Purpose
This article provides tips and explanations about spot files, including locating blanks, upload errors, and data not being visible.
How long will my file take to process?
The process time depends on three factors:
- The size of the spot file
- The date range covered by the spot file
- The amount of response data within the date range
In general, the more spots and responses across a longer date, the longer the file will take to process. We encourage small files to be uploaded consistently rather than large files covering an expansive date range.
Why is my file upload slow to process?
If your file takes longer than usual to load, check the size and date range of the file you are trying to upload.
For example, if you regularly upload a week's worth of data, and it typically takes an hour, and this time, the file contains three months of data, it will take a little longer to process. The platform is used to a different uploading pattern and needs to be adjusted.
If the file you try to upload follows your normal pattern, it may be a data processing issue. Our experts are constantly monitoring this and will contact your Account Manager.
If the problem persists, contact your Account Manager or email support-xp@innovid.com.
How do I check if my spot file has been uploaded successfully?
When the modeling is complete, an email is sent to your account email address with a summary and status confirmation for the completed modeling:
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Green: Success - your spot data has been added to the model successfully
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Amber: Caution - your spot data has been added, but one or more assumptions had to be made on your data, for example, by overwriting duplicate spots
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Red: Failed - your file could not be loaded, for example, due to bad formatting or missing data
If your spot data file was successfully added and the email summary matches your expectations, you can also check the data in InnovidXP:
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Select Data > Spots > Raw Breakdown and ensure the spot data displayed is correct. If relevant, you can select a different value in the Spot metric dropdown to view and confirm, for example, the cost or audience of each spot.
- Navigating to Data > Spots > Upload File allows you to view the status of the uploaded spot files within the In Progress and Processed tabs.
How do I locate blanks in a spot file?
You might be alerted to blanks in your spot file, either via email or in InnovidXP.
When checking any file for blanks or any other data issues, you should apply a filter to all columns and check to see if you can isolate the blanks in the required fields.
When you select the blanks option in the field, it will return all rows where that field contains blanks. If the blank is part of the data you want to upload, you can fill in the blanks or remove the row completely.
Sometimes, files have blank rows at the end of the data that are different from having empty rows. You can solve this by selecting the rows from the end of the data to the end of the file and deleting them. Check that no more blanks remain by using the filter, and if they don’t, then you are good to go.
How do I fix spot upload errors?
If your spot file upload has errors, or you have uploaded the wrong file, check here for how to fix.
Incorrect file upload
Sometimes, an incorrect spot file will be uploaded by mistake. If this happens, there are two ways to fix it:
- The correct spot file can be re-uploaded. This will overwrite the corresponding date range of the existing spot file with that of the re-uploaded spot file.
- Contact your InnovidXP representative or the Support team. They can help by purging the data.
Note: Uploaded spot files with the same or overlapping date ranges will always overwrite the existing date range within the platform. If you have multiple spot sources with the same date range, you can upload them using different data groups. This lets you see the separate data sources and prevents overwriting. To create data groups, contact your InnovidXP representative or the Support team, as this option is not available by default.
Failed file upload
You can view the status of your spot upload by navigating to Data > Spots > Upload File > Processed. The Processed page shows uploads in the last 14 days.
If a file has failed to upload, it is listed in the Failed Uploads section. Select the file to view the reasons.
The following table lists the possible reasons and what you can do to fix the file. Once you have fixed the errors, you can try uploading the file again.
| Error | Definition | Fix |
| Phone number starts with illegal characters. | Invalid phone number format. | Ensure phone numbers are valid (e.g., 917-499-0998). |
| The {columnName} column is invalid. | Invalid spot feed column name. | Ensure the spot feed column name is one of the following accepted values: "Single", "Dual", "Triple", "Quad", or the entry must be empty. |
| The {columnName} was missing from a spot | The spot channel is missing. | Ensure the spot channel is provided for all entries. |
| The date and time were missing from a spot. | The spot date and time field is blank. | Ensure the date and time are provided for all entries. |
| No match for {rawValue} | There is a matching issue with the values in the Market column. |
Ensure all market values are valid. To view our list of accepted market aliases, click the Download Accepted Market Aliases link. See What is an invalid market error? below. |
| Spot was not broadcast | A spot was marked as not broadcast. | Include only spots that were broadcast. |
| Spot was out of scope | A spot was determined to be out of scope for attribution (e.g., we received a Canadian spot for a US-only client). | Include only spots that are in scope for attribution. |
Why have my spots been overwritten?
When you upload a spot file, any spot data already in the system for the date range in the file will be overwritten. This ensures you always have the most recent data in the portal.
This business rule is especially helpful when you upload pre-logs and post-logs once your campaign is done.
If you have multiple source files for your spot data, you will need to consolidate these into a single file for upload. You will then be able to upload the file.
Why is no data visible on the platform?
If you are unable to view any data, try the following:
- Make sure you are looking at the correct date range. You can adjust the date using the Date Selector at the top right of the screen:
- Make sure you have permissions for the correct data group.
Why am I missing some data fields?
You might notice that not all the fields in your file are accessible in the platform. This is due to the mapping process that takes place when you upload a file. Ensure you have mapped all the fields you need and follow the process to have access to all the data you require.
If you have already re-uploaded a file and cannot see the data you wish to see, re-upload the file with the correct mapping. The file will overwrite the old one, and you will be able to view the data in those fields you hadn't mapped before.
What is an invalid market error?
If an "invalid market" error message is displayed within the spot upload section of the platform, one of the markets listed in your spot file has an unknown name that our system does not recognize.
To view our list of accepted market aliases, click the Download Accepted Market Aliases link. You will be able to see all the different name conventions our system uses for the various markets. You can find the link here:
Data > Spot > Upload File > New Upload > Download Accepted Market Aliases
How does InnovidXP deal with overlapping spots?
We use audience numbers to weight response spikes appropriately. For example:
"Spot A" airs at 9.00 AM with 100,000 viewers and "Spot B" at 9.01 AM with 50,000 viewers. This results in only ONE spike in traffic. Spot A gets double the amount of response than Spot B.
This is apportioned evenly, based on audience.
| Spot | Time | Viewers | Response percentage |
| Spot A | 09:00 | 100000 | 66.67% |
| Spot B | 09:01 | 50000 | 33.33% |
How does InnovidXP deal with zero-rated spots?
InnovidXP ensures that zero-rated spots DO get attributed, and we calibrate to ensure they get attributed appropriately.
We know that even when a spot is zero-rated, i.e., a spot with no audience, people have still watched it, despite this not being captured. So, during our calibration process, we make sure that zero-rated spots get some attribution by giving them an average number based on audience figures.
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