Tags: A common question brought up on the OpenX forum is how to properly track clicks for a Flash banner. We have a tutorial called Using Flash with OpenX which does cover this, but I thought it would be useful to share a quick overview here.
Here are the key points:
- There is a standard for creating Flash banners which can be click tracked. Your Flash banner should use a variable called ‘clickTAG’ described by Adobe in their Flash help document — send this to anyone who creates Flash banners for you.
- The clickTAG variable is case sensitive in new versions of Flash. OpenX does try to rewrite any banners it detects using a variable with different case, but the proper case should be used whenever possible. Remember: clickTAG is good; cLiCkTaG just looks funny.
- If you have a banner which has what we call a ‘hard coded URL’ - then do not fear! A ‘hard coded URL’ means that the banner was coded to go directly to a URL like http://www.openx.org, instead of using the clickTAG variable. OpenX will attempt to rewrite the SWF file so that it instead uses clickTAG. However, keep in mind that having OpenX open your Flash banner and rewrite the code is not a preferable method. It will be a while before machines replace us in the workplace, so for now it is best to use the human method of replacing the URL with clickTAG whenever possible (human method being: use a computer to load a software which loads the Flash banner and lets you type a few characters in order to replace the URL with clickTAG… at least you get to move your fingers a little!).
If you have a Flash banner which isn’t tracking clicks, the first thing to do would be to determine which method (clickTAG or hard-coded) it is using. If you’re not able to communicate with the creator, there are programmes which will let you view the SWF file’s code (explained in tutorial above).
See the full tutorial here: Using Flash with OpenX
Well this is good info. but what about Text Ad Type Banner. we can use embedding code.
Comment by Gaurav — March 26, 2009 @ 6:37 pm
Comment by Gaurav — March 26, 2009 @ 6:38 pm
Hi Gaurav,
I’m not sure exactly what you are asking — could you provide an example banner and details on how you set it up in OpenX?
Regards,
Arlen
Comment by Arlen — March 27, 2009 @ 9:25 am
Hi Arlen,
i use this code. And put in Text Banner type to show flash banner.
it works fine…shows me the banner…but IE doesn’t track click …. i couldn’t find any document which include flash banner with Text Banner type Ads.
Comment by Gaurav — March 27, 2009 @ 7:58 pm
Hello,
I must put a flash banner wich doesn’t have clickTAG.
I’ve tried to use as html banner with external link :
The banner appears but is not linked, I can’t click.
If I try in a html file outside Open X, it works, but not as a html banner.
If I put swf as external banner with external link, it doesn’t work.
What can I do to make this banner in OpenX with click I can count.
Thanks !
Comment by Philippe — June 13, 2009 @ 6:15 am
Sorry, here is the code :
Comment by Philippe — June 13, 2009 @ 6:16 am
Hey,
I created a flash banner that has 4 buttons linking to different pages on a website and i’m having trouble getting it to track. I can’t add the links with Openx because it only allows one link. Any ideas?
Thanks!
Comment by Patrick — July 8, 2009 @ 9:03 pm
Here is the code on one of the buttons:
on (release) {
//Goto Webpage Behavior
getURL(”http://www.pierceflooring.com/green.aspx”,”_blank”);
//End Behavior
if (_root.clickTAG.substr(0,5) == “http:”) {
getURL(_root.clickTAG, “_blank”);
}
}
I have built a few ads like this and only one is not tracking and I’m not sure why.
thanks again!
Comment by Patrick — July 8, 2009 @ 9:07 pm
Hi,
If you use hard coded links, it can convert all of the different links.
Regards,
Arlen
Comment by Arlen — July 9, 2009 @ 8:34 am
The ad is functioning properly with all of the links going to their specified sites, but none of the clicks are being tracked.
Comment by Patrick — July 9, 2009 @ 3:21 pm