This article describes the CSV file columns used when making changes with CSV files, and how to retain version history when making edits .
In order for Google Ads Editor to recognize CSV columns automatically, the headers must be in English. However, capitalization and spaces don't matter. For example, daily budget
is the same as dailybudget
, daily_budget
, DAILY BUDGET
, etc.
Leaving a field blank indicates that Google Ads Editor should not make any changes for that item. Entering a pair of square brackets []
indicates that Google Ads Editor should erase any values that already exist for that item.
CSV columns
The table below lists frequently used CSV column headers. Additional columns are required for certain items, like dynamic ad targets .
(and alternate headers)
Campaign name
Include one of the following values in the “Campaign type” column: Search, Search - Mobile app installs, Display, Display - Smart, Display - Mobile app installs, Display - Gmail, Shopping, Video, Video - Bumper ad, Video - Drive conversions, Video - Outstream, Universal app.
Note:Starting in July 2018, campaign names were modified for Search campaigns that included Display. For Search campaigns, you may see “Search” as the campaign type with the associated “Networks” field possibly including “Search Partners” or “Display Network,” depending on the options you choose.
If "Campaign type" isn't specified, "Networks" will be used to determine the campaign type.
Daily budget
Campaign budget
Budget
Language
Languages
ID
Geo ID
Geo target ID
Geo targeting
Bid modifier
Ad schedules
Ad schedule intervals
“Networks” is used to determine whether your campaign will appear on Google Search or also on Search Partners. Enter one or more of the following, separated by a semi-colon: Google Search; Search Partners; Search; Display; or Select
. Search and Search Partners campaign types include Google Search.
For video campaigns, you can enter one or more of the following: YouTube Search; YouTube Videos; or Video Partners.
Using the value "Search" will enable both Google Search and Search Partners. If “Campaign type” isn’t specified, “Networks” will be used to determine the campaign type.
Search and Search Partners campaign types include Google Search.
Ad group name
Max content CPC
Display max cpc
Display network cpc
Placements; Topics; Audiences; Genders; Ages; Parental status; Household income
. For example, enter Placements
to set placements as "Observation" for the ad group. To modify an existing ad group to use "Targeting" for all five types, enter []
(a pair of square brackets) in this column. Learn more about Display Network targeting
Display Network bid type
You can enter any of the following Display Network custom bid types
on the ad group row: Keywords, Placements, Topics, Audiences, Gender, Age, Parental status, Household income, None
.
Max CPC bid multiplier
Default max CPC multiplier
Default max CPC bid multiplier
Display network max CPC bid multiplier
Max content CPC multiplier
Max content CPC bid multiplier
Max CPM bid multiplier
Keyword text
Criterion type
Keyword type
Match type
Location type
- Enter a keyword match type, such as
Broad(Keyword rows only). - Enter
Negativeto indicate a negative item, such as a negative keyword or excluded location (keyword, placement, audience, dynamic ad target, gender, age, or location rows). - Enter
Campaign negativeto specify a campaign-level negative (keyword, placement, gender, age, or audience rows).
Bidding strategy type
Bidding type
Manual CPM
. Learn more
Bid strategy name
Bidding strategy name
Bidding strategy
Bidding name
Headline
Headline 1Headline 2
Long headline
Description line 1
Description
Description 1
Ad text line 1
Desc line 1
Description 2
Ad text line 2
Desc line 2
Image file name
Business image
Visible URL
Final URLs
[]
in a “Destination URL” column, which will remove the destination URL, and enter the new final URL in the “Final URL” column.)Final mobile URLs
Tracking URL
Path 2
Custom parameters
Format parameters in the following way (separated by spaces): {_param1}=value1 {_param2}=value2 {_param3}=value3
Note:Up to 8 parameters are supported.
All
or Mobile
on the same row as a sitelink or an ad (text, image, dynamic search, or display).YYYY-MM-DD
on a campaign row or a sitelink row. For campaigns only, the start date must be the current date or a future date (not a past date). The start date cannot be changed for a campaign that has already begun running. Enter empty brackets []
to specify no start date (for sitelinks) or today as the start date (for campaigns).YYYY-MM-DD
on a campaign row or a sitelink row, or enter empty brackets []
to specify no end date. The end date for a campaign or sitelink must be the same as or later than the start date.Enabled, Paused
, or Removed
. For new campaigns only, enter a status of Scratchpad to indicate a draft campaign.Enabled, Paused
, or Removed
.In a campaign running an experiment , ad group status can also be
Control only, Experiment only, Control and experiment
, or Experiment and control
.Enabled, Paused
, or Removed
. Use this column to change the status of keywords, placements, ads, etc. (Note that it isn't possible to pause negative items, such as negative keywords. Entering a status of Paused
for a negative item has no effect.)In a campaign running an experiment , you can enter the following values for keywords and ads:
Control only, Experiment only, Control and experiment, Experiment and control
.Audience name
Full interest category
18-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65 or more, Unknown
. Learn more about age targeting
Company name
Address
Address 1
Address 2
Region
Province
State/province
Phone
Ad phone number
Business phone
Country code
Country of phone
Phone country
Icon
Icon name
Asset source
Display contents
Display ad contents
Contents
Sitelink
Link text (upgraded)
Upgraded link text
Mobile, Desktop
, or All
. All sitelinks in a campaign or ad group must have the same platform targeting.Display contents
Contents
Bidding strategy name
Bidding strategy
Bidding strategy type
Bidding type
Campaign budget
Campaign Daily Budget
Daily budget
Call to action
Call to action text
Campaign
Campaign name
Campaign Priority
Shopping priority
Channel ID
Channel
YouTube channel ID
Channel Name
Channel
YouTube channel name
Companion banner
Image
Image file name
Country of phone
Country
Country of Sale
Country
Criterion Type
Type
Match type
Keyword type
- First page CPC
- Top of page CPC
- Quality Score
- Suggested changes
- Approval status
- Image size
- All performance statistics columns, such as impressions, clicks, and CTR
If any of the following values appear in the "Status" columns, Google Ads Editor treats them as synonyms for Enabled
: Active
, Inactive
, Disapproved
, Normal
, Pending
, Ended
.
Using CSV imports to make edits
For each imported row, Google Ads Editor automatically decides whether to edit an existing item or create a new one. The decision is based on the set of columns that are best suited for distinguishing items. For example, keywords are distinguished by their campaign, ad group, keyword text, and match type. If an item exists with the same values in these identifying columns, then the imported row is processed as an edit.
You can choose which columns should be used to identify an existing item. Under your settings or application preferences, you can choose to “Include original columns in CSV/ZIP exports.” When you export a CSV file with this setting, you'll see an identifying column named #Original that holds the existing value of a field. The identifying column without the suffix, meanwhile, can be used to apply new values to be processed. The #Original column, and the values it holds, will be retained as a previous version.
When enabled, CSV exports will automatically generate #Original columns that are populated with the original values last synced from your Google Ads account. Additionally, users can specify an #Original column for any attribute of an item. In each case, the #Original values will be used to decide whether an existing item in the account is a match for the imported row.
If an existing item isn’t found, the item will be created. ( Note: You’ll have an opportunity to review any changes before posting them). In the absence of any #Original columns, Google Ads Editor will continue to import CSV files as it has in the past.
Example
An advertiser has multiple campaigns for running gear. She wants to change the wording in her text ad headlines from “sneakers” to “running shoes” without losing the historical metrics for the ads. Simply importing the rows with the new headlines would create a new set of ads. Instead, she can export the existing ads and create a new column called “Headline#Original” where she uses the existing headlines, and write new headlines in the "Headline" column. Those two columns might look something like this:
| Headline#Original | Headline |
| Jogging sneakers Long distance sneakers Children’s sneakers |
Jogging running shoes Long distance running shoes Children’s running shoes |
Assuming there haven’t been any changes in the other identifying columns, the result will be that the 3 existing ads under the "Headline#Original" column will be edited with new headlines in the "Headline" column. Meanwhile, for ad types that support version history, you can see how your ads in the "Headline#Original" column performed.
