Basic QA checklist

As you preview your creative, test the creative features in each section below. Common problems are highlighted in blue below each question. Click a problem for suggestions on how to fix it. If your creative doesn't have a feature, for example video, skip to the next section. If you need more help fixing a creative issue, contact us.

If you're new to QA testing, review the Rich Media QA guidelines to learn how to test creatives in Studio.

 

Animation

Does the creative include animation that blinks, flashes, or strobes 4 or more times in one loop of animation?

The creative blinks, flashes, or strobes more than 4 times in one animation loop.

This violates Better Ads Standards and may result in not being able to run on publisher inventory.

Smooth animation and fading or sliding scene transitions are allowed.

Here are a few ways to fix blinking, flashing, or strobing animations:

  • Adjust the animation's frame rate or number of keyframes to slow down transitions between high contrast colors and avoid drastic scene changes. For example, using a half second transition from a yellow keyframe to a dark blue keyframe, then a half second transition back to the yellow keyframe will create a flashing strobe light effect. Avoid jarring transitions like these.
  • Shorten the length of the flashing animation so that it blinks 4 times or less.
  • Remove the animation and use a still image instead.

 

Backup image

Is the backup image 50kb or less?

The backup image is larger than 50kb.

Studio automatically checks the size of the backup image you upload. An error message is displayed if the file size is too large.

Most publishers require that your backup image has a file size under 50kb. Optimize your image to reduce file size, or use a simpler image.

 

Border

Does the creative have a solid, contrasting border?

The creative doesn't have a border.

Most publishers require all creatives to have a solid border around the creative to better separate it from page content. Add a 1 pixel solid border that contrasts with the creative's background color.

For example:

  • If the creative has a black background, add a light grey border.
  • If the creative has a white background, add a black border, and so on.

 

Close button

If the creative is an expanding or interstitial format...

Does the creative have a close button?

The creative doesn't have a close button.

 

Most publishers require a close button on the upper right-hand corner of any expanding creative. All interstitial creatives need a close button so the user can dismiss them.

Does the creative collapse or close when the close button is clicked?

The creative doesn't collapse when the close button is clicked.

If clicking the close button doesn't collapse the creative, or the expanded <div> is still visible, check the creative's code. The close button's click event handler should include a call to Enabler.requestCollapse() or Enabler.requestFullscreenCollapse() (for fullscreen expansions).

Check creative dimensions were correctly entered, and match the dimensions of the collapsed creative with the size in Studio's Creatives tab. Also make sure the Enabler is being initialized correctly.

Is an exit event triggered when the close button is clicked?

An exit event is recorded when the close button is clicked.

Note which exit is recorded and review the creative's design and code to see why the event is triggered.

Potential causes

  • The close button and exit element are placed too close to each other.
  • The close button is layered below another element, which is intercepting the click.
  • The close button event handler contains a call to Enabler.exit().
Make the clickable area of the close button larger than the actual button to prevent accidental clicks on nearby creative elements.

 

Dimensions

Does the size of the creative asset match the size set in the Creatives tab in Studio?

To review the creative dimensions set in Studio:

  • At the top of the preview window, click Show details .
  • Click Creative details.
  • Check the dimensions for each asset to make sure they match the intended placement size.
The creative is a different size than the size set in Studio.

Check your publisher's dimension requirements to make sure both the creative assets and the dimensions in Studio are correct.

If the asset dimensions are correct, edit the creative size in Studio to match the asset's size.

To change the creative's size:

  1. Open the creative in Studio by clicking the creative name from the Dashboard tab. This will take you to the "Manage files" step of the creative workflow.
  2. Next to the creative name, click the pencil icon to edit the creative details .
  3. Use the "Size" drop-down menu to select the correct size.
  4. Click Save.

If the Studio size is correct, change the size of the asset to match.

 

Exits, Counters, and Timers

Studio requires at least one exit in the creative. Use the Event summary and Event log to test creative events.

Click each exit and test the interactive elements in your creative while reviewing the questions below:

Does the creative have at least one exit?

The creative doesn't have any exits.

Check the creative's code. The creative may be using a standard HTML link tag. Replace the <a> tag with a call to Enabler.exit().

Learn how to add an exit to a creative

 

Does each exit open the correct URL in a new window?

Clicking an exit opens the URL in the same window.

Check the creative's code. The creative may be using a standard HTML link tag. Replace the <a> tag with a call to Enabler.exit().

Learn how to add an exit to a creative

Clicking an exit opens no window at all.

Check the creative's code. The exit method may have a typo or may not have been called correctly.

Learn how to add an exit to a creative

Clicking an exit opens a new window, but the exit event isn't tracked in the Event log.

Check the creative's code. The creative may be using a clicktag, which doesn't work in Studio creatives, or a standard HTML link tag. Replace the <a> tag with a call to Enabler.exit() to make sure the clickthrough behaves correctly and gets counted in campaign reports.

Learn how to add an exit to a creative

 

Does each timer start and stop when expected?

A custom timer doesn't start or stop when it should.

Check the creative's code. The creative may be missing a necessary Enabler method to stop or start the custom timer, or the methods may be referencing the wrong timer ID.

Learn how to add a timer to a creative

 

Does each counter count when expected?

A custom counter doesn't count when it should.

Check the creative's code. The creative may be missing a necessary Enabler method to fire the counter, or it may be using the wrong counter ID.

Learn how to add a custom counter to a creative

 

 

Expanding

This section only applies to the Expanding format. If the creative is a different format, skip to the next section.

Are the creative's dimensions in Studio the same as the collapsed creative size?

The creative's dimensions don't match the creative's collapsed size.

Check your publisher's dimension requirements to make sure both the creative assets and the dimensions in Studio are correct.

If the asset dimensions are correct, edit the creative size in Studio to match the size of the collapsed creative.

To change the creative's size:

  1. Open the creative in Studio by clicking the creative name from the Dashboard tab. This will take you to the "Manage files" step of the creative workflow.
  2. Next to the creative name, click the pencil icon to edit the creative details .
  3. Use the "Size" drop-down menu to select the correct size.
  4. Click Save.

Does the creative expand?

The creative doesn't expand.

If clicking the expand call to action doesn't expand the creative, check the creative's code. The expand button's click event handler should include a call to Enabler.requestExpand() or Enabler.requestFullscreenExpand() (for fullscreen expansions).

Learn how to expand a creative

 

If the creative expands automatically...

Does the creative collapse automatically after 15 seconds?

The creative automatically expands, but doesn't collapse after 15 seconds.

Some publishers require automatically expanding creatives to collapse after a set time. If your publisher requires this, and the creative isn't collapsing automatically, check the creative's code. Include a function with a timer that calls Enabler.requestCollapse() after 15 seconds (or your publisher's required time limit).

Learn how to collapse a creative

 

Click around the outside area of the expanded creative boundaries and review the questions below:

Are there invisible clickthrough areas outside the visible creative?

A click outside of the creative area opens an exit URL.
When the creative is served on a website, clicks outside the obvious creative area should never trigger unwanted pages to open. Remove any invisible clickable elements that spill outside the visible creative area.

 

Sound

Is sound only started by user interaction?

Sound starts playing automatically.

This is generally OK for creatives that are run on Italian publishers, but most other publishers require that the user interacts in some way before audio can play. Change the creative so that the audio only starts when a user wants it to.

Does the sound mute or pause on clickthrough?

Sound continues to play after I've clicked through.

Change the creative so that all audio is stopped when any exit is clicked. Listen for the EXIT event and stop all sound sources in your creative.

Example code:

 


if (!Enabler.isInitialized()) {
  Enabler.addEventListener(studio.events.StudioEvent.INIT, enablerInitialized);
} else { 
  enablerInitialized();
}

 

 


function enablerInitialized() {
  Enabler.addEventListener(studio.events.StudioEvent.EXIT, stopSounds);
}

 

 

Video

Is video only started by user interaction?

A video starts playing automatically with audio.

Video with full audio should only be started by the user. Videos can autoplay with no sound, but usually for a limited amount of time. Check the publisher's specifications to be sure, but typically the limit is 30 seconds.

If video plays automatically, does it play for only 30 seconds or less?

A video continues to play after 30 seconds.

Most publishers require auto-playing video to pause after 30 seconds of play. However, if the viewer clicks on any video controls, the video can continue to play.

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