# Formats

A **format** specifies the requirements, such as file size and dimensions, that a creative must meet to prevent errors when uploading the creative file. A format does not have to be limited to online banner ads; it can also be a native ad or a video ad. All formats are acceptable as long as they fit within your inventory structure, website design and strategy.

Refer to the Appendix [Online advertising formats](https://documentation.adhese.org/books/integrations-and-delivery/page/online-advertising-formats) for a definition of the most important formats and a representation within their environment. The overview is not exhaustive. A publisher can implement custom formats as well.

# Create a format

The *Formats* screen consists of a table with three columns:

1. The *N*<sup>*o* </sup>column displays the ID of the format.
2. The *Format* column shows the name of the format and its dimensions.
3. The *Template file* column shows the template file that belongs to the format.

To create a new format:

1. Click *Admin* in the left navigation menu. This opens the *Administration* screen.
2. Click *Formats*. The *Formats* screen opens:  
    [![Schermafdruk van 2024-10-21 13-51-38.png](https://documentation.adhese.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-10/scaled-1680-/p1f2jCYAaOnf4gSq-schermafdruk-van-2024-10-21-13-51-38.png)](https://documentation.adhese.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-10/p1f2jCYAaOnf4gSq-schermafdruk-van-2024-10-21-13-51-38.png)
3. Click the *Create a format* button. This opens the *Create a new format* screen.  
    [![Schermafdruk van 2024-10-21 14-30-18.png](https://documentation.adhese.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-10/scaled-1680-/VcLodriDWdcp8RIi-schermafdruk-van-2024-10-21-14-30-18.png)](https://documentation.adhese.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-10/VcLodriDWdcp8RIi-schermafdruk-van-2024-10-21-14-30-18.png)
4. Enter a name in the **Name** field. Choose a clear and logical name, such as Leaderboard or Interstitial.
5. Determine whether the format is part of a stack from the **Part-of** drop-down.
    
    <p class="callout info">A Stack format sends a list of ads that are available for display for that position. A stack is always a client-specific implementation.</p>
6. (Optional) Select a JavaScript template file in the **Template file** drop-down. Refer to [Templates](https://documentation.adhese.org/books/adhese-ui/page/the-administration-screen#bkmrk-formats-and-template) for more information about template files.
7. If you choose to deliver multiple campaign bookings simultaneously (see [Delivery multiples](https://documentation.adhese.org/books/campaign-management/page/bookings#bkmrk-combination-or-deliv)), you will need to specify the order of the formats on the web page. In the **Trigger Order** field, enter a number that indicates the position of the format within the sequence of formats.
8. Enter the dimensions of the format in pixels in the **Width** and **Height** fields.
    
    <p class="callout info">You can configure a format to contain up to six images.</p>
9. Enter the maximum file size of the format in kiloBytes in the **Max size (kB)** fields.
10. Skip the next property (Add URL?) as it is of no significance anymore.
11. In the **Tag** drop-down:
    
    
    - Select *yes* if the format is the main format.
        
        <p class="callout danger">Do not forget to enter a code tag in the **Code tag** field (step 19), as a new tag is necessary for the main format.</p>
    - Select *no* if the format is a subformat.
        
        <p class="callout danger">Do not forget to refer to the main format in the **Code book** field (step 17).</p>
12. **Open creative previews in a new tab?** The default setting is *no*. When set to yes, the preview of a creative is shown in a new tab.
13. Select *yes* or *no* from the **Has completion rate events** drop-down to activate video reporting for the new format.
14. <p class="callout warning">The transcodable option is currently not supported. Leave it on *no*.</p>
15. If the format will be used in [Digital Out of Home (DOOH)](https://documentation.adhese.org/books/integration-setup/page/dooh-endpoints) positions, assets can be pre-loaded and cached by selecting *yes* in **Use in headsup file** (if the headsup endpoint is configured).
16. (Optional) Specify the foreign key of the format in the **Code Import** field to link Adhese to an existing external CMS.
17. Enter the name of the tag variable in the **Code book** field. If the format is a subformat, enter the tag code of the main banner. (Optional)
18. The Code MDB field is deprecated
19. Enter the name of the tag variable in the **Code tag** field. The code tags themselves are usually defined in the setup stage.
    
    <p class="callout info">A code tag is only required if the format is the main format (step 11). For example, if your main format runs on the BANNER tag, the tag code is BANNER.</p>
20. (Optional) Provide a key in the **Code export** field to establish a link with an external database.
    
    The following table gives a few examples of completing the *Code tag* and *Code book* input fields for main and sub formats.

<table border="1" id="bkmrk-format-name-format-t" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;"><colgroup><col style="width: 25.0323%;"></col><col style="width: 25.0323%;"></col><col style="width: 25.0323%;"></col><col style="width: 25.0323%;"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr><td align="center" data-sheets-value="{ " height="32">**Format name**</td><td align="center" data-sheets-value="{ ">**Format type**</td><td align="center" data-sheets-value="{ ">**Code tag**</td><td align="center" data-sheets-value="{ ">**Code book**</td></tr><tr><td align="left" data-sheets-value="{ " height="17">Leaderboard</td><td align="left" data-sheets-value="{ ">Main format</td><td align="left" data-sheets-value="{ ">leaderboard</td><td align="left" data-sheets-value="{ ">leaderboard</td></tr><tr><td align="left" data-sheets-value="{ " height="62">Homepage takeover (leaderboard + wallpaper)</td><td align="left" data-sheets-value="{ ">Sub format</td><td align="left" data-sheets-value="{ "> </td><td align="left" data-sheets-value="{ ">leaderboard</td></tr><tr><td align="left" data-sheets-value="{ " height="32">Medium rectangle</td><td align="left" data-sheets-value="{ ">Main format</td><td align="left" data-sheets-value="{ ">rectangle</td><td align="left" data-sheets-value="{ ">rectangle</td></tr><tr><td align="left" data-sheets-value="{ " height="32">Large rectangle</td><td align="left" data-sheets-value="{ ">Sub format</td><td align="left" data-sheets-value="{ "> </td><td align="left" data-sheets-value="{ ">rectangle</td></tr></tbody></table>

21. Specify the **Type** of the format, such as a third-party URL or image, video, animated GIF, or text ad. As a format can take many forms, you can select more than one type.
22. (Optional) Enter a comment in the **Comment** field.
23. Click the *Save* button beneath the form to save your new format.

<p class="callout danger">You must save the main format again after creating a new subformat. For all existing main format positions, subformat positions will also be available on the booking screen.</p>

# Edit a format

To edit a format:

1. Go to the *Administration* screen. Click *Admin* in the left navigation menu.
2. Click *Formats*.
3. In the list of formats, click the format's name or click the edit icon [![afbeelding.png](https://documentation.adhese.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-06/scaled-1680-/bVIyxmJCeT34tq7o-afbeelding.png)](https://documentation.adhese.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-06/bVIyxmJCeT34tq7o-afbeelding.png) for the format you want to edit. The *Edit template* screen opens:  
    [![Schermafdruk van 2024-10-22 10-26-12.png](https://documentation.adhese.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-10/scaled-1680-/qedNbVz4tAkUWHQm-schermafdruk-van-2024-10-22-10-26-12.png)](https://documentation.adhese.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-10/qedNbVz4tAkUWHQm-schermafdruk-van-2024-10-22-10-26-12.png)
4. Change any of the format’s details.
5. Click *Save*.

# Stacked format

A *Stack* format sends a list of ads available to display for that position. The client (browser) decides which ad(s) to display. An example of a stacked format is a text link ad.

To create a stacked format, add a new format:

1. Click *Admin* in the left navigation menu. This opens the *Administration* screen.
2. Click *Formats*. The *Formats* screen opens:  
    [![Schermafdruk van 2024-10-21 13-51-38.png](https://documentation.adhese.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-10/scaled-1680-/nei7BiRgT8yMuXop-schermafdruk-van-2024-10-21-13-51-38.png)](https://documentation.adhese.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-10/nei7BiRgT8yMuXop-schermafdruk-van-2024-10-21-13-51-38.png)
3. Click the *Create a format* button. The *Create a new format* screen opens:  
    [![Schermafdruk van 2024-10-21 14-45-42.png](https://documentation.adhese.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-10/scaled-1680-/Gc6ShFAxvKgNSXnw-schermafdruk-van-2024-10-21-14-45-42.png)](https://documentation.adhese.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-10/Gc6ShFAxvKgNSXnw-schermafdruk-van-2024-10-21-14-45-42.png)
4. Define the following properties that are necessary for the correct implementation of a stacked format: 
    1. From the **Part-of** drop-down, select *Stack* to define the format as a stack format.
    2. Select the correct JSON template from the **Template file** drop-down. Do not select a template if you plan to use an [Advar template](https://documentation.adhese.org/books/inventory-setup/page/templates#bkmrk-advar-templates) to return a JSON object.
    3. Indicate the **Type** of the format, such as a third-party URL or image, video, animated GIF, or text ad.
5. Click the *Save* button beneath the form to save your new format.