VAST (Video Ad Serving Template) tags use the XML (eXtensible Markup Language) format. XML is a text-based format for representing structured information. If the XML file used by the VAST tag is empty, invalid, or has syntax errors, your creative will be rejected.
Step 1: Preview the creative
If you have have access to Display & Video 360, follow these steps:
- Open the creative.
- On the "Details" tab, click Preview. The preview opens in a new window. The video player loads with a placeholder video of a person driving a car.
- Click play to preview your video ad. If your preview plays, you can close the preview and look for problems in the XML file.
- If there's a problem with your video ad, you'll only see the placeholder video play. Contact your ad server and ask them to fix the video creative.
If you don't have access to Display & Video 360, but you do have the VAST tag, follow these steps:
- Open the Video suite inspector.
- Select Vast tag for the input type.
- Click Test Ad.
Step 2: Check the XML file used by your VAST tag
Follow the steps below to read the XML file and look for problems.
- Copy the VAST tag URL from your creative.
- Open a blank browser tab.
- Paste the copied URL in the browser's address bar and press Enter. The XML file will load. If the tag is wrapped, you
- You should be able to see the following details in the XML:
- VAST version
- Video duration
- Impression or event tracking
- Media files with dimensions, format, and bit rate
- If the XML file includes a line with
<Wrapper>, the tag is wrapped, and the file you're looking at is the wrapper. Copy the URL you see below<VASTAdTagURI>, this is the original VAST tag. Repeat steps 3 and 4.