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How-to PublisherNetwork

Send a test postback

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Open a saved postback and choose Send test postback. We send one sample conversion to that row’s URL, signed and built the same way a real one is, with test=true added. You see at once whether your server accepted it.

See also: Signed postbacks

On this page

Before you start

  • A postback secret. Publishers can’t send a test without one, for the same reason real postbacks aren’t sent without one.
  • A saved row. The test uses what’s saved, so save your changes first.
  • A public address. Tests to localhost, a private network address or anything else we can’t reach from the internet are refused. Use a tunnel or a staging server.

Steps for publishers

  1. Postbacks, then Edit

    Open Postbacks, find the row on the Conversions or Events tab and choose Edit.

  2. Send test postback

    Choose Send test postback. It works on Inactive rows too, so you can test a URL before you switch it on.

  3. Read the answer

    A message says your endpoint accepted the test, with the HTTP status it answered. If it says your endpoint answered with an error status, such as 500, the request reached your server and your code refused it: check your logs.

  4. Check it worked

    Your server logged one request with test=true, the verifier passed and no user was credited.

What the test sends

Every test carries these values:

ParameterTest value
action_idtest_ followed by a random ID
sub_idtest_user_123
offer_idThe row’s offer, or aff_test_offer on a global row
statuscompleted
payout1, a sample. Nothing is credited from it
conversion_nameOn a specific row, a real step of its offer: the last step for a Conversion row, the chosen event for an Event row or the first step for Any event; the offer’s title when it lists no steps. On a global row, Install
goal_idThat step’s goal ID, when it has one
is_offer_completetrue on a Conversion row, false on an Event row
testtrue
verifierSigned with your current secret

Macros in your URL are filled in from these values, exactly as on a live postback.

What a passing test doesn’t prove

  • That live conversions use this row. A real conversion goes to the one row that applies to it, which may be another row. See which postback fires.
  • That the row is on. Inactive rows pass tests and still receive nothing live.
  • That you credit correctly. The test is always completed with a sample payout. Check how you handle reversed and user_payout against the parameter reference.

Steps for networks

  1. Workspace settings, then Test Postback

    Under Postback Configuration, save a Postback URL first; Test Postback works once one is saved. It sends action_id=test_…, sub_id=test_user_123, offer_id=test_offer_123, status=completed, payout=1.00, the current time as clicktimestamp and test=true, signed if you have a Webhook Secret.

  2. Check it worked

    The page says the test was sent, or shows the error your URL returned. A pass shows your URL answers; live postbacks follow the rules in which postback fires.

If the test fails

What you seeWhat it meansWhat to do
No postback signing key yetYour account has no postback secretCreate one under Postbacks
“Test postbacks can only be sent to a publicly reachable http(s) address.”The URL points somewhere we can’t reachUse a public HTTPS address
Your endpoint answered 401Your signature check refused itSee Verify a signed postback with HMAC-SHA256
Your endpoint answered 404 or 500Your server got it and failedCheck the path and your server log
A timeout or connection errorNothing answeredCheck DNS, firewall and that the server is up

Support

Still stuck? Write to us.

One address for every question: hello@affiliateos.ai. Put the details from this list in your first message so we can find the click or conversion without asking you for them again.

Put these in your message

  1. 01The email you sign in with
  2. 02Your role: publisher, advertiser or network
  3. 03The offer ID
  4. 04The click ID or action_id
  5. 05The time it happened, with your time zone
  6. 06What you expected to happen

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