How to Load Google Publisher Tag (GPT) Scripts from Staging to Production

Introduction

When managing ads on your website, it's crucial to ensure that your Google Publisher Tag (GPT) scripts work flawlessly. However, testing in a staging environment can sometimes produce different results than in production. To bridge this gap, you can load GPT scripts directly from staging in a production environment using Requestly. This allows you to test staging configurations in a live setting without altering your production code.

In this post, I’ll guide you through the process of configuring Requestly to load GPT scripts from staging to production.

Why Use Requestly?

Requestly is a powerful browser extension that lets you modify, redirect, and insert scripts into HTTP requests and responses. It’s a valuable tool for testing, debugging, and ensuring consistency across different environments. By using Requestly to load GPT scripts from staging on your production site, you can test configurations in real time, ensuring they perform as expected before full deployment.

Setting Up GPT Script Loading from Staging to Production with Requestly

1. Install Requestly

Start by installing the Requestly extension from the Chrome Web Store or Requestly’s official website. After installation, the Requestly icon will appear in your browser.

2. Set Up a Redirect Rule

The Redirect Rule in Requestly allows you to direct requests from production URLs to their staging counterparts. This feature is particularly useful for loading GPT scripts from staging in a production environment to verify functionality before making them live.

Here’s how to set up a redirect rule for GPT scripts:

1. Open Requestly: Click on the Requestly icon in your browser.
2. Create a New Rule: Click on 'New Rule' and choose 'Redirect Rule.'
3. Enter the Production URL Pattern: Add the URL pattern for the GPT scripts used in your production environment. This pattern will be used to identify the requests that need to be redirected.
4. Specify the Staging URL: Enter the staging URL where your GPT scripts are hosted. This URL will be used as the redirect destination.
   • Example Production URL: https://example.com/gpt.js
   • Example Staging URL: https://staging.example.com/gpt.js
5. Save the Rule: Click ‘Save’ to create the rule. Ensure the rule is activated by toggling the switch to the 'On' position.

Conclusion

Using Requestly to load GPT scripts from staging to production is a smart way to test your ad configurations in a live environment without impacting your production setup. This method allows you to ensure everything works as expected before fully deploying the scripts, reducing the risk of errors and ensuring a seamless user experience.

Explore More:

• What is Prebid.js & How to Debug It Using Requestly!
• List of Essential DevTools for Prebid.js
• How to Redirect Prebid API Calls to Staging Server for Testing