Once Demographic Criterion is set it cannot be changed

[Filip Pećanac]

Hi,

When I add Demographic AdGroupCriterion via API, lets say exclude all male users from targeting, it works fine. For this, i use this code.

But later on, once I try to include the male population for that Ad Group (by removing 'negative'=>true line of code), I receive the following message:

Fatal error: Uncaught Google\ApiCore\ApiException: { "message": "Request contains an invalid argument.", "code": 3, "status": "INVALID_ARGUMENT", "details": [ { "@type": 0, "data": "type.googleapis.com\/google.ads.googleads.v8.errors.GoogleAdsFailure" }, { "@type": 0, "data": [ { "errorCode": { "fieldError": "IMMUTABLE_FIELD" }, "message": "The field attempted to be mutated is immutable.", "location": { "fieldPathElements": [ { "fieldName": "operations", "index": 0 }, { "fieldName": "create" }, { "fieldName": "negative" in /XYZ/google-ads-php/vendor/google/gax/src/ApiException.php on line 139

Is there a way to update AdGroupCriterions once they are previously added?

[Google Ads API Forum Advisor]

Hi Filip,

Negative is immutable. To switch a criterion from positive to negative, remove then re-add it.

Regards,

Aryeh Baker Google Ads API Team

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[Filip Pećanac]

Hi Aryeh,

Thanks for the response.

Let me just clarify the situation step by step, so that you can understand it better and let me know if I haven't done something properly:

1. I create an adGroup via API (automatically all age ranges are selected)

2. I use negative criterion to exclude one of the ranges, lets say 35 to 44 - I check it on Google Ads interface and it works fine

3. I try to re-include this age range by simply removing this line 'negative' => true and then i get the "Immutable field" message

4. I can continue unselecting age ranges with step no2, but when I try to include them again i get the same message

So, instead of step 3 what should I do to be able to accomplish this?

Ps. From your previous response I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do, so that's why I am back here :)

Regards,

Filip

[Google Ads API Forum Advisor]

Hi Filip,

This is Yasar and I work with Aryeh. Let me assist you with this.

Kindly note that the negative field in AdGroupCriterion is immutable. That said, re-including said age range by simply removing line 'negative' => true from your code won’t work and you will get the "Immutable field" message since the 'negative' field is immutable.

To avoid this error, I recommend you to remove the existing AdGroupCriterion first, then re-add it by setting 'negative' => false in your code. 

Hope this helps. Let us know if you have any further questions.

Regards,

Yasar Google Ads API Team

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[Filip Pećanac]

Hi Yasar,

Thanks for the assistance.

So once I create an AdGroup via API all Demographic criterions are selected by default.

What would be your suggestions (or an example if you could provide) in order to:

1. Exclude certain Criterion via API?

2. Re-include that Criterion via API?

Whenever I try to accomplish the second step, I get the "immutable filed" message.

Sorry to bother you, but I am new in this, so it might take me a while to get it done properly :)

Regards,

Filip

[Google Ads API Forum Advisor]

Hi Filip,

Thank you for your follow up, our team would be happy to help. You may refer to my responses below :

1. Exclude certain Criterion via API?

You can CREATE the AdGroupCriterion with the negative=true, if you wish to initially exclude a specific criterion.

2. Re-include that Criterion via API?

If by re-include what you meant is to target the initially excluded the criterion, you will first need to perform a REMOVE operation for the excluded criterion. You can then CREATE that criterion again, with the same details, but now with negative=false.

Best regards,


Reminder: Share your feedback about the Google Ads (AdWords) API! Take the 2021 Google Ads API and AdWords API Annual Survey
 

Peter Laurence Napa Oliquino Google Ads API Team

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[Filip Pećanac]

Hi Peter,

Thank you very much!

I have followed your suggestions and now everything works great.

Thanks for your time!

Regards,

Filip