Schedule a sync

If you add or change items directly in an engine, you'll need to synchronize (sync for short) those changes with DoubleClick Search (DS). The sync operation updates DS with a copy of all supported items that were created or updated in the engine.

While you can manually sync at any time, the best practice is to schedule a sync to run automatically on a regular basis, such as nightly. 

Note the following about scheduled syncs:

• The scheduled sync will run daily based on the time you enter, which is based on your browser’s time zone.

• The schedule should take effect immediately. For example, if it’s currently 9:00 AM and you schedule a sync for 9:30 AM, the first scheduled sync will run on that same day.

• If you set up a sync schedule, you can still manually sync the account at any time.

• DS will not sync objects with trafficking errors as a part of a scheduled sync. To clear these errors, you can run a manual sync with the Fix all trafficking errors check box selected.

• You can turn off the schedule at any time.

Schedule a sync

1. Navigate to the engine account.

   Steps for navigating to an engine account

   1. In the left navigation panel, click All accounts.
      What if the left navigation pane isn't visible?

   2. Click the navigation bar to display navigation options.

   3. In the Agency list, click on the agency that contains the advertiser. You can search for an agency by name or scroll through the list.

   4. In the Advertiser list, click on the advertiser that contains the engine account.

   5. In the Account list, click on the engine account.

   6. Click Apply or press the Enter key.

   DoubleClick Search displays the engine account page.

2. Click the account settings icon , which appears above the tabs.
   The settings panel for the engine account appears.

3. Under Sync details, change the value in the dropdown from Manual to Daily.

4. Select the time you want the sync to run every day.

   You can choose a time in half-hour increments from the time dropdown, or you can manually enter any hour:minute combination (for example, 7:32).

5. Click Save.

When DS starts the scheduled sync, a message appears above the reporting tables in DS. For example:
Sync progress: 80% complete

When the sync has finished successfully, the status message no longer appears above the reporting tables.

If you created new items that specify their own landing page URLs (for example if you created new keywords or AdWords sitelinks), DS copies the new items into DS and stores the landing page URL in each item's Landing page column.

For engines that don't support shared templates (because the engine account hasn't been migrated to Upgraded URLs), DS does the following after the sync completes:

1. Generates a clickserver URL for each item.
2. Retraffics the items and clickserver URLs back out to the engine. When you view the items in the engine you'll see the DS clickserver URL instead of the landing page URL you defined. Recall that DS keeps a copy of the original landing page URL in its Landing page column.

This applies to any item that defines its own landing page URL except ads. DS does not generate clickserver URLs for ads.

In engines, such as AdWords and Yahoo! Japan, that support shared templates (and have migrated to Upgraded URLs), DS generates and traffics a custom parameter for each new keyword and other trackable item. The custom parameter is used to create a unique clickserver URL for each keyword and other trackable item. Then the engine itself manages the process of assembling a URL for the item.

 

Please keep the following in mind

• The sync will not start until all pending operations have been trafficked or received an error. For example, if you just modified a campaign, DS will need to traffic the change to the engine or send an error before the sync can begin.

• The sync will skip:
  • Items that DS doesn't support (such as image ads).
  • Settings that DS doesn't understand (such as ad scheduling in AdWords).
  • Removed campaigns, ad groups, ads, keywords, and other items, including products that have been removed from shopping campaign feeds.

• The sync of a large account can last several minutes. Smaller accounts should sync more quickly.

• Sync imports some types of data more quickly than other types of data. That is, it may take several hours before metrics reported in DoubleClick Search more accurately reflect the metrics reported in the engine.

• The initial sync imports up to the last 30 days of data.

• Closing the browser window will not affect the sync.

• If you sync an account that has some ad copy under editorial review, DS will import the updated ad copy that has not yet been approved.

• You can't select specific parts of the engine account to sync.

• Have more questions? See What happens when I run a sync?

In addition:

• If you create keywords directly in the engine without specifying landing page URLs, during sync DoubleClick Search (DS) does the following depending on the type of engine account:

  • Baidu: If you didn't specify a landing page URL for mobile devices, DS uses the keyword's non-mobile URL. If you didn't specify a non-mobile URL for the keyword,  DS copies a random landing page URL from an active ad in the ad group and adds it to the keyword.
  • All other engine accounts: DS copies a random landing page URL from an active ad in the ad group and adds it to the keywords.

  If you want specific landing pages for your keywords, specify the landing page URLs before running a sync.
   

Stop scheduled syncs

1. Navigate to the engine account.

   Steps for navigating to an engine account

   1. In the left navigation panel, click All accounts.
      What if the left navigation pane isn't visible?

   2. Click the navigation bar to display navigation options.

   3. In the Agency list, click on the agency that contains the advertiser. You can search for an agency by name or scroll through the list.

   4. In the Advertiser list, click on the advertiser that contains the engine account.

   5. In the Account list, click on the engine account.

   6. Click Apply or press the Enter key.

   DoubleClick Search displays the engine account page.

2. Click the account settings icon , which appears above the tabs.
   The settings panel for the engine account appears.

3. Under Sync details, change the value in the dropdown from Daily to Manual.

4. Click Save.