What to run
Open Google Ads Editor CSV Validator and drop your prepared CSV or TSV spreadsheet. Everything is processed 100% locally in your web browser—your campaign structures, keywords, and copy never leave your machine.
The validator immediately parses your header row against Google's official canonical schemas, detects entity levels across every row, and inspects field constraints such as match types, bid values, and Responsive Search Ad (RSA) character limits.
If your spreadsheet was generated by an LLM (like Claude or ChatGPT), review the suggested column header mappings. Models frequently hallucinate web UI labels such as 'Campaign Name' instead of 'Campaign' or 'Match Type' instead of 'Criterion Type'.
Campaign,Ad Group,Keyword,Criterion Type,Max CPC
Search - Brand,Brand Exact,acme running shoes,Exact,1.50
Search - Brand,Brand Phrase,"running shoes",Phrase,1.20How to read the diagnostic report
Address blocking errors first. A missing 'Campaign' parent column or empty 'Final URL' on Responsive Search Ads will trigger hard import failures in Google Ads Editor.
Pay close attention to 'Ambiguous row type' warnings. Google Ads Editor throws this error whenever a row has data but lacks defining columns (such as Keyword text or RSA Headlines) needed to identify what entity to create.
Check Responsive Search Ad copy lengths. Google strictly enforces a maximum of 30 characters for headlines and 90 characters for descriptions. Overlength copy must be trimmed before Editor will create the ads.
| What you see | Why it occurs | How to fix |
|---|---|---|
| Ambiguous row type | Row contains values but lacks identifying entity columns (Keyword, Headlines, etc.) | Ensure the row contains required entity fields or remove orphaned data cells. |
| Invalid column header | Header name is not in Google Ads Editor's canonical schema (e.g., 'Match Type') | Rename to Google's official header (e.g., 'Criterion Type') or use the Remap button. |
| Missing parent Campaign | A keyword, ad group, or ad row has an empty Campaign cell | Populate the Campaign column on every child row to maintain hierarchy. |
| Headline exceeds 30 characters | An RSA headline exceeds the 30-character limit | Shorten the copy or check Dynamic Keyword Insertion default values. |
| Match type conflict | Keyword text has quotes or brackets while Criterion Type specifies a different match | Use either plain text with Criterion Type or syntax wrappers consistently. |
Next steps and export
Once you review the diagnostics, click 'Download Remapped Clean CSV' to export a spreadsheet with all unrecognized column headers automatically replaced with official Google Ads Editor headers.
You can also download the 'Issues Audit CSV' to share with copywriters or agency clients detailing exactly which rows exceeded character limits or required revisions.
Open Google Ads Editor, navigate to 'Account' > 'Import' > 'From CSV...', and select your clean file. Editor will import all entities cleanly without unrecognized header prompts.
Stop when
Stop when all critical errors are resolved, all column headers match official Editor conventions, and all RSA copy fits within headline and description boundaries.
Remember that passing preflight validation does not guarantee live ad approvals. Google Ads Editor still applies policy checks, trademark reviews, and billing verification when you post changes to your live Google Ads account.
References
Use the linked specifications and product documentation to check behavior in your own environment.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I import CSV files directly into Google Ads Editor?
Yes. In Google Ads Editor, select Account > Import > From CSV... or paste CSV data directly from your clipboard.
Why does Google Ads Editor require 'Criterion Type' instead of 'Match Type'?
While the web interface calls it 'Match Type', Google Ads Editor's underlying database schema uses 'Criterion Type' with values Broad, Phrase, or Exact.
Are blank cells interpreted as deleting fields?
In Google Ads Editor, blank cells in bulk CSVs are generally treated as 'no change'. To explicitly clear an existing value on an existing record, Google Ads Editor requires square brackets '[]' in the cell.