General
Mapping is the process of connecting dynamic parameters to composition layers for a specific creative template ad format.
A template's Map step provides a way to connect your creative elements and make the design dynamic. Within it, you can control a layer's value and appearance and use dynamic values from external sources, such as product, content, or location feeds.
Note: The Map step isn't available for custom code creative templates and creatives since layers don't exist for them.
Accessing Template Mapping
- Click Map within a template's Header.
Mapping in Flight Control
The Map step has two sections:
- Dynamic Parameters: Lists all existing dynamic parameters and lets you add new ones.
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Composition Layers: Lists all the template layers. Hovering over a layer highlights the layer position in the ad within the Preview pane.
- Once mapped, each layer has "connection tags." Hovering over these will let you know which dynamic parameter is connected to that attribute.
The Map step has the following features:
- Ad Size (Format) Selector: Lets you switch between the template's formats.
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Product Count Selector: Displays the number of products enabled for a format to display in the ad. (The maximum number of product feed items a creative template can display is 15.)
- Note: This is only available for creative templates that have the Product feature enabled.
- Auto-Create: Creates dynamic parameters for unmapped layers automatically.
- Auto-Map: In cases where the same layer(s) is shared across formats, this feature applies the same mapping that was already applied in other formats, to the selected format.
- Expand/Collapse: Opens all dynamic parameters revealing more information about each. Click it a second time to collapse them.
- Parent Hierarchy: Shows layers that are a "parent" to other layers
- Timeline: Lets you see the timeline bar (ruler) and each layer's start/end time and scrub through the ad timeline for preview purposes (currently available for HTML ads).
- Search: Lets you search for dynamic parameters by their names, types, and categories. This also filters for their mapped layers.
Mapping Dynamic Parameters in Flight Control
- Select a size/format from the dropdown.
- Select a dynamic parameter.
- Click the output icon and drag the connector to the desired layer.
- You can only map to a matching type (e.g., a Text dynamic parameter to a Text Source)
- The same Dynamic Parameter can be mapped to multiple layers.
- The dynamic parameter lists the number of layers that are mapped to it. Click the number to see the layers' names. Here you can remove layers by clicking on the "x".
- Each layer can be connected to a different set of dynamic parameter types. Example: A Text layer can be connected to a single text dynamic parameter (for dynamic text value) and two color dynamic parameters (fill color and stroke color).
- See the results in the Preview pane.
- Click Save.
Note: You can also connect a dynamic parameter to a layer by clicking a layer attribute.
Note: You can remove the mapping by clicking the output icon and selecting Disconnect or Disconnect All.
Advanced Features
Mapping Multiple Products
This is available for formats that support multiple products. When the layer is connected to a dynamic parameter that uses a feed source, a "product tag" becomes available in the layer that lets you set the product index for the layer.
Layer Conditions
You can set a layer's conditions by expanding the layer panel. Conditions determine when a layer is visible or hidden. If no conditions are set, layers will be visible.
Important: Conditions added to a parent layer are also added to its child layers.
Mapping Rules
Dynamic parameters are mappable to the following layer types:
- Colors: text, shape, image, and video.
- Selectors: all layer types.
- Text: text and precomp.
- Links: shape and image.
- Widget: text, image, shape, video, and precomp.
- Font: text.
- QR Code: image.