This article will help you with the following:
- Recognize template error categories
- Understand probable causes of errors
- How to resolve the errors through the suggested fixes
Note:
- This document presents the most likely scenarios for errors. This is not an exhaustive list of errors.
- There might be other ways of resolving the errors. These resolutions vary depending on how the templates are implemented.
Template requirements
Each supported advertising platform has specific requirements and limits that aren't defined by Search Ads 360, but are defined by the advertising platforms. Check each advertising platform's help center for more information.
Unlike campaigns that are manually built, Templates are automatically built and manage campaigns on a large scale. This automation may present challenges in ensuring the precision of each field.
Example
When manually building individual campaigns, you can't save if the campaign name is too long. Templates automatically build hundreds or even thousands of campaigns based on feed data. Template errors provide information about configuration errors that apply to a subset of campaigns (or campaign structure, targeting, or creatives) that are built by a given template.
Benefits of error message
- Provide insight into where you might need to refine your feed, formulas, or other template configurations to maximize template output and effectiveness.
- Display the number of campaigns, ad groups, targeting, and creatives that the template couldn’t generate or update because of errors when the template was evaluated.
- Help you iterate on templates’ configurations to make them more effective. Because of Templates flexibility, configuring templates for each use case might require iteration.
Template errors
Start date errors
Templates can't generate campaigns and ad groups after a statically defined date has passed.
Potential errors
| Template type | Error |
| Ad group | The AdGroup Start Date should be after current date |
| Campaign | Campaign can’t be set to a past date |
Potential causes
The template start date was defined as a specific date, and that date passed before the template tried to generate affected campaign structure, targeting, or creatives.
Example scenario
Template start date: 10/31/2022
Scenario: A feed is updated with new values on 11/01/2022, which triggers the template to attempt to create new campaigns or ad groups.
Output: New campaigns and ad groups can't be created, because the template start date (10/31/2022) is in the past.
Example resolutions
If a resolution is required, do one of the following:
- Change the start date to a date in the future.
- Use the "As soon as campaigns are created" option to set the start date as the date the campaign or ad group is created.
- Define a static number of days after the campaigns or ad groups are created as the start date (for example, “today +1”).
Engine limit exceeded
This template is creating enough entities to exceed the client account limit.
Potential errors
| Template type | Error |
| Campaign | Engine count limit exceeded |
| RSA | Engine count limit exceeded |
| Ad group | Engine count limit exceeded |
Potential causes
The ‘Engine count limit exceeded’ error occurs when the template creates enough entities to exceed a specific account limit in the client account. In the new Search Ads 360 experience, Templates will attempt to make as many entities as possible but up to the set limit.
Example scenario
Example 1
- In Google Ads, each ad group can have only 3 enabled responsive search ads. If an existing ad group already has 2 enabled responsive search ads, and your template is trying to generate an additional 2 responsive search ads, the template system would generate only 1 responsive search ad and the remaining responsive search ad would result in an “Engine count limit exceeded error.”
Example 2
- Let's say you have a campaign template with a multiplier that represents 8,000 unique items. This means the template will try to create 8,000 campaigns. You already have 3,000 pre-existing campaigns in the account. In Microsoft Ads, each account can have up to 10,000 campaigns. This means that when your campaign template evaluates, it will generate 7,000 campaigns, and the remaining 1,000 will result in an “Engine count limit exceeded” error.
Example resolution
There are 2 main paths to resolving this error:
- Choose a different multiplier that generates fewer entities to avoid exceeding the account limit.
- Remove existing entities from your account to make space for the remaining entities blocked by this error.
For more information on specific account limits, visit the help center of the relevant advertising platform.
Unchangeable field
The ad group has negative keywords with the exact match type you are trying to generate. To add a keyword, use different text or remove existing negative or positive keywords.
Potential error
| Template type | Error |
| Keyword | FIELD_ERROR_IMMUTABLE_FIELD: 2255 |
Potential cause
The error occurs because you can’t simultaneously add a keyword term into both positive and negative keywords for the same ad. To avoid limiting ad serving, you can use different keyword text, a different match type, or completely remove one keyword version.
Example scenario
“Running shoes” has been added both as a positive and a negative keyword.
Example resolution
Manually remove one version of the conflicting keywords, or choose a different keyword list entirely.
Text contains invalid characters
The template generated text included characters that aren't allowed for the impacted field. Typically, errors are generated because special characters are used, which can include (but aren't limited to) the following: !, @, #, $, %, -, (, ), and /.
Potential errors
| Template type | Error |
| Keyword | Keyword text contains invalid characters |
| RSA | Input value contains invalid characters |
| Ad group | Input value contains invalid characters |
| Campaign | Input value contains invalid characters |
Potential causes
The following are potential causes for this error:
- Feed data contains characters that aren't allowed for the impacted field.
- The formula on the template contains static text with characters that aren't allowed for the impacted field.
Example scenario
Feed name: Feed B
Feed data:
| ID | Field A |
| 1 | Alpha/Beta |
| 2 | Charlie |
| 3 | Delta |
Scenario: The following formula is used to populate Field A, which doesn’t support the “/” character: f:"Field A" & " / "
Expected output:
“Alpha/Beta / “
“Charlie /”
“Delta /”
Actual output:
No values are generated because all instances of the expected output would contain the “/” character, which isn't supported. One of the Field A values, “Alpha/Beta” contains the “/” character, and the formula adds the “/” character as static text.
Example resolutions
The following are general guidelines to resolve these errors:
- Update feed data to ensure that it doesn’t use special characters.
- Use alternates.
- In the Templates functionality, use functions such as
clean_keyword()orregex_extract()to remove special characters. The following example function removes special characters from the feed’s product ID column data:[TRIM(CLEAN_KEYWORD(PRODUCT_ID, " "))]. For example, if the product ID in the feed is “Bolt (10x),” the function returns “Bolt 10x”.
Expired ad groups
An expired ad group can't be updated or changed.
Potential errors
| Template type | Error |
| RSA | Operation not valid for an expired ad group |
| Keyword | Cannot update ad group which is in expired state |
Potential cause
In Microsoft Ads, you can set an end date for your ad group. An “expired ad group” occurs if no ads are running for this ad group, ad, or keyword because the ad group’s end date has passed.
Example scenario
If you create a template to be applied to an expired Microsoft Ads ad group, the template system will show an error message stating “Operation not valid for an expired ad group” or “Cannot update ad group which is in expired state.”
Example resolution
In order to generate entities from the template, navigate to the ad group in question and either:
- Extend the end date to sometime in the future.
- Remove the end date entirely, if relevant.
Text is too short
In most cases, this error indicates that the template didn’t generate any text for the field with this error.
Potential errors
| Template type | Error |
| RSA | Value entered is too short: Headlines |
| RSA | Value entered is too short: Descriptions |
| RSA | Value entered is too short: RSA name |
| Ad group | Value entered is too short: Ad group name |
| Campaign | Value entered is too short: Campaign name |
Potential causes
Template formulas use feed data to generate the text for fields. Examples include campaign name, ad group name, headlines, and descriptions.
- For formulas to be successfully validated, feed columns used in formulas must either contain data or be wrapped in
if_error(value, error_value)functions.
Note: Ifvaluegenerates an error, the function evaluates and returns the alternative defined inerror_value. Otherwise, the function returns the value. - If data is missing, the formula fails, so partially accurate values aren’t created. The
if_error()function enables templates to continue to produce values, even if some requested columns don’t have data.
Example scenario
Feed name: Feed A
Feed data:
| ID | Brand | Category |
| 1 | Alpha | Shoes |
| 2 | Beta | |
| 3 | Charlie | Clothes |
The following formula automatically attempts to build a campaign for each unique combination of Brand and Category: "Campaign: " & f:"Brand" & " " & f:"Category".
Expected output:
Campaign 1 = “Campaign: Alpha Shoes”
Campaign 2 = “Campaign: Beta “
Campaign 3 = “Campaign: Charlie Clothes”
Actual output:
Campaign 1 = “Campaign: Alpha Shoes”
Campaign 2 = “”
Campaign 3 = “Campaign: Charlie Clothes”
Because Campaign 2 is empty, you get the following error: “Field is too short: Campaign name”
Example resolution
Depending on the field, do the following:
- Use alternatives with other formulas or static text.
- Use
if()functions combined withlength()functions to detect if there will be length issues and provide alternatives. - Use text functions to trim and refine feed data to prepare it to be used in text fields.
- Modify feed data so it only contains data that meets advertising platform text fields requirements.
Field or text is too long
1. Headlines and descriptions are too long. Reduce the number of characters.
Potential errors
| Template type | Error |
| RSA | Field is too long: Headlines |
| RSA | Value entered is too long: Descriptions |
Potential cause
You can create 15 unique headlines and 4 descriptions in each RSA. Each headline has a character limit of 30 and each description has a characters limit of 90. If you exceed more than 30 and 90 characters respectively the system will show you an error message to reduce the words as per the requirement.
2. Display Path 1 is too long. Reduce the number of characters.
Potential errors
| Template type | Error |
| RSA | Value entered is too long: Display Path 1 |
Potential cause
The display URL in your RSA helps customers understand the page they will end up on once they click on your ad. The value in this field typically differs from the destination URL. Each path has a limit of 15 characters.
3. Keyword text is too long. Reduce the number of characters.
Potential errors
| Template type | Error |
| Keyword | Keyword text is too long: Keyword text |
| Keyword | Keyword text has too many words |
Potential cause
Adding the right keyword helps to show your ads to the right customers. You can add up to 10 words in a keyword.
Action not allowed for removed entity
A removed keyword or RSA ad can't be updated or changed.
Potential errors
| Template type | Error |
| Keyword | CONTEXT_ERROR_OPERATION_NOT_PERMITTED_FOR_REMOVED_ENTITY |
| RSA | AD_GROUP_AD_ERROR_AD_GROUP_AD_DELETED |
Potential causes
Once entities are removed, they can’t be recovered, reactivated, or edited. If an entity has been manually removed, the template system will be unable to modify that entity or create a duplicate.
Example scenario
Let's say you want to create an RSA template that will be placed under 3 different Ad Groups: AG1, AG2, and AG3. AG1 is manually removed sometime after the template is created.
Because AG1 was removed, the template system will be unable to apply the RSA template to AG1.
Example resolution
To resolve this error:
- Remove the reference to the removed entity from your template
- Manually recreate the removed Ad group, and reselect it within the Template
To avoid this issue in the future, consider pausing entities instead of removing them.
Duplicate assets or entities
Headlines and descriptions for each template generated entity must be unique. For example, if template formulas attempt to generate duplicate ad headings and descriptions, an error is displayed.
Potential errors
| Template type | Error |
| RSA | Duplicate value in headline or description |
| Ad group |
Duplicate ad group name in a campaign |
| Campaign | CampaignError.DUPLICATE_CAMPAIGN_NAME |
| Keyword | Duplicate keywords |
Potential causes
The following are potential causes for this error:
- Feed data is the same in multiple feed columns that are referenced in your formula fields.
- The combination of feed data and static text the formula produces results in duplicate values in your formula fields.
- The same alternative is used for multiple headlines or descriptions, and two or more of these alternatives are needed to generate an ad.
Example scenario
Feed name: Feed B
Feed data:
| ID | Brand | Category |
| 1 | Alpha | Shooting stars collection |
| 2 | Shoes | Shoes |
| 3 | Charlie | Clothing |
Scenario: An ad template has the following two formulas that result in the same output:
Headline: f:"Brand"Headline: f:"Category"
Likely expected output:
Ad 1 = “Alpha. Shooting stars collection.”
Ad 2 = “Shoes. Shoes.”
Ad 3 = “Charlie. Clothing.”
Actual output:
Ad 1 = “Alpha. Shooting stars collection.”
Ad 3 = “Charlie. Clothing.”
Ad 2 can't be generated because two of the headlines have the same value, “Shoes”, which the advertising platform doesn’t allow.
Example resolutions
To resolve this error, do one or more of the following:
- Use different alternatives for each headline or description.
- Modify feed data to avoid duplicate values in the relevant formula fields.
- Use logic functions, such as
if()to prevent duplicate data.
Incorrect URL format
Potential errors
| Template type | Error |
| RSA | URL_ERROR_INVALID_FORMAT: Final URL |
| RSA | URL contains invalid characters |
| RSA | URL must contain at least one tag |
Potential cause
The landing page should have the correct URL format which consists of protocol and domain.
Example scenario
For example, the following is a valid URL: https://example.com
If the URL is not formatted correctly, it won't be possible to access the landing page. Here “https:” is the protocol and “example.com” is the domain.
Example resolution
Ensure the content of your landing page field is formatted correctly. If the input is dynamic, check feed for incorrect values.
Bid amounts less than default price
Your bid amounts are less than the default price and the keywords for your product are not relevant to the targeted audience.
Potential errors
| Template type | Error |
| Ad group | Bid amounts are less than floor price |
Potential causes
- Your bid amount was set at a lower price than the default price, which caused your minimum bid threshold to not keep up with the ad auction.
- The keywords in your campaign and ad groups are not set up correctly to target the right audience
Example scenario
You are running a campaign for your new product A. You have set your bid amounts to $0.50, but the default price for this keyword is $1.00. This means that your ads are not being shown as often as they could be, because they are being outbid by other advertisers.
Example resolution
The following might help improve your ad performance:
- To increase the chances of your ads being shown, you can try increasing your minimum bid threshold to $1.00. This will tell the ad auction that you are willing to pay more for a click, which will make your ads more likely to be shown.
- You can also manually edit your keywords to make sure that they are relevant to your target audience and that you are using the right match types. For example, you could add the phrase "product A" to your keywords, so that your ads will be shown to people who are searching for that specific product.
Ad policy issues
The template generated text doesn't meet advertising platform policy requirements.
Potential errors
| Template type | Error |
| Keyword | Keyword text does not meet ad policy standards |
| RSA | Ad policy standards are not met |
Potential causes
The following are potential causes for this error:
- Feed data doesn’t adhere to advertising platform policy requirements.
- The combination of feed data and static text produced by the template formula generates text that doesn't adhere to advertising platform policy requirements.
Example scenario
Feed name: Feed B
Feed data:
| ID | Custom |
| 1 | Alpha |
| 2 | Beta |
| 3 | Charlie |
Scenario: The value “Alpha” in the “Custom” column doesn't adhere to the target advertising platform keyword policy.
Keyword formula: f:"Custom"
Expected output:
Keyword 1 = “Alpha”
Keyword 2 = “Beta”
Keyword 3 = “Charlie”
Actual output:
Keyword 2 = “Beta”
Keyword 3 = “Charlie”
“Alpha” can't be created, because in this example, “Alpha” doesn't adhere to the advertising platform’s keyword policy. A template error is displayed.
Example resolution
Modify feed data so your text field meets the advertising platform's policy requirements. If you’d like to appeal a policy decision, manually create a selection of the responsive search ads or keywords that would have been generated by the template directly in the relevant client account and appeal the policy decision there.
At this time, relevant policy violations won’t appear directly in your client or engine client account.
Data sharing is off for selected sub-manager account
If conversion-data sharing is turned off, sub-manager account goals from Search Ads 360 can't be used as the conversion goal for Google Ads campaigns. Please select account-specific conversion goals instead.
Potential errors
| Template type | Error |
| Campaign | Data sharing is off for selected sub-manager account |
Example scenario
Within a campaign template, you have the option to select conversion goals for the template generated campaigns within the “Conversion goals” settings. By default, the template will select “Use account default goal settings” and will not select any account-specific conversion goals.
If conversion data sharing is turned off, there will be no way for the template to share Search Ads 360 account default goals with the relevant engine accounts, thus leading to the error.
Example resolution
You can resolve this error one of two ways:
- Enable conversion data sharing in your Search Ads 360 account.
- Select the option to “Add account-specific conversion goals”, and specify which client account goals you’d like to apply.
Empty Fields
The template generated text for the path 1 field was empty, but the path 2 field has a value. Both path 1 and path 2 must have values, or errors are generated.
Potential errors
| Template type | Error |
| Campaign, Ad group, RSA, Keyword | The attribute cannot be set |
Potential causes
The following are potential causes for this error:
- Path 1 is empty because the text is too short.
- Path 1 was not configured on the template, but path 2 was configured.
Example scenario
Path 1 doesn’t exist, so path 2 must have the error. See the text is too short section of this article.
Example resolution
Check path 1 for errors and update path 1 on the ad template.
System Error
If you encounter any system error, contact Search Ads 360 support.
Potential errors
| Template type | Error |
| Ad group | AD_GROUP_CRITERION_ERROR_INVALID_STATUS |
| Campaign, Ad group, RSA, Keyword | SERVER_ERROR_INTERNAL |
| Campaign, Ad group, RSA, Keyword | MUTATE_ERROR_INVALID_TEMP_ID_VALUE |
Update non-managed settings through bulk edits
If your template generates an item (for example, an ad group) with settings that conflict with related items (for example, if the template generates an ad group whose Max CPC is lower than the minimum required for related Microsoft Shopping Campaigns) and that setting isn't managed by the template, then you can use a bulk edit to update the affected setting (for example, increase Max CPC so it meets the minimum requirement for Microsoft Shopping Campaigns).