An ad link template sets rules for the settings teammates fill in when they create ad links, so links for the same campaign or partner stay consistent. Branch checks each ad link against its template whenever someone saves the link.

Templates aren't tied to one ad partner. Each template sets which partners it's for, and you manage them all in one place, under Configuration > Integrations > Ad partners in Branch. To create an ad link from a template, see Create an ad link from a template.

Before you begin

To create, edit, or archive templates, you first need to:

• Have View access to Channel level settings.
• Have Edit access to Link level settings.
• Have Edit access to Link template settings.

An admin can grant these on the Team page.

How template rules work

For most settings in a template, you choose a rule under Value Type. The rule controls what teammates can do with that setting in the ad link form.

Rule	In the ad link form
Any	Teammates can enter any value.
Suggestions	Teammates see the values you list. They can pick one or enter their own.
Choose	Teammates can pick only from the values you list.
Fixed	The form fills in the value you set, and teammates can't change it.
Disabled	Teammates can't fill in this setting. Available for analytics tags and link data only.

Analytics tags and link data also have a Required switch. Turn it on to make teammates fill in the setting. Choose the rule first, because changing the rule turns Required off again. With Fixed, Required turns on and stays on.

Link Type, Website placement type, OS Type, and Household Measurement work more simply. You pick one value to set it on every link, or Either to let teammates choose.

Create a template

You build a template on the Define, Analytics Tags, Redirects, and Link Data tabs. The Template Summary panel on the right shows each rule as you set it. Select any item in the panel to go to that setting.

1. Go to Configuration > Integrations > Ad partners in Branch.
2. Select Ad link templates. The Ad Link Templates page opens.
3. Select Create template. The Create Ad Link Template page opens.
4. Enter a Template Name.
5. (Optional) Enter a Template Description to help teammates pick the right template.
6. (Optional) Choose which partners can use the template under Ad Partner. It starts at Any, which offers the template for every partner.
7. (Optional) Set the other settings on each tab. See Template settings.
8. Select Create Template.

The template appears on the Ad Link Templates page. Teammates can choose it when they create ad links for the partners it allows.

Template settings

Each part of this section lists a tab's settings in the order they appear in the form.

Define

The Define tab names the template, sets which partners it's for, and sets the kind of ad link it makes.

Setting	What it does
Template Name	Required. Up to 200 characters, and different from the names of your other ad link templates, including archived ones.
Template Description	Optional. Up to 512 characters. Helps teammates pick the right template.
Ad Partner	Sets which partners can use the template. Any offers it for every partner. Fixed limits it to one partner, and Choose limits it to the partners you list. Only partners enabled for your app appear.
Link Type	App, Website, or Either. Starts at Either.
Website placement type	Search, Display, or Either. Starts at Either. Appears when Link Type is Website or Either.
OS Type	iOS, Android, or Either. Starts at Either. Applies only to partners that use different tracking URLs for iOS and Android.
Household Measurement	Sets whether links connect conversions across the devices in a household. True, False, or Either. Appears only if your account includes household measurement.

Templates don't control Link Title or Web URL. Teammates always fill those in themselves.

Analytics tags

Channel (utm_source), Campaign (utm_campaign), and Tags (utm_tags) each take a rule and a Required switch. All five rules are available, including Disabled.

Redirects

iOS, Android, and Desktop each get their own redirect rule. Each starts at Default, which uses the redirect from your App Settings and doesn't let teammates change it. To set a different redirect, or to let teammates choose one, pick another Redirect Type.

Redirect Type	What it means
Any	Teammates choose the redirect when they create an ad link.
Default	Links use the redirect from your App Settings.
Web URL	Links open a web page. You then set a rule for the address.
Deepview	Links open a Deepview, which is a Branch-hosted web page that previews the app content behind the link. You then set a rule for which Deepview they open.

Link data

Link data in a template adds key-value pairs to every ad link made from it. The tab starts with one empty field. Enter a Key and set a rule for its value, then select Add field for each extra pair. Each key can appear only once. Keys that Branch reserves, such as ~campaign and $ios_url, aren't allowed. If you turn on Required, teammates can't remove that key from links made from the template. Teammates can also add their own keys to those links.

Edit a template

The Ad Link Templates page lists your templates, newest first. To find one, search by name or description.

1. Go to Configuration > Integrations > Ad partners in Branch.
2. Select Ad link templates.
3. Select the three-dot icon on the template's row.
4. Select Edit. The Edit Ad Link Template page opens.
5. Make your changes.
6. Select Save Template.

Your changes apply to new ad links. Existing links keep their settings until someone edits one. The edit form then applies the template's current rules, so it fills in any new fixed values and clears settings the template now disables. If the link still doesn't follow the rules, Branch won't save the change.

Archive a template

Archive a template when teammates should stop using it. Branch removes it from the Ad Link Templates page and from Create Link Via Template in the ad link form.

You can't restore an archived template in Branch. Ad links made from it keep working, but Branch won't save changes to them. To change one of those links, create a new ad link and replace the old link's tracking URLs in your campaign.

1. Go to Configuration > Integrations > Ad partners in Branch.
2. Select Ad link templates.
3. Select the three-dot icon on the template's row.
4. Select Archive.
5. Select Confirm Archive.