SIMID validation rules
These rules cover the <InteractiveCreativeFile> element and related SIMID usage in VAST 4.x documents. SIMID (Secure Interactive Media Interface Definition) is the IAB Tech Lab standard that replaced VPAID for interactive video ad creatives. See the SIMID explained page for a full spec overview. This catalog is the XML envelope. It does not GET the creative HTML or run createSession. When the XML is clean and the player still fails, use the VAST tester.
There are 13 rules across 2 categories. Click any rule for the full explanation, spec reference, and a before/after code example.
Linear
SIMID-1.0-simid-type-required
<InteractiveCreativeFile apiFramework="SIMID"> must have type="text/html"
SIMID-1.0-simid-url-empty
<InteractiveCreativeFile apiFramework="SIMID"> must contain a non-empty URL
SIMID-1.0-simid-url-https
<InteractiveCreativeFile apiFramework="SIMID"> URL must use HTTPS
SIMID-1.0-simid-url-data-html
SIMID data: URI must declare text/html
SIMID-1.0-simid-apiframework-case
apiFramework must be exactly "SIMID" (case-sensitive per SIMID §5)
SIMID-1.0-simid-variable-duration-value
variableDuration must be "true" when present on a SIMID InteractiveCreativeFile
SIMID-1.0-simid-mediafile-required
Linear SIMID ad must include a video/audio <MediaFile> alongside the interactive creative
SIMID-1.0-simid-interactive-start
Linear SIMID creative on VAST 4.2+ should include an interactiveStart tracking event
SIMID-1.0-simid-ssai-no-client
Linear SIMID creative with a Mezzanine but no progressive MediaFile cannot run in SSAI
Nonlinear
SIMID-1.1-nonlinear-simid-no-iframe
<NonLinear apiFramework="SIMID"> must contain an <IFrameResource>
SIMID-1.1-iframe-simid-type-required
<IFrameResource> in SIMID <NonLinear> should have type="text/html"
SIMID-1.1-iframe-simid-url-empty
<IFrameResource> in SIMID <NonLinear> must contain a non-empty URL
SIMID-1.1-iframe-simid-url-https
<IFrameResource> in SIMID <NonLinear> URL must use HTTPS