Single file Expanding banner

1. When creating a single file expanding banner you will first be asked to define some details and settings:

  • Enter the project and banner names
  • Set the project and banner locations
  • Choose ActionScript version
  • Set the expanded banners dimensions (collapsed banner dimensions will be set in the Adform System)
  • Enter/clear a default clicktag (more info about this option can be found here). If the Default ClickTag field is left blank, banner will be created without a clickTAG.

2. Under the Settings tab, enter the following information:

Expand behavior – select type of expanding banner. Possible choices:

  • Normal – regular expanding banner
  • Pushdown – site content will be moved down on banner expansion
  • Side-kick – site content is moved to right or left on banner expansion (check banner preview)
  • Floating – collapsed panel will be as Floating banner. When such type is chosen it is a must to set banner's position on the page. Also it is possible to close collapsed panel - more info about it at paragraph 6th of this page.

Wmode and Banner align – select possible values.

With Landing page target, a landing page can be opened in a new or the same window or frame.

Expand – select action which triggers banner expansion. Possible choices:

  • rollOver
  • click
  • custom – more about this condition in 4th paragraph below in this page

Collapse – select action which triggers banner retraction. Possible choices:

  • rollOut
  • custom - if banner has default Adform Close button then banner will collapse only on this button click. In other case please read 3rd paragraph below in this page

Auto show after (s) – if banner needs to expand automatically on page load set time period in seconds when banner should expand. Minimum possible value – 0.1

Auto close after (s) – this feature works only when Auto Show after value is not zero.

Expand delay (s) –expand delay in seconds, usually it‘s zero.

Expand time (s) – expand animation duration in seconds, usually it‘s zero.

Collapse time (s) –collapse animation duration in seconds, usually it‘s zero.

Expand animationdefines which animation to use when banner is expanding. If “None” is selected then user has to define animation himself.

Collapse animationdefines which animation to use when banner is collapsing. If “None” is selected then user has to define animation himself.

Enable Side Kick animation (active only when Side-kick type is selected)if it's disabled then banner expands instantly. Otherwise, banner is hidden under the mask which expansion can be animated too.

When ready, click the Create button.

3. Adform Creative Toolkit automatically drags and drops SingleExpanding component to the stage's top-left corner. It takes area and position equal to collapsed.

E.g. if you are creating expanding banner 160x600 to 300x600 and expanding direction - "left", you must change SingleExpanding component's position as follows:

4. If you need banner to expand/collapse on specific action, you should call such functions (when Expand behaviour is set to custom):

Expand:

a) In case you are using ActionScript 2:

import flash.external.ExternalInterface;

this.expandButton.onRelease = function():Void
{
  try
  {
       ExternalInterface.call('ADFExpand',_root.adId);
  }
  catch (e:Error)
  {
  }
};

b) In case you are using ActionScript 3:

import flash.external.ExternalInterface;
btn.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, onClick);
function onClick(e:MouseEvent):void
{
        try{
                   ExternalInterface.call('ADFExpand',
                   LoaderInfo(stage.loaderInfo).parameters.adId);
        }catch (e:Error) { };
}

Collapse:

a) In case you are using ActionScript 2:

import flash.external.ExternalInterface;

this.closeButton.onRelease = function():Void
{
  try
  {
       ExternalInterface.call('ADFClose',_root.adId);
  }
  catch (e:Error)
  {
  }
};

b) In case you are using ActionScript 3:

import flash.external.ExternalInterface;
btn.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, onClick);
function onClick(e:MouseEvent):void
{
          try{
                 ExternalInterface.call('ADFClose',
                 LoaderInfo(stage.loaderInfo).parameters.adId);
          }catch (e:Error) { };
}

5. Also it is possible to listen expanding events:

  • EXPAND_START - when banners starts to expand
  • EXPAND_END - when banner stops to expand
  • EXPAND_UPDATE - while banner is expanding
  • COLLAPSE_START - when banners starts to collapse
  • COLLAPSE _END - when banner stops to collapse
  • COLLAPSE _UPDATE - while banner is collapsing

More info and examples can be found here.

6. If expanding banner is Floating type then it is possible to close collapsed panel by calling such function:

a) In case you are using ActionScript 2:

import flash.external.ExternalInterface;

this.closeButton.onRelease = function():Void
{
  try
  {
       ExternalInterface.call('ADFSuperClose',_root.adId);
  }
  catch (e:Error)
  {
  }
};

b) In case you are using ActionScript 3:

import flash.external.ExternalInterface;
btn.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, onClick);
function onClick(e:MouseEvent):void
{
          try{
                 ExternalInterface.call('ADFSuperClose',
                 LoaderInfo(stage.loaderInfo).parameters.adId);
          }catch (e:Error) { };
}

7. The methods for creating and assigning actions are the same as for Standard banners. In case Expanding banners should have close buttons, „Adform Creative Toolkit“ inserts this button automatically.

8. When the banner is finished it can be tested (clicking the button “Preview). The ZIP file created by clicking the button “Export” can be uploaded to the Adform system 

Video Extender

Preview:

Video Extender is a single file Expanding banner format with dragging possibilty (officially supported by MSN). it is possible to expand/extend the banner by simply dragging the button placed on a banner's corner.

Note: currently video extender feature is possible only in Single Expanding banners made with ActionScript 2

1. Create AS2 Single Expanding project (more info about creating Single Expanding banner can be found here)

2. Set the SingleExpanding settings:

  • Expand - custom
  • Collapse - custom
  • Auto show after - 0
  • Auto hide after - 0
  • Expanding delay - 0
  • Expand animation - Any except "None"
  • Collapse animation - Any except "None"
  • wmode - transparent
  • With Landing page target, a landing page can be opened in a new or the same window or frame.

3. Add any content to the banner: graphics, Adform Video Player and etc.

4. Drag ExtenderButton component to the stage:

5. Setup properties of Extender in "Componet Parameters" panel:

  • Button Align - select position of Extend Button
  • Video Containers - enter an instance name of Video container which must be extended

6. Add custom code or events if needed (see ExtendButton component page)

7. The methods of creating and assigning actions are the same as for Standard banners.

8. When banner is finished it can be tested (clicking button “Preview) or ZIP file created to upload to Adform system (clicking button “Export”).

IAB Slider

Demo.

The IAB Slider ad consists of the following required elements:

• Slider Bar;
• Slider Content.

Note: 300x250 banner is also included for MSN

Slider Bar is anchored to the bottom of the browser window and in front of the publisher page content.

A user click or rollover triggers the publisher page to slide to the left, revealing the Slider Content on the right.

The Slider Bar persists to enable retraction.

A close button or clicking on the Slide Back arrow will slide the Slider Content back to the right, bringing the publisher content to its original position.

1. The easiest way to create a Slider is to use Adform Creative Toolkit template for IAB Slider (both AS2 and AS3 supported):

2. Edit SliderBar.fla and SliderContent.fla as necessary.

Note: banner with a property Expand on = "RollOver" is configured, its Expand Delay property automatically is set to 3 seconds, unless you specify you own value greater than 3 seconds.  

3. Export the.swf file

Below is a Slider Bar and Slider Content asset codes (AS3) for reference:

Slider Bar example:

import flash.display.LoaderInfo;
import flash.external.ExternalInterface;

import com.adform.motion.AdformTween;
import com.adform.display.AdformStage;
import com.adform.motion.easing.Regular;

var adId:String;
var isExpanded:Boolean = false;
var bgCount:uint = 1;
var contentWidth:uint = 950;
var baseWidth:int = Math.max(contentWidth, stage.stageWidth);
var diff:Number = (stage.stageWidth - baseWidth) / 2;

Security.allowDomain("*");

AdformStage.stage = this.stage;
            
setTimeout(this.init, 0);

function init():void
{
    stage.scaleMode = StageScaleMode.NO_SCALE;
    stage.align = StageAlign.TOP_LEFT;
    stage.addEventListener(Event.RESIZE, handleStageResize);
            
    left.closeBtn.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, handleCloseClick);
    left.extendBtn.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, handleExpandClick);
    right.backBtn.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, handleCollapseClick);
    adId = LoaderInfo(stage.loaderInfo).parameters.adId;
            
    if (ExternalInterface.available)
    {
        ExternalInterface.addCallback("expandStart", expandStart);
        ExternalInterface.addCallback("collapseStart", collapseStart);
    }
    handleStageResize();
}
        
function handleCloseClick(e:MouseEvent):void
{
    try{
        ExternalInterface.call('ADFSuperClose', adId);
    }catch (e:Error) { };
}
        
function collapseStart(endTime:Number):void
{
    isExpanded = false;
    var collapseTime:Number = (endTime - new Date().getTime()) / 1000;
    AdformTween.to(this, collapseTime,
        {
            x: diff,
            ease: Regular.easeInOut
        });
}
        
function expandStart(endTime:Number):void
{
    isExpanded = true;
    var expandTime:Number = (endTime - new Date().getTime()) / 1000;
    AdformTween.to(this, expandTime,
        {
            x: diff - baseWidth,
            ease: Regular.easeInOut
        });
}
        
function handleCollapseClick(e:MouseEvent):void
{
    try{
        ExternalInterface.call('ADFClose', adId);
    }catch (e:Error) { };
}
    
function handleExpandClick(e:MouseEvent):void
{
    try{
        ExternalInterface.call('ADFExpand', adId);
    }catch (e:Error) {  };
}

function handleStageResize(e:Event = null):void
{
    baseWidth = Math.max(contentWidth, stage.stageWidth);
    diff = (stage.stageWidth - baseWidth) / 2;
    
    x = diff - (isExpanded ? baseWidth : 0);

    left.x = (baseWidth - contentWidth) / 2;
    right.x = left.x + baseWidth;

    var times:uint =  Math.ceil(baseWidth * 2 / this.bg.width);
    for (var i:uint = bgCount; i < times; i++)
    {
        var _bg:MovieClip = new Background();
        _bg.x = i * _bg.width;
        addChildAt(_bg, getChildIndex(bg))
    }
    bgCount = (bgCount < times) ? times : bgCount;
}

Slider Content code example:

import flash.display.LoaderInfo;
import flash.display.Stage;
import flash.display.StageScaleMode;
import flash.external.ExternalInterface;
import com.adform.events.AdformEventDispatcher;
import com.adform.events.AdformVideoEvent;
import com.adform.display.AdformStage;

var adId:String;

Security.allowDomain("*");

AdformStage.stage = this.stage;

setTimeout(this.init, 0);

function init():void
{
    stage.scaleMode = StageScaleMode.SHOW_ALL;
    btn.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, handleBtnClick);
    adId = LoaderInfo(stage.loaderInfo).parameters.adId;
    
    if (ExternalInterface.available)
    {
        ExternalInterface.addCallback("expandEnd", expandEnd);
    }
}

function expandEnd(endTime:Number = 0):void
{
    AdformEventDispatcher.dispatchAdformEvent( new AdformVideoEvent(AdformVideoEvent.PLAY, ["videoPlayer"]) );
}

function handleBtnClick(e:MouseEvent):void
{
    AdfURLNavigator.navigateToUrl(AdfFlashVarsUtil.getParameter('clickTAG'));

Two files Expanding banner

1. When creating an expanding banner from two files you will first be asked to define some details:

  • Select the Expanding banner type.
  • Enter project and banner (collapsed and expanded) names
  • Set project and banner (collapsed and expanded) locations
  • Choose the ActionScript version
  • Set normal and expanded banners dimensions
  • Select/deselect a default clicktag (more info about this option can be found here). If the Default ClickTag field is left blank, the banner will be created without a clickTAG.

2. Under the Settings tab, select the following options:

Expand behavior – select type of expanding banner. Possible choices:

  • Normal – regular expanding banner
  • Pushdown – site content will be moved down on banner expansion
  • Side-kick – site content is moved to right or left on banner expansion (check banner preview)
  • Floating – collapsed panel will be as Floating banner. When such type is chosen it is a must to set banner's position on the page. Also it is possible to close collapsed panel - more info about it at paragraph 4th of this page
  • TakeOver(MSN) – banner which meets MSN specs for expanding banners

Expand direction - select direction of banner expansion. If you select position "Custom" you are able to set specific position (in pixels) of Expanded part by simply entering X and Y values.

Clicking the Edit in Browser button will open new window in your browser where you will be able to preview and change Expanding banner position.

Wmode and Banner align – select possible values.

Expand Type – select action which triggers banner expansion. Possible choices:

  • RollOver
  • Click
  • Custom – more about this condition in 3rd paragraph of this page

Collapse Type – select action which triggers banner retraction. Possible choices:

  • RollOut
  • Custom - if banner has default Adform Close button then banner will collapse only on this button click. In other case please read 3rd paragraph of this page

Auto show after (s) – if banner needs to expand automatically on page load set time period in seconds when banner should expand. Minimum possible value – 0.1

Auto close after (s) – this feature works only when Auto Show after value is not zero.

Expand delay (s) –expand delay in seconds, usually it‘s zero.

Expand time (s) (active only when Side-kick or Pushdown type is selected) – expand animation duration in seconds, usually it‘s zero.

Collapse time (s) (active only when Side-kick or Pushdown type is selected) – collapse animation duration in seconds, usually it‘s zero.

With Landing page target, a landing page can be opened in a new or the same window or frame.

 

Keep collapsed source visible if it's enabled then the initial collapsed content of the banner will be visible on expand as well.

Enable Side Kick animation (active only when Side-kick type is selected)if it's disabled then banner expands instantly. Otherwise, banner is hidden under the mask which expansion can be animated too.

Finally, click the Create button.

3. If you need banner to expand/collapse on specific action, you should call such functions:

Expand:

a) In case you are using ActionScript 2:

import flash.external.ExternalInterface;

this.expandButton.onRelease = function():Void
{
  try
  {
       ExternalInterface.call('ADFExpand',_root.adId);
  }
  catch (e:Error)
  {
  }
};

b) In case you are using ActionScript 3:

import flash.external.ExternalInterface;
btn.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, onClick);
function onClick(e:MouseEvent):void
{
        try{
                   ExternalInterface.call('ADFExpand',
                   LoaderInfo(stage.loaderInfo).parameters.adId);
        }catch (e:Error) { };
}

Collapse:

a) In case you are using ActionScript 2:

import flash.external.ExternalInterface;

this.closeButton.onRelease = function():Void
{
  try
  {
       ExternalInterface.call('ADFClose',_root.adId);
  }
  catch (e:Error)
  {
  }
};

b) In case you are using ActionScript 3:

import flash.external.ExternalInterface;
btn.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, onClick);
function onClick(e:MouseEvent):void
{
          try{
                 ExternalInterface.call('ADFClose',
                 LoaderInfo(stage.loaderInfo).parameters.adId);
          }catch (e:Error) { };
}

4. If expanding banner is Floating type then it is possible to close collapsed panel by calling such function:

a) In case you are using ActionScript 2:

import flash.external.ExternalInterface;

this.closeButton.onRelease = function():Void
{
  try
  {
       ExternalInterface.call('ADFSuperClose',_root.adId);
  }
  catch (e:Error)
  {
  }
};

b) In case you are using ActionScript 3:

import flash.external.ExternalInterface;
btn.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, onClick);
function onClick(e:MouseEvent):void
{
          try{
                 ExternalInterface.call('ADFSuperClose',
                 LoaderInfo(stage.loaderInfo).parameters.adId);
          }catch (e:Error) { };
}

5. The methods of creating and assigning actions are the same as for Standard banners. In case that Expanding banners must have close buttons, „Adform Creative Toolkit“ inserts such button automatically.

6. When banner is finished it can be tested (clicking button “Preview) or ZIP file created to upload to Adform system (clicking button “Export”).

Floating banner

1. When creating a floating banner you will first be asked to define some details:

  • Enter project and banner names
  • Set project and banner locations
  • Choose ActionScript version
  • Set banner dimensions
  • Select/deselect default clicktag (more info about this option can be found here). If the Default ClickTag field is left blank, banner will be created without a clickTAG.

2. The second dialog asks for banner specific information:

Wmodeselect possible values: transparent, opaque or window.

With Landing page target, a landing page can be opened in a new or the same window or frame.

Custom position if banner needs to be placed in specific position then enter X and Y values.

Is the position fixed if it's enabled then banner stays in the same position no matter if the page is scrolled or not.

Show after (s) – if banner needs to appear automatically on page load set time period in seconds when banner should be displayed. Minimum possible value – 0.1

Close after (s) – set time period in seconds when banner should be closed. This feature works only when Close after value is not zero.

Page overlay - if it's enabled then all site content will be overlayed with color you select in Overlay Color and with opacity you define Overlay Opacity (%)

Position – select banner position from default position list. If Custom position has any values then setting Position becomes inactive.

Finally, click the Create button.

3. The methods of creating and assigning actions are the same as for Standard banners. Floating banners must have close buttons - Adform Creative Toolkit inserts such button automatically.

4. When banner is finished it can be tested (clicking button “Preview) or ZIP file created to upload to Adform system (clicking button “Export”).

Dynamic content banner

Adform Creative Toolkit allows creating a universal Flash banner which can dynamically change according to content definitions in Adform system. When using ad messages, there is no need to physically alter the banners when the changes need to be applied to text or graphics. Below you will find detailed instructions on how to create banners with dynamic content.

Note: currently dynamic content feature is availabe for standard, floating, expanding and tear back banners. Also synchronized banners are not allowed to have dynamic content.

Important! Dynamic content objects must go throughout the whole banner timeline.

Dynamic text

1. Create dynamic text field and give it an instance name (e.g. TestField):

2. Follow to Content --> Ad Message:

3. Assign values to textfields and click Save:

4. When banner is finished it can be tested (clicking button “Preview) or ZIP file created to upload to Adform system (clicking button “Export”).  Later in Adform system it's allowed to change values of dynamic text fields.

Dynamic graphics

1. Create a MovieClip object and give it an instance name (e.g. TestGraphics):

2. Follow to Content --> Ad Message.

3. Assign values to MovieClip objects and click Save :

Note: image will not be stretched if it has bigger size than assigned MovieClip.

4. When banner is finished it can be tested (clicking button “Preview) or ZIP file created to upload to Adform system (clicking button “Export”). Then in Adform system it is availabe to change values of dynamic graphics.

Dynamic fonts embedding

When you specify a font for a TextField in your application, Flash Player looks for a device font (a font that resides on the user's computer) with the same name. If it doesn't find that font on the user's system, or if the user has a slightly different version of a font with that name, the text display could look very different from what you intended.

The main limitation to using embedded fonts is that embedded fonts increase the file size or download size of your banner. To lessen banner size, fonts should be loaded dynamically.

Loading fonts dinamically

1. Follow to Content --> Ad Message and select tab „Font assets“.

2. „Font assets“ window shows you already created font assets: names and sizes.

3. Click button „Create new“:

4. Click the „Create“ button.

5. A new Font asset has been added to the „Font Asset“ list. Now it is possible to delete existing font assets or create new ones.

6. When banner is finished, you must Export the project and upload project ZIP file to Adform (more info about project export in section „Banner export“).

Creating Products Ads

Adform has released a special solution for banners with dynamic content: Product Ads. Such type ads are very useful for campaigns running banners with many different products. You simply need to make one banner with one product and through Adform system you can control what products (and how many) should be placed in the banner. Products Ad example can be found here .

Steps for Product Ads setup:
 

1. Implementation of tracking on client's site.

2. Client's product feed synchronization with Adform: 

Client's XML feed should be accessible through HTTP or FTP and have the following structure:
 
<products>
<product>
<product_name>Computer 123</product_name>
<product_id>123456</product_id>
...
<product_deeplink>http://client.com/products/computer123</product_deeplink>
<product_image>...</product_image>
</product>
<product>
<product_name>Computer 456</product_name>
<product_id>456789</product_id>
<product_category_id>computers</product_category_id>
...
<product_deeplink>http://client.com/products/computer456</product_deeplink>
<product_image>...</product_image>
<product>
...
<products>

Info: for further info please contact Adform technical support: technical@adform.com

3. Once client‘s feed has been synchronized with Adform’s template, variables for Product Ads banner can be provided and banner can be tested locally. Variables allow seeing product information in compiled banner on your local machine. 
 
var bn = 1565579;
var cid = 4790; // aid value
var gid = 0;
var tid = 3825;
var domain = "http://track.adform.net/banners/";
var pgsz = 6;
var gcnt = 100;
 
4. Banner creation:
 
Follow these steps to create your banner:
 

1) Create new Standard banner.
2) Drag the Adform XML_Manager component to the stage.
3) Drag the „Products“ component  (product holder) from „Adform Product Components“ folder to the stage.
4) Increase/decrease size of this component. The products will be placed in exactly the same area the component „product“ occupies.
5) Drag component „productItem“ to the stage. By default this component contains two dynamic textfields „product_price“, „product_name“ and movieClip „product_image“. You will be able to change the content of these objects through Adform system.
6) Drag „productsNextButton“ and „productsPreviousButton“ components to the stage if it‘s needed (the products can be scrolled automatically).
7) The components should look like this:

8) Now select component „products“ and open „Component Parameters“:

Auto Scroll - number, 0 by default. When value is more than 0, products auto scroll will be enabled. Products next action will be performed after amount of time in seconds according this value.
Products Padding - integer, -1 by default. If value is equal to -1, spaces between product items will be calculated automatically according products holder size. Or you can define your own space in pixels.
Products to Show - Integer, 1 by default. How many product items to put into a product Holder.
Scroll Step - Integer, 0 by default. Amount of items to change on next/previous event.

Note: 0 or more than “Products To Show” value will be equal to “Products to Show” value.

9) You are able to change the visual look of „productItem“ component and buttons. The banner (with exactly the same settings we set for component „product“ above) may have such look.

Note: Currently it‘s not available to test Product Ads through Adform Creative Toolkit. It can be tested only in Adform system.

FilmStrip banner

Preview:

The IAB Filmstrip enables enhanced creative story-telling capabilities within a single ad creative. Advertisers submit just one300x600 Filmstrip with five different segments. The Filmstrip is then served through the IAB UAP 300x600. Simple engagementfeatures – scroll, click, hover, and touch – allow the user to explore all 5 segments of the 300x600 creative. Component is provided only in Action Script 3 version.

Filmstrip can moves down one subsequent frame one of three ways:
a) End user interacts with 300x600 area and navigating to another page that serves the same unit
b) End user uses the scroll wheel on their mouse or horizontal browser bar
c) End user manually clicks on the next frame button at bottom of 300x600

1. Make 5 swf panels with content. It is highly recomended to read the specs before creating panels.

2. Create the main Filmstrip swf file:

     a) Create new standard banner file with dimensions 300x600
     b) Drag the Adform Filmstrip component on the stage from components panel:



     c) Customize available settings and graphic appearance of the component:


 

     Animation Time (s) - Specify the duration of scroll animation in seconds. (0.6 by default)
     Motion Blur - Enable/Disbale (true/false) motion blur. (true by default)

      d) Export the swf file
      e) Prepare settings.xml file according to following example:

<root>
      <filmstrip>
        <panel source="Panel1.swf">
          <previousText></previousText>
          <nextText>Goto Slide 2</nextText>
        </panel>
        <panel source="Panel2.swf">
          <previousText>Goto Slide 1</previousText>
          <nextText>Goto Slide 3</nextText>
        </panel>
        <panel source="Panel3.swf">
          <previousText>Goto Slide 2</previousText>
          <nextText>Goto Slide 4</nextText>
        </panel>
        <panel source="Panel4.swf">
          <previousText>Goto Slide 3</previousText>
          <nextText>Goto Slide 5</nextText>
        </panel>
        <panel source="Panel5.swf">
          <previousText>Goto Slide 4</previousText>
          <nextText></nextText>
        </panel>
      </filmstrip>
    </root>

     f) Test the banner

Note: filmstrip component size - 21285 bytes.

Note: for uploading such banners please contact technical@adform.net

Polite banner

Heavy rich media banners can significantly slow down the loading of the Media site. Therefore creative agencies have less creative freedom. As a solution, Adform recommends using polite banners. Polite banners allow the campaign banner to be almost unlimited weight as a flash file of very little weight replaces the original banner during the Media site loading.

1. Follow to Content --> Polite mode.

2. Once the Polite mode dialog is opened, there are three options:

  • None – the banner will not be of polite type
  • ActionScript – the creative toolkit generates the actionscript code:

The main idea of this code is that there is implemented event listener function and when a page is fully loaded - function handlePageLoaded is called. This method is very useful for video banners – to start video streaming only when page is fully loaded.

  • JavaScript – this method is based on such scenario: when page is loading – light weight image file is displayed and when page is fully loaded – the main SWF banner replaces image. Currently only images may be polite source.

4. When the banner is finished it can be tested (clicking the button “Preview) .ZIP file will created to upload to the Adform system (clicking the button “Export”)

Video banner

Simple Video Banner

1. Follow these guidelines in order to install Adform Creative Toolkit.

2. Create Standard project:

Once all the needed information has been entered (such as Default clickTAG, names, AS version, etc.), click Create button.

3. Empty standard banner with clickTAG button on top of the content has been created:

Creative Toolkit automatically implemented clickable button with instance name defaultClicktagBtn and ActionScript code:

this.defaultClicktagBtn.onRelease = function():Void {
getURL(_root.clickTAG, "_blank");
}

Now the banner contains correct clickTAG.

Implementing Video Player

1. In any project (except VideoCube) follow to Content -->Assets.

2. The dialog Adform Assets is displayed:

3. Add video assets:

  • Browse for a video file in your computer;
  • You can tick the „External URL“ check box and enter the path to your video file.

4. Once the required assets are selected, click the Save button. 

5. Now you need to create a Video Player – follow to Content -->Video.

6. The dialog Adform Video is displayed.

7. Add a new player and assign the required video by selecting a Video Source from the drop-down list:

8. In the Controls section, select what buttons or seek bar should be implemented in the banner.

Note: later you are able to edit visual look of the buttons.

9. Select the Settings tab:

10. Set player settings:

  • Auto play  - when banner is loaded video starts to play automatically;
  • Sound on– video will play with sound ON.
  • Streaming  - tick this option if video file will be placed on Flash Media Server (FMS);
  • Loop video;
  • Enable events- activates event tracking in video banners. All included buttons and viewed video time will be tracked (see image below). It is recommended to keep the Enable events check box ticked all the time.

11. When everything is done – click the Save button.

12. The Adform Creative Toolkit automatically inserts video container in the new layer Adform Video Player:

13. To proceed, go inside the video container. Here you have Adform Video component with instance name. 

14. Now it is possible to edit visual look of video controls, change dimensions of video player and etc.

15. If it‘s needed to have more than one video player in the same banner then again follow to Content -->Video.

16. Add new player and select controls. Once done, click Save button.

Note: player settings (Auto Play, Sound on, Streaming, Loop video and Enable events) are the same for all video players.

17. New movieclip of video player is created. It can be found in Library. Drag it to the stage and place in right spot.

18. It is also possible to create and assign other actions (please check section "Managing and assigning actions").

19. When banner is finished it can be tested (clicking button “Preview) or ZIP file created to upload to Adform system (clicking button “Export”).

20. More info about video component can be found here.

Info: You can download the example by following this link

Creating more complex Video Banner

Possible additional settings and options allow creating a more complex banner containing additional animation before or after the video.

Video with delay

If you want video to play only after some time:

  • Insert Adform Video Player in the Layer going through the all timeline.
  • Give a name to the Video Container

  • Make this container invisible in the first frame:
_root.AdformVideoPlayer._alpha = 0;
  • When you want the video to start playing (in specific frame or time) call Adform Play Event and make the video visible:
import com.adform.events.AdformEventDispatcher;
import com.adform.events.AdformVideoEvent;

_root.AdformVideoPlayer._alpha = 100;
AdformEventDispatcher.dispatchAdformEvent({type:AdformVideoEvent.PLAY, targetsArr:["adformVideoPlayer7146"]});

As the example shows, when calling the PLAY event you enter the name of the video component (["adformVideoPlayer7146"]). This name can be found inside video container when you select Adform Video Component properties:

For more video events click here.

  • When video is completed make the video container invisible and display other details:
import com.adform.events.AdformEventDispatcher;
import com.adform.events.AdformVideoEvent;

//event listener
AdformEventDispatcher.addAdformEventListener(AdformVideoEvent.COMPLETE,eventHandler);
function eventHandler(eObj:Object):Void
{
     _root.AdformVideoPlayer._alpha = 0;
//other animation
}

You can preview the banner by clicking Preview button. Click Export button to export the banner.

The new dialogue opens asking to ensure that the banner complies with the IAB guidelines. If it does, you can either mark all check boxes or leave them unmarked and click Continue exporting

Adform Creative Toolkit generates .ZIP file. Please note that you should not generate the .ZIP file manually. Send this file to traffic@adform.com and Adform Traffic team will take care of this.

Note: Please keep in mind that it is suggested to have only 1 frame with all animation placed in movieclips instead of using many frames.

Video banners in devices which do not support Flash

Some devices as iPad or iPhone do not support flash-based content. If a user visits a media site using such a device then instead of the video banner (Flash content) an image or an empty space is shown. In order to avoid such situations Adform replaces images (or empty spaces) with HTML5 video banners. All you have to do is to send video files of following types:


a. H.264+AAC+MP4 for IE9, iPhone 3.0+, iPad, Android 2.0+
b. Theora+Vorbis+Ogg for Firefox 3.5, Chrome, Opera
c. WebM for Firefox 4.0, Android 2.3+

Rich Media video banners will work in following way:

a. If it's possible to play Flash video - flash video will be played
b. If it's not possible to play flash video but it's possible to play HTML5 video - HTML5 video will be played (for expanding and tear back banners HTML5 video will be shown only in expanded state, in collapsed state backup image will be shown)
c. In worst case backup image will be shown