Bug: Admob native ad validator shows implementation issue when there is no MediaView

[Liran Barsisa]

Admob supports showing native ads without MediaView, as shown on one of the examples:

https://developers.google.com/admob/android/native/templates#small_template

This is especially important in case there isn't much space available.

However, when you use this, you will get a popup by the validator, saying you shouldn't do it:

Please fix this, or at least make it a suggestion and not an issue.

[Mobile Ads SDK Forum Advisor]

Hi Liran,

Thank you for contacting the Mobile Ads SDK support team. 

Please note that the Media view is always part of the native ad object returned by the ad server.  For native video ads, the main asset MediaView must be at least 120x120dp (Android). Video ads won't serve implementations with the main asset MediaViews smaller than 120dp in any dimension. All native ad assets must be contained inside the native ad view. MediaView is required to render the main video or image asset in an ad. You can use ImageView to render the logo and app icon assets. 

I hope this helps! Let me know if you have additional questions.  

This message is in relation to case "ref:!00D1U01174p.!5004Q02vF57q:ref" (ADR-00263784)

Thanks,
 

Mobile Ads SDK Team

[Liran Barsisa]

That's incorrect.  Look at the sample I've provided, which is by Google/Admob itself:
https://developers.google.com/admob/android/native/templates#small_template

"The small template is ideal for recycler views, or any time you need a long rectangular ad view. For instance you could use it for in-feed ads."

And you can see in code, that there is no instance of MediaView here:

https://github.com/googleads/googleads-mobile-android-native-templates/blob/main/nativetemplates/src/main/res/layout/gnt_small_template_view.xml

Of course videos/images won't be shown when there is no MediaView, but if the developer decided not to show MediaView at the moment (example is when there isn't enough space), that's a valid case, and it's also shown by Admob that it's ok not to have it.

As I've shown, it's on both the documentation, and on the sample.

So, as it's a valid case and supported, no reason that the ad-inspector will show it as an error. A warning/suggestion would be better, but not an error.

[Mobile Ads SDK Forum Advisor]

Hi,

Please note that Native Validator will appear only on test ads. Live ad requests will never show Native Validator. Native Validator is enabled by default for test ads, but can be disabled as shown below. Keep in mind however that once the validator is disabled, test ads will no longer show information about potential issues with your ad layouts. Kindly refer to disabling the validator for more information

[Liran Barsisa]

I know and it's irrelevant to the topic. 
The topic is that it shows an error about something that can happen and is valid according to the docs, snippets, and library of templates.

As a side note for disabling the validator, sadly this is about the only thing that can be done about it. I wish there were many more features about it.