Resetting Your Test Device's Advertising ID

If your mobile device has been previously used for Singular attribution testing or has the Singular Device Assist app installed, you must clear the device data before testing again. If this is your first time using the Singular Device Assist app, you can skip this step.

Steps to Clear Device Data:

1. Uninstall / delete the Singular Device Assist app from the device.

2. Reset your device's advertising identifier: 

   • For Apple Devices:
     • Open Settings > Privacy & Security
     • Select Tracking and toggle Allow Apps to Request to Track off and then back on. 
   • For Android Devices:
     • Open Settings > Google > Ads
     • Select Reset Advertising ID

Locating Your New Advertising ID

After resetting your device's advertising ID, you will need to find the new ID. You can use third-party apps, such as Singular's Device Assist testing app for iOS and Android, or check the device settings directly:

For Apple Devices:

• On recent iOS versions, the advertising ID (IDFA) can only be accessed through a third-party app.
• On older iOS versions, you can go to Settings > Privacy > Advertising to view the IDFA.

For Android Devices:

• Navigate to Settings > Google > Ads to find the AAID / AIFA (Android Advertising ID), also referred to as the GAID (Google Advertising ID).

Using the Singular Link (provided by Singular)

You should have received a tracking link from the Singular team, which looks similar to the example below.

Key Details About the Tracking Link:

• The link includes parameters such as "aifa", "idfa", "cl", and "pcid".
• Values within {curly braces} are macros - placeholders that the media partner replaces with actual values when serving the ad.

Important Reminder:

Ensure that you remove any macros from the tracking link that will not populate a value.

• If macros are sent in place of actual values, Singular will not log the click, resulting in no attribution. 

https://singularassist.sng.link/D59c0/tpa9&aifa={google_advertising_id}
&idfa={idfa}&cl={click_id}&pcid={campaign_id}&pcn={campaign_name}
&pshid={publisher_id}&psn={publisher_site_name}&psid={publisher_site_id}
&pcrid={creative_id}&pcrn={publisher_creative_name}

Attribution Testing Methods: Prepping the Tracking Link

Deterministic: Insert Advertising ID into Link

1. Replace the Advertising ID Placeholder:
   
   • For Apple Devices: replace the IDFA macro (e.g., {idfa}) with your device's actual IDFA. 
   • For Android Devices: replace the Android Advertising ID (e.g., {google_advertising_id}) with your device's actual AIFA.
2. Remove or Replace Other Placeholders:
   • Delete all unused placeholders unless they are mandatory for your postback URL.
   • For example, if your platform requires Click ID or Transaction ID, replace the corresponding parameter (e.g., cl) with a valid value.
3. Example of a Completed Link (for Android): 

https://singularassist.sng.link/D59c0/tpa9&aifa=0f9f9e46-df3b-
4012-8b1e-639ebc39a20f&idfa=&cl=123&pcid=&pcn=&pshid=&psn=&psid=
&pcrid=&pcrn=

Probabilistic: for channels when no advertising ID is available

1. Reset your Device's Attribution:
2. Follow the instructions for
   Resetting a Device and Clearing the Install Attribution
    to ensure your device is properly reset.
3. Modify the Tracking Link:
   • Copy the tracking link again, but remove all macro values, including the device ID. All macros should be left blank, like this example:

   • https://singularassist.sng.link/D59c0/tpa9?_smtype=3&aifa=
     
     &idfa=&cl=&pcid=&pcn=&pshid=&psn=&psid=&pcrid=&pcrn=

4. Send and Test the Link:
   • Send the modified tracking link to your mobile testing device.
   • Click the link from your device, then proceed with the same steps as in the previous test to verify the results. 

By following these steps, you can test the attribution process for channels where no advertising ID is available, relying on probabilistic attribution methods.

Triggering the Tracking Link

1. Send the tracking link to your testing device.
2. Open the link on the mobile device by clicking it.

Upon clicking the link, you will be redirected to either the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, depending on the device.

Installing, Opening and Testing the App

1. Download and Install the App
   • Go to the app store and download the Singular Device Assist app.
   • Install the app on your testing device.
2. Open the App
   • Open the app to trigger Singular's attribution process. The attribution process begins only when the app is opened.
3. Trigger Post-Install Events
   • Perform post-install actions within the app to test postbacks for those events.
   • When using a test link providing by Singular's integration team and the Singular Device Assist app, use the in-app buttons to trigger test events:
     • Copy IDFA/GAID
     • Share IDFA/GAID
     • Start Testing.
   • These actions will send test events via the test postback.
4. Expected Event Names in Postbacks:
   • For iOS:
     • "copy IDFA" and/or "share IDFA" (test events)
     • "start Testing" (test revenue event*)
   • For Android:
     • "Copy GAID" and/or "Share GAID" (test events)
     • "Start Testing" (test revenue event*)

*Revenue events require configuration in a postback to include a revenue amount. Ensure your postback template contains the macro {AMOUNT} or an equivalent from Singular's documentation to receive a revenue value in the postback. 

Verifying Attribution

To confirm that the install has been correctly attributed by Singular:

1. Share your AIFA (Android Advertising ID) or IDFA (Identifier for Advertisers) with the Singular integration engineer.
2. The Singular engineer will review the data and provide feedback, including the relevant test logs.

The process ensures the accuracy of the attribution setup.