FAQs
Note: Starting January 10, the proposal file you receive from planners may contain additional columns located between the Inventory Type and monthly unit distribution columns. These columns are agency-specific attributes and may be required. If you have questions about these columns, contact the planner at the agency.
Opening proposal files
- When I click the proposal file link in the email, I get the message "The proposal is no longer valid."
This message indicates that the RFP has expired because the proposal was not submitted by the expiration date indicated in the email from the planner.
When you receive this message, contact the planner at the agency and ask for a new RFP.
- Why does a message about macros appear when I open the proposal file?
A macro automatically converts the proposal file to a format that can be submitted and imported into iDesk so you don't have to convert it manually.
If you receive a message prompting you to enable or disable macros, click Enable Macros.
If you receive a message informing you that macros have been disabled because the Excel macro security setting is set to High, you can enable them. For the procedure, click the link for your version of Excel.
Note: If your computer's security settings prevent you from enabling macros or if you use a Mac, follow this procedure for submitting the proposal.
- How do I enable macros?
A macro automatically converts the proposal file to a format that can be submitted and imported into iDesk so you don't have to convert it manually. For the procedure to enable macros, click the link for your version of Excel.
Note: If your computer's security settings prevent you from enabling macros or if you use a Mac, follow this procedure for submitting the proposal.
- How do I prevent proposal files from opening in Protected View?
Follow this procedure to add a trusted location in which to store proposal files from DDS. When you open an Excel file from a folder you designate as a trusted location, you can immediately modify the file (i.e., it is not opened in Protected View), and macros are enabled automatically.
Adding placements
- How do I add placements?
To add placements, choose values from the drop-down lists and enter values in each cell. For examples of the different types of placements you can add, see iDesk RFP tool: adding placements [PDF].
- How do I add a group buy (package or roadblock)?
A group buy is made up of two types of rows: a header row and a placement row. For examples of the two types of group buys you can create (packages and roadblocks), see iDesk RFP tool: adding placements [PDF].
- How do I add a custom dimension/positioning for a placement?
You can add a placement that does not conform to one of the IAB standard unit dimensions available in the Unit Dimensions list.
To add a custom dimension, complete the following steps.
- From the Type list, choose Display.
- In the Unit Dimensions cell, type the custom dimension.
- In the Positioning cell, enter a description.
The description in the Positioning cell must be unique. It cannot be the same as one defined by the IAB.
- Can I submit multiple budgets on one proposal, one on each tab?
No. iDesk supports only one budget per proposal file. For each budget, you must complete a separate proposal file. Contact the agency and ask for more than one RFP if you have multiple budgets.
- Can I customize the proposal file by adding my own columns or tabs?
No. You cannot add additional tabs or columns to the proposal file.
To submit multiple budgets, complete a separate proposal for each budget. Contact the agency and ask for more than one RFP.
To communicate additional information to the agency, use the Comments column.
- Why is the Planned Unit Amount cell highlighted in yellow?
The yellow highlight indicates that the monthly unit distribution total does not match the value in the Planned Unit Amount cell. This includes when no values have been entered for each month.
The monthly unit distribution is entered in the Flighting Information section (located all the way to the right in the file) of the proposal, as shown in the following example.
If submitting the proposal for the first time, you do not have to manually enter a distribution for each month. Because these values are calculated automatically when you submit the proposal to iDesk, you can ignore the yellow highlight.
If submitting an optimized proposal, DDS recommends that you clear the unit distribution for each month so the values are automatically calculated when you submit the proposal to iDesk. You can also revise the unit distributions so they total the Planned Unit Amount value.
- Can I copy placements from my inventory management system and paste them in the proposal file?
Yes. To do so, complete the following steps.
- Export placements to Excel from your inventory management system (e.g., Solbright, Operative).
- In the Excel spreadsheet, rearrange the columns to match the column layout in the proposal file.
- Highlight the placements you want to copy.
- In the proposal file, place your cursor in a blank cell in column D (Site Name).
- On the File menu, click Paste Special.
- In the Paste Special dialog that appears, click Values and then click OK.
- The value in the Planned Cost column does not automatically calculate, what do I do?
If you are working in the proposal file in the browser window, the planned cost is not automatically calculated. To prevent this issue from occurring, make sure you download the proposal file to your computer before you start working on it.
Changing/removing placements
- How do I change a placement on a request for an optimized proposal?
You can change any value for existing placements except the values in the ID column.
If you need to change flight dates, note the following:
- You can change the date in the Flight Start cell to a past or future date as long as the original start date has not passed. If the original start date has passed, you cannot change the date.
- You can change the date in the Flight End cell to today's date or a future date as long as the original end date has not passed. If the original end date has passed, you cannot change it to an earlier date.
If you change the Planned Unit Amount, Flight Start or Flight End values, you must manage the monthly unit distribution in one of the following ways:
- Clear the unit distribution for each month. These values are automatically calculated at the time you submit the proposal to iDesk.
- Enter a unit distribution for each month to total the Planned Unit Amount value.
- How do I remove a placement on a request for an optimized proposal?
To remove a placement, do not delete the placement row. Instead, for each placement you want to delete, complete the following steps.
- Change the value in the Unit Rate cell to zero.
- Change the value in the Planned Unit Amount cell to zero.
- Change the value in the Flight End cell to today's date.
- Clear the unit distribution for each month (in the Flighting Information section).
Optionally, you can add a comment in the Comments cell informing the agency that you removed the placement.
When you receive the IO from the agency, confirm that the placement is not on the IO.
Submitting proposal files
- How do I submit a proposal without enabling macros?
If your computer's security settings prevent you from running macros or if you use a Mac, complete one of the following procedures for submitting the proposal to iDesk. Click the link for your type of computer.
- When I submit the proposal, I get the message "The proposal is no longer valid."
This message indicates that the RFP has expired because the proposal was not submitted by the expiration date indicated in the email from the agency.
If you receive this message, contact the agency and ask for a new RFP to be sent to you.
Common validation errors
The following are common validation errors that can occur when you click the Validate File button on the Validate Proposal File Before Submitting to iDesk page.
- "File can't be read in its current format"
You may receive this message for one of two reasons.
File you are validating is not in the correct format
Check to make sure the path to the correct file has been entered in the File for Validation field.
Click Browse to navigate to the file saved on your computer, or copy and paste into this field the location displayed at the top of the page, as shown in the following example.
Proposal has been modified
If the path to the file is correct, you may have modified the file by adding a new tab, formula, or column.
If you modified the proposal in one of these ways, you will have to complete a new proposal. Contact the agency and ask for a new RFP to be sent to you.
- Package without placements
You may receive this message if you added a header row for a package or roadblock, but did not add any placements.
To resolve, open the proposal file and confirm that for each row with a Type of Package or Roadblock that there is at least one associated placement. To associate a placement with a package or roadblock, make sure that the value in the Package Name cell is exactly the same for the header row as well as the placement row.
For examples of a package and roadblock, see iDesk RFP tool: adding placements [PDF].
- Flight date errors
You may receive errors about dates that fall out of the campaign/estimate date range.
To resolve, open the proposal file and check the following for the indicated placements.
Is the start date before the end date?
Make sure the dates in the Flight Start and Flight End cells are in order (i.e., the start date comes before the end date).
Do the dates fall completely within the campaign dates?
Compare the dates in the Flight Start and Flight End cells to the campaign dates, located in the Campaign Information box in the top-left corner of the proposal file.
The flight start and end dates should either match the campaign dates or fall completely within the campaign date range, as shown in the following example.
- "Invalid value entered in either the cost or unit rate field. Please use the proper format."
The Unit Rate and Planned Cost cells must contain a value from 0.00 to 999999999999.99.
You may receive this error if you use a Mac computer, and entered a placement with a Cost Method of Free. For these placements, make sure you manually enter 0.00 in both the Unit Rate and Planned Cost cells.