Microsoft Rich Media Phases
One of the main requirements for a Flash ad to correctly integrate with Microsoft Rich Media is the inclusion of “Phases” in the Flash file, which identifies what state the ad is in. These phases can serve several purposes, which include correct display of the ad on a publisher page, allowing expansion on a publisher page, allowing attachment of a survey vendor code, and correct tracking of Average Interaction time (which is the amount of time an ad is in Expand phase).
Phase Labels By Ad Type
Expanding Toplayer Banner Phase Labels
1.) banner (required – should be present when ad is in collapsed state)
2.) expand (required if ad is expanding and should be present when ad goes to expanded state – This counts interaction time, average expansions and also allows the expanded portion of the ad to cover elements correctly on the publisher page).
Floating Banner Phase Labels
1.) teaser (required – generally in the ad’s intro state)
2.) reminder (optional)
3.) main (optional)
Phases can be added in two ways:
- The most common way is using a phase label. These are implemented in Flash as frame labels on the parent movie’s main timeline. When the playhead hits a phase frame label, it tells the ad to go into the corresponding phase.
For example, an expanding ad would start in banner phase, go to expand phase when expanded, and then back to banner phase when collapsed. It should hit the phases in the Flash file each time.
- If the ad isn’t timeline based and frame labels can’t be used, Microsoft Rich Media phases can be set by phase actions.
Expanding Banner Phase Actions
1.) _root.conduit.banner(); // Sets Ad to banner phase
2.) _root.conduit.expand(); // Sets Ad to expand phase
Floating Banner Phase Actions
1.) _root.conduit.teaser(); // Sets Ad to teaser phase
2.) _root.conduit.reminder(); // Sets Ad to reminder phase
3.) _root.conduit.main(); // Sets Ad to main phase
All ads must contain a minimum of at least one appropriate phase! (banner phase for most ads)
