

The format for temporary IDs is "ext[custom identifier]" (for example, ext123). Temporary IDs go in the Io Id field (for linking line items to insertion orders) and Ad Group Id field (for linking YouTube ads to YouTube ad groups).

Once your files are uploaded and processed, all temporary IDs will be replaced with unique, Display & Video 360-generated IDs, and all items will retain their proper associations based on your temporary identifiers.

Remember to upload any interdependent files at the same time.

Note: If you're using an SDF version prior to 5.3, temporary identifiers corresponding to successfully uploaded items will not be replaced in the returned files. Replace the temporary identifiers in the SDF-{EntityName}-Failed-ResultFile.csv and SDF-{EntityName}-Unprocessed-ResultFile.csv files with the newly-generated IDs before uploading the entities again.
Choose your CSV file then click Upload.
Display & Video 360 will verify your files and show a status for each file. (You will also receive an email confirming that the insertion orders, line items, YouTube ads, and YouTube ad groups have been successfully created or notify you of any errors that were encountered while creating your campaign.)
- Updates applied: Any updates you've made to the SDF have been applied successfully. To confirm the updates, click Download Files to down the SDF-ResultFile.zip file. Then extract it to find the SDF-{EntityName}-Updated-ResultFile.csv file where you can confirm the updates.
- Partially successful: Some of the updates for one or more files were applied successfully. To determine the errors, click Download Files to download the SDF-ResultFile.zip file. Then extract it to find the SDF-{EntityName}-Updated-ResultFile.csv and SDF-{EntityName}-Failed-ResultFile.csv files. Open the SDF-{EntityName}-Failed-ResultFile.csv file to find and correct the error(s). When you are done, upload your file again.
- Failed: The updates you've made to the SDF were not applied successfully. To determine the errors, click Download Files to download the SDF-ResultFile.zip file. Then extract it to find the SDF-{EntityName}-Failed-ResultFile.csv file. Open it to find and correct the error(s). When you are done, upload your file again.
When you are finished, click Close to finalize your changes.

Add new line items to existing insertion orders

In Display & Video 360, make sure the insertion order (or insertion orders) you want to use for your line items have been created.
If you're able to create properly formatted structured data files own your own, you can skip ahead to step 4 (below).
Navigate to the list of line items underneath your advertiser, then click Actions, then Download SDF.
In the window that opens, select the types of items you'd like to create (line items, YouTube ad groups, and/or YouTube ads), then click the Download button to download the appropriate SDFs.

You can also use these SDFs to edit existing items at the same time.
Populate your SDF (SDF specification here) with all of the details of the line items you want to create.
In Display & Video 360, upload your SDF from your advertiser's insertion orders page by clicking Actions, then Upload.
Choose your CSV file then click Upload.
Display & Video 360 will verify your files and show a status for each file. (You will also receive an email confirming that your items have been successfully created or notify you of any errors that were encountered)
- Updates applied: Any updates you've made to the SDF have been applied successfully. To confirm the updates, click Download Files to down the SDF-ResultFile.zip file. Then extract it to find the SDF-{EntityName}-Updated-ResultFile.csv file where you can confirm the updates.
- Partially successful: Some of the updates for one or more files were applied successfully. To determine the errors, click Download Files to download the SDF-ResultFile.zip file. Then extract it to find the SDF-{EntityName}-Updated-ResultFile.csv and SDF-{EntityName}-Failed-ResultFile.csv files. Open the SDF-{EntityName}-Failed-ResultFile.csv file to find and correct the error(s). When you are done, upload your file again.
- Failed: The updates you've made to the SDF were not applied successfully. To determine the errors, click Download Files to download the SDF-ResultFile.zip file. Then extract it to find the SDF-{EntityName}-Failed-ResultFile.csv file. Open it to find and correct the error(s). When you are done, upload your file again.
When you are finished, click Close to finalize your changes.

Edit existing campaigns, insertion orders, and line items

Save time with the Display & Video 360 API

There are two ways to download insertion orders and line items, by using the Display & Video 360 API and from the Display & Video 360 UI. For reference on using the Display & Video 360 API, see the SDF Create Task API Specification.

You can skip to step 3 (below) if you're comfortable downloading your existing line items using the Display & Video 360 API.

In Display & Video 360, navigate to the list of insertion orders under your advertiser, list of line items under your advertiser, or the list of line items under an individual insertion order.
Choose one of the following options for information on how to download your existing line items: All line items in one or more insertion orders
1. Start by navigating to any of the following locations:
  - Advertiser, then Insertion orders
  - Advertiser, then Line items
  - Advertiser, then Insertion order, then Line items
2. Click More options, then Download on the right and follow the steps to download your line items to an SDF.
3. (Optional) Alternatively you can also export your line items to Google Sheets by clicking Save to Google Sheets.
Individual line items
1. Start in the list of line items under your advertiser (or the list of line items of an individual insertion order), then select the checkboxes next to the line items you want to edit.
2. Click Actions, then Download in the menu bar at the top of the list of line items. Your line items will be downloaded into a SDF.
3. (Optional) Alternatively you can also export your line items to Google Sheets by clicking Save to Google Sheets.
In the downloaded SDF, make changes to your line items then save your file. Make sure you save your SDF as a CSV file. Note that if you're using Excel to make your changes, make sure you don't edit any timestamps in the SDF, because they may get corrupted and prevent your file from being imported by Display & Video 360.
In Display & Video 360, upload your SDF from your advertiser's insertion orders page by clicking Actions, then Upload spreadsheet.
Choose your CSV file then click Upload.
Display & Video 360 will verify your files and show a status for each file. You will also receive an email detailing each file. (This email will either confirm that line items have been successfully created or notify you of any errors that were encountered while creating your line items)
- Updates applied: Any updates you've made to the SDF have been applied successfully. To confirm the updates, click Download Files to down the SDF-ResultFile.zip file. Then extract it to find the SDF-{EntityName}-Updated-ResultFile.csv file where you can confirm the updates.
- Partially successful: Some of the updates for one or more files were applied successfully. To determine the errors, click Download Files to download the SDF-ResultFile.zip file. Then extract it to find the SDF-{EntityName}-Updated-ResultFile.csv and SDF-{EntityName}-Failed-ResultFile.csv files. Open the SDF-{EntityName}-Failed-ResultFile.csv file to find and correct the error(s). When you are done, upload your file again.
- Failed: The updates you've made to the SDF were not applied successfully. To determine the errors, click Download Files to download the SDF-ResultFile.zip file. Then extract it to find the SDF-{EntityName}-Failed-ResultFile.csv file. Open it to find and correct the error(s). When you are done, upload your file again.
When you are finished, click Close to finalize your changes.

You can track how many SDF changes have been made, including grouping for SDF uploads, in the Display & Video 360 UI. Learn more about tracking the edit history of bulk actions.

Download inventory sources

Navigate to the list of inventory sources under the My inventory page.
Choose from the following options for information on how to download your inventory sources to a SDF: All inventory sources
1. Click More options, then Download SDF. The entire list of inventory sources will be downloaded into a SDF.
Individual inventory sources
1. Select the checkboxes next to the inventory sources you want to download.
2. Click Download SDF in the blue bar at the top of the list of inventory sources. Your inventory sources will be downloaded into a SDF.

Create, modify, and upload inventory sources

Learn more about the different rows in the SDF, including when which fields are available, the different types, and if the values can be written when uploading.

Inventory sources can't be changed from being one type of inventory source to another once the inventory source has been created.

For example, you can't change a "non-guaranteed auction" inventory source to being a "programmatic guaranteed" inventory source or a "non-guaranteed fixed price" inventory source.

After downloading your inventory sources as a SDF, open the CSV file in an application of your choice to make your changes. If you are using Excel to make your changes, make sure you don't edit any timestamps in the SDF, because they may become corrupted and prevent your file from being imported by Display & Video 360.
Choose from the following options for information on how to create and modify inventory sources: Modifying an existing inventory source
1. Locate the row of the inventory source you want to modify and make changes to the inventory source fields as necessary.
Archiving an existing inventory source
Note: A reservation deal can only be archived after the deal's end date.
1. Locate the row of the inventory source you want to archive.
2. For the "Status" field, enter Archived.
Pausing an existing inventory source (Reservation deals only)
1. Locate the row of the inventory source you want to pause.
2. For the "Status" field, enter Paused.
3. For the "Pause Reason" field, enter the reason why you are pausing the inventory source.
Unpausing an existing inventory source
1. Locate the row of the inventory source you want to unpause.
2. For the "Status" field, enter Active.
3. (Optional) For the "Pause Reason" field, delete the reason why you paused the inventory source prior to unpausing it.
Creating a new non-guaranteed inventory source
1. Create a new row for each new inventory source.
2. Fill out the following fields for each new inventory source:
  - Exchange (Note: cannot be updated once saved)
  - Deal ID (Note: cannot be updated once saved)
  - Name
  - Deal Type
  - (Optional) Seller Name
  - Floor CPM (follow format: $X.XX)
  - Currency Code
  - Start Date
  - End Date
  - Permissioned Advertiser
After you've finished, save your CSV file.
Back on the My inventory page in Display & Video 360 (the same page where you downloaded your inventory sources), click More options, then Upload SDF. Choose your CSV file then click Upload. (Remember to upload the SDF to the same partner you downloaded it from)
Display & Video 360 will verify your files and show a status for each file:
- Updates applied: Any updates you've made to the SDF have been applied successfully. To confirm the updates, click Download Files to down the SDF-ResultFile.zip file. Then extract it to find the SDF-{EntityName}-Updated-ResultFile.csv file where you can confirm the updates.
- Partially successful: Some of the updates for one or more files were applied successfully. To determine the errors, click Download Files to download the SDF-ResultFile.zip file. Then extract it to find the SDF-{EntityName}-Updated-ResultFile.csv and SDF-{EntityName}-Failed-ResultFile.csv files. Open the SDF-{EntityName}-Failed-ResultFile.csv file to find and correct the error(s). When you are done, upload your file again.
- Failed: The updates you've made to the SDF were not applied successfully. To determine the errors, click Download Files to download the SDF-ResultFile.zip file. Then extract it to find the SDF-{EntityName}-Failed-ResultFile.csv file. Open it to find and correct the error(s). When you are done, upload your file again.
When you are finished, click Close to finalize your changes.

Download metadata

Navigate to Advertiser, then Campaigns, then More options, then Download metadata to download a file with name to ID mappings for various entities used by SDFs.
- Metadata files can be very large depending on your advertiser setup.
You can track the progress of your metadata download by clicking Bulk status at the top of the page. Learn more about tracking the edit history of bulk actions.

Limitations

The following features are not supported by SDF:

Installed app category targeting
Geofenced business targeting
GRP buying for partner select line items
Digital out-of-home (DOOH) line items

We recommend you regularly compare the campaign settings in Display & Video 360 with the available SDF fields found on developers.google.com.

Frequently asked questions

Can Display & Video 360 send emails to other people when my SDFs are processed?

Yes. All SDF emails can also be sent to an administrator email address. This might be useful if you want a team distribution list to see SDF processing emails or if you want to parse these emails by a system. “Administrator” emails can be set in the Structured Data Files section in your partner or advertiser's Basic Details.

Can I use SDFs at the partner-level to manage data for multiple advertisers?

Yes. To download and upload files that span multiple advertisers under the same partner, navigate to your partner's list of advertisers, select your advertisers, then download a SDF from the Actions menu. Once you're done editing your SDFs, return to the list of advertisers to upload your files.

You can download up to 90,000 line items in an individual Structured Data File.

Can I change or upgrade the version of Structured Data Files I use?

Yes. The SDF version can be changed in both the Partner and Advertiser level.

Partner level: The version of SDF can be changed at the Partner level by navigating to [Partner name], then Settings, then Basic Details. From the Structured Data Files section of the page, select the SDF Version by clicking on the dropdown menu.
Advertiser level: The version of SDF can be changed at the Advertiser level by navigating to [Advertiser name], then Settings, then Basic Details. From the Structured Data Files section of the page, select the SDF Version by clicking on the dropdown menu. In addition, you have the option to override Partner level settings.

We recommend that you use the latest version of SDF as much as possible.

How do I download objects from Display & Video 360 using the API?

There are two methods for downloading line items: via the Display & Video 360 API and manually from within Display & Video 360.

Use the API: To download SDFs using the API, see Structured Data on developers.google.com.
Use the UI: To manually download line items from the Display & Video 360 UI, navigate to any of the following in Display & Video 360:
- Advertiser, then Insertion orders, then Actions, then Download
- Advertiser, then Line items, then Actions, then Download
- Advertiser, then Insertion order, then Line items, then Download

How do I upload insertion orders or line items?

See Create new insertion orders and line items or Edit existing insertion orders and line items above.

Can I upload multiple SDF files?

Yes. Display & Video 360 will queue and process SDF files in the order with which they are uploaded. Make sure you're familiar with how to use temporary identifiers to link files.

However, to avoid errors, avoid uploading multiple files at the same time if they include the same line item.

How do I copy line items?

Download an SDF of line items that you want to copy, then remove their Line Item Id in the SDF. An SDF row without a Line Item Id will instruct Display & Video 360 to create a new line items. Change the names of these line items to the new names.

If you'd like to copy line items between insertion orders, make sure to update the Io Id field.

What are "Entity Read Files"?

Entity Read Files are flat files in Google Cloud Storage that contain lookup values for Display & Video 360 entities like geographies, creatives, audience lists, and more. These lookup values can be used to assign creatives and targeting to line items by ID.

Can I use SDFs to move things from one advertiser to another?

Yes, however, some targeting settings are proprietary to the advertiser, such as channels, audience lists, and advertiser-specific inventory sources (such as deals).

So, if you download an SDF of line items from "Advertiser A" and then upload the line items into "Advertiser B", make sure you remove any channels or first-party audience lists from the SDF first, since they can't be used with a different advertiser.

What targeting options are supported in SDFs?

Please see Display & Video 360 Structured Data File on developers.google.com for information on supported targeting options.

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