About Banners

You can use Banners to manage the banner ads that are on your website.

Using Banners

There are two methods you can use to add banner ads to your website.

The first method is to add banners by way of Target, Search&Promote. The banners are HTML code snippets that are displayed at the time that a customer searches your website. Your banner can include text or an image in GIF, JPEG, or PNG format, or a combination of both. You can select from preset sizes or define your own custom dimensions to fit your page. The HTML code that you use to display the banner can also specify such things as the font style to use, and the border. This method of adding a banner offers basic functionality and does not require additional software.

The second method is to use Adobe Dynamic Media Classic, a dynamic media management and publishing service. A valid Adobe Dynamic Media Classic account lets you manage and deliver banner content directly to Target, Search&Promote, using Dynamic Media Classic. In site search/merchandising, you configure access to your Dynamic Media Classic account. Then you open the Dynamic Media Classic media browser and pick a dynamic media asset that you want to serve as your banner.

Integration of Banners with Adobe Scene7 Publishing System

You can use Dynamic Media Classic asset types as banners in site search/merchandising including images, dynamic banners, and templates, such as image templates or Flash templates.

Templates are dynamically created and addressable layered image files like layered files in image-editing applications such as Adobe Photoshop®. Unlike a static image file, a template can include parameters. Through parameters, you can customize variable image properties and image content.

See Template Publishing in the Dynamic Media Classic (Scene7) User Guide.

A template can contain any number of image layers and text layers. You can convert a static file containing layers, such as a layered PSD file, into a template, or create templates in Dynamic Media Classic. You can create text layers in templates using fonts that you uploaded into Scene7 Publishing System. After you add text to a template, you can format it by changing its justification, fonts, font size, and color.

Using the Parameters screen in Dynamic Media Classic, you can convert any aspect of a template to an addressable parameter. In so doing, you can change which layered image to use or what text value to use in your template. Parameters are passed with the URL string, allowing you to change any parameter to dynamically customize the reply image generated from the image server.

You can learn more about how to use Dynamic Media Classic to create templates and parameterize the properties on the layers so you can use them in banners.

See Template Basics in the Dynamic Media Classic (Scene7) User Guide.

Uploading and publishing of assets

You must upload and publish assets in Dynamic Media Classic before you can use them for banners in site search/merchandising. This prerequisite also includes any assets that an image template or a Flash template uses. Use your Dynamic Media Classic account to upload and publish digital assets. Or, you can use site search/merchandising to upload a digital asset and then have Dynamic Media Classic automatically publish it for you based on your upload settings. If you attempt to pick an asset that is not yet uploaded and published, you are notified in the user interface and given the option of uploading it before proceeding.

You can learn more about uploading and publishing of digital assets using Scene7 Publishing System.

See Upload and Publish Assets in the Dynamic Media Classic (Scene7) User Guide.

See Administration Setup in the Dynamic Media Classic (Scene7) User Guide.

Changing Dynamic Media Classic Template Parameters in a Banner using Business Rules

If you added a Dynamcic Media Classic asset as a banner, you can use Visual Rule Builder in Business Rules to add it to any banner area on your website. For example, you add the banner to your search results pages, just as you would any other banner. You can also override the default parameter values in Dynamic Media Classic templates by customizing them to your specific needs. This kind of functionality lets you customize Dynamic Media Classic templates with different marketing messages and hyperlinks to different endpoints.

See also Adding a new business rule.

See also Editing a business rule.

Adding a banner

You can use Banners to manage the banner ads and where they are placed on your website. When you add a banner you are externally referencing the image by way of HTML code snippets that are displayed at search time.

If you have a valid Adobe Dynamic Media Classic account, you can add banner ads by way of the Scene7 Publishing System.

See Adding a banner using Adobe Dynamic Media Classic.

See Configuring access to your Adobe Dynamic Media Classic account.

To add a banner

1. On the product menu, click Design > Banners.

2. On the Banners page, in the Add Banner drop-down list, select HTML code.

3. In the Add Banner dialog box, set the options that you want.

   Option	Description
   Name	Required. Identifies the name of your banner. The name is used to refer to the banner when you add it in the Visual Rule Builder in Business Rules. The name does not appear in the banner itself. See Adding a new business rule.
   Banner HTML	Lets you paste the HTML code that is associated with the banner. Any HTML code is acceptable, including CSS code that is surrounded by <style> tags, or JavaScript code that is surrounded by <script> tags. For example, the following block of code is for a text banner of the type Horizontal top : <div style="width: 684px; background-image: url('https://www.brough.com/blackb.gif');  padding-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px; color: white; font-family: verdana;  text-align: center; font-size: 20px;"> Sound Study ships free! </div> In the following example, the block of code is for a full splash image: <img&nbsp;src='https://geometrixx.com/images/GEOAds/geometrixx-beauty-home-01.jpg'&nbsp;border="0"&nbsp;/>
   Type	Specifies the following types of banners: [new type] Lets you specify the type of banner you want, including the dimensions and the name. Full splash The set dimension of this type of banner is 680 pixels wide, and 650 pixels high. You can optionally specify the name of the type, or accept the default name which is the name of the banner type itself. Horizontal top The banner is positioned across the top area of your website. This type is useful if you intend to add hyperlinks to the left or to the right of the banner. The set dimension of this type of banner is 468 pixels wide, and 60 pixels high. You can optionally specify the name of the type, or accept the default name which is the name of the banner type itself. Horizontal top - Full width This type is the default when you add a new banner. The banner is positioned across the top area of your website and takes up the full width of the page. The set dimension of this type of banner is 670 pixels wide, and 150 pixels high. You can optionally specify the name of the type, or accept the default name which is the name of the banner type itself.
   Tags	Adds tags or "keywords" that you want to associate with the banner. If you use many banners, adding tags can help you to refine your banner search so you can quickly locate just the right banner for your needs. You can also delete any tags that you have added.

4. Click Save.

5. (Optional) Do one of the following:

   • Click History to revert any changes that you have made.

     See Using the History option.

   • Click Live.

     See Viewing live settings.

   • Click Push Live.

     See Pushing stage settings live.

Editing a banner

Use Edit Banner to change such things as the banner name, banner HTML, the banner type, and any associated tags.

If you added a banner using site search/merchandising, you also edit the banner using Adobe Dynamic Media Classic.

See also Editing a banner using Adobe Dynamic Media Classic.

To edit a banner

1. On the product menu, click Design > Banners.

2. On the Banners page, click .

   above a banner thumbnail that you want to edit.

3. On the Edit Banner page, set the options that you want.

   See the table of options under Adding a banner.

4. When you are finished editing the banner, click Save.

5. (Optional) Do one of the following:

   • Click History to revert any changes that you have made.

     See Using the History option.

   • Click Live.

     See Viewing live settings.

   • Click Push Live.

     See Pushing stage settings live.

Adding a banner using Adobe Dynamic Media Classic

You can use Banners to manage the banner ads on your website. When you add a banner using Adobe Dynamic Media Classic, you can choose from any digital asset that you have uploaded to the Scene7 Publishing System.

To add a banner using Adobe Dynamic Media Classic, be sure that you have configured access to your valid Dynamic Media Classic account.

See Configuring access to your Adobe Dynamic Media Classic account.

To add a banner using Adobe Dynamic Media Classic

1. On the product menu, click Design > Banners.

2. On the Banners page, in the Add Banner drop-down list, click Adobe Scene7.

3. In the Pick an Asset dialog box, in the left pane, use the navigation options in the user interface to locate the folder that contains the digital asset that you want to use for a banner.

   With the exception of asset navigation options, all other options are dependent on the digital asset that you selected to add or edit.

   Use the asset navigation options to locate an asset that you want to use for a new banner in site search/merchandising. The navigation options apply to all types of selected digital assets.

   NOTE

   The asset navigation options do not appear when you edit the banner in the Change Parameters dialog box.

   See Editing a banner using Adobe Dynamic Media Classic.

   Asset navigation options

   Navigation option	Description
   	Lets you select the Dynamic Media Classic account for your particular company from the drop-down list and also navigate the digital asset folders within that account. When you select a folder, the right pane of the Pick an Asset dialog box shows you all the available digital assets that are contained within that folder.
   	Lets you move forward or backward through your folder navigation history.
   	Refreshes the list of digital assets that are displayed for a selected folder. You may need to click this control if you move, delete, or rename a selected asset using the Actions drop-down list.
   	Displays digital assets in a list view. The list displays each asset's associated icon or thumbnail image, file name, digital asset type, dimensions, (where applicable), and the date it was last edited. The grid view displays digital assets in the selected folder as icons, thumbnails, or both.
   	In the list view, you can move, delete, or rename a selected digital asset. In the grid view, you can move or delete one or more selected digital assets.
   	Opens the Upload dialog box where you can upload a selected digital asset from your desktop or from an external server so that you can use it as a banner. After you upload the asset, a publish job is automatically schedule for you in Scene7 Publishing System. See the table of options in Adding a banner using Adobe Dynamic Media Classic . You can learn more about uploading and publishing of digital assets using Scene7 Publishing System. See Upload and Publish Assets in the Scene7 Publishing System User Guide.
   	Lets you search for a digital asset by keyword or search by file location within the selected folder and its associated sub-folders. When you click the search field, it automatically adds an optional filter field for you.
   	Adds another asset filter so you can further refine the list of displayed digital assets by type or by a specific date.
   	Refine the list of displayed digital assets to show only those by a certain type such as Flash, Image, Template, or Any. Click to delete the filter from the search.
   	Refine the list of displayed digital assets to show only those created or edit before a certain date or after a certain date. Click to delete the filter from the search.
   	Lets you drag the slider left or right to reduce or enlarge the entire view of the digital assets pane, respectively.

   Properties options

   The Properties options appear if you chose a Flash template, image template, or an image. Depending on the digital asset you chose, not all options are available.

   Properties option	Description
   Name	The descriptive name of the template or image, without any blank spaces. You may want to optionally include the image-size specification in the name to help users further identify the asset.
   Format	Identifies the format of the image, or image template. You can choose from the following formats: jpeg png png-alpha gif gif-alpha This option does not apply to Flash templates.
   Quality	Controls the compression level of JPEG or GIF format images. This setting affects both file size and image quality. The quality scale is 1-100. When you drag the slider left or right, the image in the preview window is updated to reflect the change in quality. This option does not apply to Flash templates.
   Width	Specifies the width of the digital asset, in pixels. This dimension is the width at which the asset is seen by customers who visit your website. This option does not apply to Flash templates.
   Height	Specifies the height of the digital asset, in pixels. This dimension is the height at which the asset is seen by customers who visit your website. This option does not apply to Flash templates.

   Banner Link options

   The Banner Link options appear only if you chose an image or an image template for your banner.

   Banner Link option	Description
   Link URL	Specifies the URL address that you want the banner to link to when a customer clicks the image. If you do not want the banner to link to anything, leave the Link URL field blank.
   Target	Specifies where to open the linked banner such as a new browser window or a new tab.

   Modify Links option

   The Modify Links option appears only if you chose a Flash template for your banner.

   Modify Links option	Description
   	Lets you edit the URL link field that is used in the Flash template.

   Replace Text options

   The Replace Text options appear only if you chose a Flash template for your banner that has editable text layers.

   Any changes you make to text in the Flash template are reflected in the Preview window.

   NOTE

   If you add a search and replace command to replace “cow” with “apple”, and then create a second command to replace “apple” with “orange”, the second command does not take affect.

   Replace Text option	Description
   	Adds a search and replace field.
   	Deletes a Search and Replace field and restores the previously used text.
   Search	Lets you enter a search term for non-linked text within the layers of the Flash template.
   Replace	Lets you specify the text that you want to insert in place of the text you are searching for. When you press Enter in this field, the preview window is updated with your replacement text.

   Parameters options

   Parameters options appear only if you chose an image template or a Flash template for your banner. The actual parameter options vary depending on how the template was created and parameterized in Scene7 Publishing System. For example, your template may parameterized fields that let you change such things as text, font style, price, special codes used for free shipping, the size of the image within the banner, or even browse for a different image to use.

   NOTE

   Be aware that any changes you make to parameters can be overridden by business rules. The parameters only serve as defaults when no business rules are created that would otherwise change the parameters.

   See Adding a new business rule.

   See Editing a business rule.

   Toggle Layer Visibility options

   The Toggle Layer Visibility option applies only if you chose a Flash template for your banner.

   Toggle Layer Visibility option	Description
   	Lets you turn on or off the visibility of the various layers that make up the Flash template file. Each time you turn the visibility of a layer on or off, the preview window is refreshed to update the display.

   (Optional) If the digital asset that you want to use for a banner is not available in the selected folder, you may need to upload it. Click Upload, and then select the file and options that you want. The file is uploaded to the selected folder.

   NOTE

   If you want to use the upload functionality in the Scene7 asset viewer, be sure that the Scene7 account you use has the role of “SPS Company Admin” already set.

   See Administration Setup in the Scene7 Publishing System User Guide.

   Basic options

   Option	Description
   Browse	Lets you browse to the file that you want to upload, publish, and then select for use as a banner.
   Overwrite	Files that you upload replace existing files with the same filename, within the selected folder.
   E-mail Preference	Lets you choose what email notification you get for the upload, or you can choose to not be notified for anything related to the upload job.

   Advanced options

   When you upload PostScript (EPS) or Illustrator (AI) image files, you can format them in various ways. You can rasterize the files, convert them to FXG for Template Publishing, maintain the transparent background, choose a resolution, and choose a color space.

   PSD (Photoshop Document files) are most often used in Dynamic Media Classic to create templates. When you upload a PSD file, you can create a Dynamic Media Classic template automatically from the file (select the Create Template option).

   Scene7 Publishing System creates multiple images from a PSD file with layers if you use the file to create a template; it creates one image for each layer.

   Option group name	Option	Description
   Color Profile Options	Color Profile	Lets you choose from the following options: Convert to SRGB Converts to SRGB (Standard Red Green Blue). SRGB is the recommended color space for displaying images on web pages. Keep Original Color Space Retains the original color space.
   Image Editing Options	Create Mask From Clipping Path	Create a mask for the image based on its clipping path information. This option applies to images created with image-editing applications in which a clipping path was created.
   PostScript Options Illustrator Options	Processing	Rasterize option converts vector graphics in the file to bitmap format.
   Postscript Options Illustrator Options	Resolution	Determines the resolution setting. This setting determines how many pixels are displayed per inch in the file. The default is 150.
   PostScript Options Illustrator Options	Color Space	Lets you choose a color space for the Illustrator file. The RGB color space is preferable for online viewing. You can choose from the following color space options: Detect Automatically Retains the color space of the PDF file. Force as RGB Converts to the RGB color space. Force as CMYK Converts to the CMYK color space. Force as Grayscale Converts to the Grayscale color space.
   PostScript Options Illustrator Options	Maintain transparent background	Maintains the background transparency of the file.
   Photoshop Options	Maintain layers	Rips the layers in the PSD, if any, into individual assets. The asset layers remain associated with the PSD.
   Photoshop Options	Create Template	Creates a template from the layers in the PSD file.
   Photoshop Options	Extract Text	Extracts the text so that customers can search for keywords within a banner.
   Photoshop Options	Extend Layers	Extends the size of ripped image layers to the size of the background layer.
   Photoshop Options	Layer Naming	Layers in the PSD file are uploaded as separate images. You can select from the following options to decide how you want to name these images in the Scene7 Publishing System: Use layer name from PSD file Names the images after their layer names in the PSD file. For example, a layer named Price Tag in the original PSD file becomes an image named Price Tag . However, if the layer names in the PSD file are default Photoshop layer names (Background, Layer 1, Layer 2, and so on), the images are named after their layer numbers in the PSD file, not their default layer names. Use PSD file name and append number Names the images after their layer numbers in the PSD file, ignoring original layer names. Images are named with the Photoshop filename and an appended layer number. For example, the second layer of a file called Spring Ad.psd is named Spring Ad_2 even if it had a non-default name in Photoshop. Use PSD filename and layer name or number Names the images after the PSD file followed by the layer name or layer number. The layer number is used if the layer names in the PSD file are default Photoshop layer names. For example, a layer named Price Tag in a PSD file named SpringAd is named Spring Ad_Price Tag . A layer with the default name Layer 2 is named Spring Ad_2 . Create folder based on the PSD filename Creates a folder for the layer images using the filename of the PSD.
   Photoshop Options	Anchor	Specify how images are anchored in templates that are generated from the layered composition produced from the PSD file. By default, the anchor is the center. A center anchor allows replacement images to best fill the same space, no matter the aspect ratio of the replacement image. Images with a different aspect that replace this image, when referencing the template and using parameter substitution, effectively occupy the same space. Change to a different setting if your application requires the replacement images to fill the allocated space in the template.
   PDF Options	Processing	Rasterize option rips the pages in the PDF file and converts vector graphics to bitmap images.
   PDF Options	Resolution	Determines the resolution setting. This setting determines how many pixels are displayed per inch in the PDF file. The default is 150.
   PDF Options	Color Space	Lets you choose a color space for the PDF file. Most PDF files have both RGB and CMYK color images. The RGB color space is preferable for online viewing. You can choose from the following color space options: Detect Automatically Retains the color space of the PDF file. Force as RGB Converts to the RGB color space. Force as CMYK Converts to the CMYK color space. Force as Grayscale Converts to the Grayscale color space.
   PDF Options	Auto-Generate eCatalog from multiple page PDF	Automatically creates an eCatalog from the PDF file. The eCatalog is named after the PDF file you uploaded.
   PDF Options	Extract keywords	Extracts words from the PDF file so that the file is searchable by keywords.

4. In the right pane, click the image, template, or Flash file that you want.

   The Pick An Asset pop-up window appears.

5. (Optional) In the Pick An Asset pop-up window, in Actions drop-down list, do any one of the following:

   • Click Move. In the Select a folder to move to dialog box, select the folder where you want to move the digital asset. Click Move.

     You can also select multiple digital assets that you want to move to another folder.

   • Click Delete. In the Delete Selected Assets dialog box, click Delete.

     You can also select multiple digital assets that you want to delete from the folder.

   • Click Rename. In the Enter a new name for dialog box, in the text field, type a new name for the digital asset. Click Rename.

6. (Optional) Depending on the digital asset that you selected, in the left pane of the Pick an Asset pop-up window, set the options that you want.

7. Click the asset to select it for use as a banner.

8. (Optional) Do one of the following:

   • Click History to revert any changes that you have made.

     See Using the History option.

   • Click Live.

     See Viewing live settings.

   • Click Push Live.

     See Pushing stage settings live.

Editing a banner using Adobe Dynamic Media Classic

Use Edit Banner to change the properties and parameters of a banner that you have added using Adobe Dynamic Media Classic.

If you added a banner by adding HTML code, you edit the banner using site search/merchandisng instead.

See also Editing a banner.

To edit a banner using Adobe Dynamic Media Classic

1. On the product menu, click Design > Banners.

2. On the Banners page, click above a banner thumbnail that has a S7 icon in the lower-left corner of the banner window.

3. On the Change Parameter page, set the options that you want.

4. When you are finished editing the banner, click Save.

5. (Optional) Do one of the following:

   • Click History to revert any changes that you have made.

     See Using the History option.

   • Click Live.

     See Viewing live settings.

   • Click Push Live.

     See Pushing stage settings live.

Deleting banners

You can delete staged banners that you no longer need or want to use either one at a time, or as a group.

To delete banners

1. On the product menu, click Design > Banners.

2. (Optional) Do one or more of the following:

   • On the Banners page, select the banner type you want to find from the Find banner of type drop-down list. If desired, specify a tag name in the with tag text field, or a banner type name in the with name text field. Click Find.

   • On the Sort drop-down list, select how you want the list of banners ordered.

   • On the Show drop-down list, select the number of banners that you want to load into the current page that you are viewing.

3. Do one of the following:

   • In the upper-left corner of any banner box, click the checkbox of each banner that you want to delete.
   • On the upper-bar of the Banners page, check Select all to select every banner that is loaded on the currently displayed page.

4. On the Bulk Actions drop-down list, click Delete.

5. In the Confirmation Action dialog box, click OK.

6. (Optional) Do one of the following:

   • Click History to revert any changes that you have made.

     See Using the History option.

   • Click Live.

     See Viewing live settings.

   • Click Push Live.

     See Pushing stage settings live.

Previewing banners

You can browse banners that you have added to the Banners page to view their full-size. Any CSS in the template that affects the banner is not shown.

To preview banners

1. On the product menu, click Design > Banners.

2. (Optional) Do one or more of the following:

   • On the Banners page, select the banner type you want to find from the Find banner of type drop-down list. If desired, specify a tag name in the with tag text field, or a banner type name in the with name text field. Click Find.

   • On the Sort drop-down list, select how you want the list of banners ordered.

   • On the Show drop-down list, select the number of banners that you want to load into the current page that you are viewing.

3. On the Banners page, click a banner thumbnail to view its full size.

4. Do one of the following:

   • In the banner preview dialog box, click the left or right arrow to navigate and view the full-size banners that you have added.
   • Click the close button to dismiss the banner preview dialog box, and return to the Banners page.

Pushing banners live

You can push one or more selected banners live to your website.

Or, if you prefer, you can push live all changes to any banner, using the Push Live option near the bottom of the Banners page.

See Pushing stage settings live.

To push banners live

1. On the product menu, click Design > Banners.

2. (Optional) Do one or more of the following:

   • On the Banners page, select the banner type you want to find from the Find banner of type drop-down list. If desired, specify a tag name in the with tag text field, or a banner type name in the with name text field. Click Find.

   • On the Sort drop-down list, select how you want the list of banners ordered.

   • On the Show drop-down list, select the number of banners that you want to load into the current page that you are viewing.

3. Do one of the following:

   • In the upper-left corner of any banner box, click the checkbox of each banner that you want to delete.
   • On the upper-bar of the Banner page, check Select all to select every banner that is loaded on the currently displayed page.

4. On the Bulk Actions drop-down list, click Push live.

5. In the Confirmation Action dialog box, click OK.

6. (Optional) On the Banners page, click History to revert any changes you have made.

   See Using the History option.