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How to track clicks on VAST 3.0 wrapped creatives?


My server returns VAST 3.0 XML with wrapper referring to 3rd party creative:

<VAST version="3.0">
   <Ad>
      <Wrapper>
         <AdSystem>MyAdSystem</AdSystem>
         <Impression>http://myserver/impression_tracker</Impression>
         <VASTAdTagURI>http://ad.doubleclick.net/pfadx/N270.126913.6102203221521/B3876671.21;dcadv=2215309;sz=0x0;ord=%5Btimestamp%5D;dcmt=text/xml</VASTAdTagURI>
         <Creatives>
            <Linear>
               <VideoClicks>
                  <ClickTracking>http://myserver/click_tracker</ClickTracking>
               </VideoClicks>
            </Linear>
         </Creatives>
      </Wrapper>
   </Ad>
</VAST>

Inserting it into Google's Video Suite Inspector either through specifying server handler URL or by copy/pasting XML correctly show pre-roll ad (video starting with cityscape/double click logo) followed by test video (android) and correctly pings impression tracking URL when first frame of ad is played.

My problem is: clicking on ad redirects to click-through URL specified inside wrapped creative and completely ignores <VideoClicks> section from my outer wrapper no matter if I use <ClickThrough>, <ClickTracking> or both.

After reading spec I'm still unsure, is it:

  1. Just limitation of Google's testing player?
  2. Error in my XML?
  3. Limitation of spec itself, that'd would make click tracking by wrapper possible only if it supported by additional parameters to handler on "real" ad in <VASTAdTagURI>?

Solution

  • You should have Creative element ie

    <Creatives>
        <Creative>
           <Linear>
    

    your xml is broken.