Ad group type and other questions API

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Nikola Jordanovski

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Jan 22, 2015, 5:10:20 AM1/22/15
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Hello, 
so i am given a task to replicate the ad-words editor, and i am having trouble making the replica using the API, because some of the features are very hard to find.
Can you help me with something?
So i am trying to set the :

Ad group type -> Default

Targeting optimization -> Disabled


but can't find the appropriate API methods to do so.

Can you give me a hand?
Also what is the best practice for finding the wanted functions , because the API is endless :D


Thank you,
Nick 

 

Josh Radcliff (AdWords API Team)

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Jan 22, 2015, 5:24:45 PM1/22/15
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Hi Nick,

The AdWords API does not have the concept of ad group type - that appears to be an AdWords Editor feature. I don't see anything related to ad group type in the AdWords UI either.

The targeting optimization setting you mentioned is configurable in the AdWords API by adding or removing an ExplorerAutoOptimizerSetting in your AdGroup object's settings collection. You can further configure the ExplorerAutoOptimizerSetting by setting its optIn field as follows:
  • false -> This is equivalent to Conservative targeting in the UI
  • true -> This is equivalent to Aggressive targeting in the UI (enabling Display Campaign Optimizer)
Regarding finding objects in the API that correspond to AdWords UI objects, the API services are organized by object type. For example, if you are looking for attributes that you set on the Campaigns tab in the UI, chances are they are on the Campaign object in the CampaignService. Similarly, Ad groups tab settings are mostly in the AdGroupService.

Another good resource is the set of guides we have under Developer's Guide. These are grouped by Campaign, Ads, Reporting, etc., and each guide will contain links to the relevant services and object types for the features covered in the guide.

Best regards,
Josh, AdWords API Team

Anil

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Feb 16, 2016, 3:41:21 AM2/16/16
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Hello,

Is it possible to uncheck "Let AdWords automatically find new customers" via API? Sending optIn = false via API set Targeting Optimization to Conservative. As you mentioned How can we remove ExplorerAutoOptimizerSetting from ad group via API?

Thanks,

Josh Radcliff (AdWords API Team)

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Feb 16, 2016, 10:59:09 AM2/16/16
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Hi,

If you want to remove the ExplorerAutoOptimizerSetting, you can submit an AdGroupService.mutate request with an operation where the operator = SET and  the operand (AdGroup) has:
  • id = your ad group ID
  • settings = an array without the ExplorerAutoOptimizerSetting 
Cheers,
Josh, AdWords API Team

Anil

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Feb 17, 2016, 2:32:18 AM2/17/16
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Hello,

I have tried the same but it does not remove ExplorerAutoOptimizerSetting from adwords account.
Below are our details we are submitting for mutate process.

Array
(
    [0] => AdGroupOperation Object
        (
            [operand] => AdGroup Object
                (
                    [id] => 27908753009
                    [campaignId] => 
                    [campaignName] => 
                    [name] => 
                    [status] => 
                    [settings] => Array
                        (
                            [0] => TargetingSetting Object
                                (
                                    [details] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => TargetingSettingDetail Object
                                                (
                                                    [criterionTypeGroup] => USER_INTEREST_AND_LIST
                                                    [targetAll] => 
                                                )

                                            [1] => TargetingSettingDetail Object
                                                (
                                                    [criterionTypeGroup] => VERTICAL
                                                    [targetAll] => 
                                                )

                                            [2] => TargetingSettingDetail Object
                                                (
                                                    [criterionTypeGroup] => GENDER
                                                    [targetAll] => 
                                                )

                                            [3] => TargetingSettingDetail Object
                                                (
                                                    [criterionTypeGroup] => AGE_RANGE
                                                    [targetAll] => 
                                                )

                                            [4] => TargetingSettingDetail Object
                                                (
                                                    [criterionTypeGroup] => PLACEMENT
                                                    [targetAll] => 
                                                )

                                        )

                                    [SettingType] => TargetingSetting
                                    [_parameterMap:Setting:private] => Array
                                        (
                                            [Setting.Type] => SettingType
                                        )

                                )

                        )

                    [experimentData] => 
                    [labels] => 
                    [forwardCompatibilityMap] => 
                    [biddingStrategyConfiguration] => 
                    [contentBidCriterionTypeGroup] => 
                    [trackingUrlTemplate] => 
                    [urlCustomParameters] => 
                )

            [operator] => SET
            [OperationType] => 
            [_parameterMap:Operation:private] => Array
                (
                    [Operation.Type] => OperationType
                )

        )

)

We do not get any error in this but ExplorerAutoOptimizerSetting  not getting removed.


Thanks

Message has been deleted

Josh Radcliff (AdWords API Team)

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Feb 17, 2016, 8:56:44 AM2/17/16
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Hi Anil,

I deleted your last post because it included your developer token. Per our forum posting guidelines, please do not include sensitive information such as your developer token in your posts.

I'll look into why sending an empty settings attribute isn't clearing the value and will get back to you.

Thanks,
Josh, AdWords API Team

Josh Radcliff (AdWords API Team)

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Feb 18, 2016, 4:19:06 PM2/18/16
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Hi Anil,

I ran some tests myself and confirmed that I cannot remove the ExplorerAutoOptimizationSetting once it has been added. I'm following up on this and will get back to you if I have any updates.

Thanks,
Josh, AdWords API Team

Tex Russky

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Feb 19, 2016, 12:22:09 PM2/19/16
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That's not true. In the AdWords UI go to the "Ad Groups" tab, select "Columns", then "Attributes". AdGroupType is the last attribute listed.
It's also available if you download a csv.
It would be very nice if it were added to the api.

Josh Radcliff (AdWords API Team)

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Feb 19, 2016, 4:03:06 PM2/19/16
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Hi,

Sorry - my mistake. I somehow missed the Ad group type column in the user interface when I looked for it back on January 22.

Could you provide some details as to why you need this column to be visible and/or settable via the AdWords API? For example, is there certain functionality you want to use that is not available to you because Ad group type is not available?

Thanks,
Josh, AdWords API Team

Tex Russky

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Feb 19, 2016, 4:33:25 PM2/19/16
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According to the AdWords doc (https://support.google.com/adwords/answer/3481092?hl=en) an ad group can only have a single type of video ad format, in_stream or in_display. This constraint is enforced during creation on the AdWords Web page by forcing the user to specify which ad format it will be. At the very least reporting this for an ad_group would be very nice since many of our customers want to see various cost metrics separated for in-stream and in-display. Since no such attribute is exposed on the ad_group level it means we have to inspect ads under an ad group to discover which ad format is used by a given ad group. Adds complexity and degrades performance.
To create an ad group via the API is also would be nice if this were directly settable instead of relying on the fragile sequence exposed by the web UI.

Josh Radcliff (AdWords API Team)

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Feb 26, 2016, 5:49:40 PM2/26/16
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Hi,

Sorry for the delayed response. I'll pass along your feedback and very helpful description of why having ad group type in reports would be useful.

Regarding creation of AdWords for Video objects through the AdWords API, we're aware that there's significant interest in this functionality, but I don't have any information at the moment as to when or if that will be added to the API.

Best regards,
Josh, AdWords API Team
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