How do you code without messing up impressions?

[grnidone]

I have to revamp my entire layout to optimize the placement of my adsense ads. No big deal except that it is an old site done with tables, and I really don't want to put a lot of time into redoing the entire thing in CSS right at this moment.

My dev box has the same url name as my production box, and my ads are getting shown when I code, which is what I need since I need to figure out how to put everything in a table that is happy.

So I code, upload, reload, code upload reload to get the look right.

This is messing with my impression numbers, and, I assume is negatively affecting my statistics.

Is there another way to code around the adsense ads? Or do I just take the hit and deal with it later?

[sugarkane]

For development work you can use:

google_ad_client = "ca-test";

...in your adsense code block to get ads that don't count towards your stats

[grnidone]

Hmmm..now I'm only getting one ad block to show up.

[Jenstar]

If you change the publisher ID, it could take a couple days to show ads in the remaining spots.

What some people do for dev work is place an image the same size as the ad unit as a placeholder, then swap out the placeholder for the AdSense code at the end.

[seomike]

If you know your ad dimensions just make a spacer.gif that's black and use it to give you the birds eyeview you need.

Or do a screenshot of your adsense and crop it to the ad dimensions for a more real look.

[Mikkel deMib Svendsen]

I just use a screen dump for the add-formats I use. That works fine for 99% of development - then, when thats done, I switch and check things a last time. Usually works out pretty well

[grnidone]

Mikkel,

I don't understand what you mean by 'screen dump'. Probably just me not understanding the vocabulary you used for what you mean. Please explain.

Thanks

[Mikkel deMib Svendsen]

I just mean a image of the actual add formats and styles that I use - a dump of the screen

[gomer]

You could also try this.

Log in to your adsense account. In the process of getting code, there is a link which has "See Sample Layouts" or something to that effect. Just down load those gifs of the size you will be using - they are just the exact size you will see later. When you are done development, swap out the gif's with your real code.