Generate Forecast Metrics

Forecast metrics provide metrics for proposed or existing campaigns, including:

  • Impressions
  • Click through rate
  • Average cost per click
  • Clicks
  • Cost

Experiment with different campaign configurations to optimize each of these metrics. Data such as historical quality score and click through rate may be used in the forecast to simulate expected performance, such as the conversion rate.

Forecast metrics are usually used after historical metrics. Historical metrics reduce a large keyword list to a more manageable size. Forecast metrics provide a more exact estimate of future campaign performance. Start with historical metrics for keywords. Once the list is manageable, use forecast metrics to optimize the performance of your campaign.

Generate metrics

To generate forecast metrics, complete these steps:

  1. Construct a campaign that you want to forecast CampaignToForecast.
  2. Call KeywordPlanIdeaService.GenerateKeywordForecastMetrics with that CampaignToForecast and any other parameters, such as forecast_period.

Create a campaign to forecast

Here are some tips when creating your campaign to forecast:

  • Create the ad groups based on themes such as creative relevance, product category, or cost per click.
  • Include common negative keywords. For example if you are not in recruitment, exclude the keyword 'jobs'.
  • Use an account which is related to the campaign. Don't forecast from an unrelated account. Google factors in things like quality score and creative content into the forecast.
  • If a campaign is unrelated to the rest of your account, use a new clean account for the forecast.
  • Repeat forecasts with different horizons to get a holistic picture.

Generate forecast metrics

The next code example makes a request to KeywordPlanIdeaService.GenerateKeywordForecastMetrics. It then iterates through each of the results and displays each of the forecast metrics.

The response can also return temporary IDs in the resource—for example, customers/CUSTOMER_ID/keywordPlanCampaigns/-1.

Java

private void runExample(GoogleAdsClient googleAdsClient, Long customerId) {
  CampaignToForecast campaignToForecast = createCampaignToForecast(googleAdsClient);
  GenerateKeywordForecastMetricsRequest request =
      GenerateKeywordForecastMetricsRequest.newBuilder()
          .setCustomerId(String.valueOf(customerId))
          .setCampaign(campaignToForecast)
          .setForecastPeriod(
              DateRange.newBuilder()
                  // Sets the forecast start date to tomorrow.
                  .setStartDate(new DateTime().plusDays(1).toString("yyyy-MM-dd"))
                  // Sets the forecast end date to 30 days from today.
                  .setEndDate(new DateTime().plusDays(30).toString("yyyy-MM-dd")))
          .build();
  try (KeywordPlanIdeaServiceClient keywordPlanIdeaServiceClient =
      googleAdsClient.getLatestVersion().createKeywordPlanIdeaServiceClient()) {
    GenerateKeywordForecastMetricsResponse response =
        keywordPlanIdeaServiceClient.generateKeywordForecastMetrics(request);
    KeywordForecastMetrics metrics = response.getCampaignForecastMetrics();
    System.out.printf(
        "Estimated daily clicks: %s%n", metrics.hasClicks() ? metrics.getClicks() : null);
    System.out.printf(
        "Estimated daily impressions: %s%n",
        metrics.hasImpressions() ? metrics.getImpressions() : null);
    System.out.printf(
        "Estimated average CPC (micros): %s%n",
        metrics.hasAverageCpcMicros() ? metrics.getAverageCpcMicros() : null);
  }
}

/**
 * Creates the campaign to forecast. A campaign to forecast lets you try out various
 * configurations and keywords to find the best optimization for your future campaigns. Once
 * you've found the best campaign configuration, create a serving campaign in your Google Ads
 * account with similar values and keywords. For more details, see:
 *
 * <p>https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/3022575
 *
 * @param googleAdsClient
 * @return
 */
private CampaignToForecast createCampaignToForecast(GoogleAdsClient googleAdsClient) {
  CampaignToForecast.Builder campaignToForecastBuilder =
      CampaignToForecast.newBuilder()
          .setKeywordPlanNetwork(KeywordPlanNetwork.GOOGLE_SEARCH)
          .setBiddingStrategy(
              CampaignBiddingStrategy.newBuilder()
                  .setManualCpcBiddingStrategy(
                      ManualCpcBiddingStrategy.newBuilder().setMaxCpcBidMicros(1_000_000L)));

  // See https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/reference/data/geotargets for the list of
  // geo target IDs.
  campaignToForecastBuilder.addGeoModifiers(
      CriterionBidModifier.newBuilder()
          // Geo target constant 2840 is for USA.
          .setGeoTargetConstant(ResourceNames.geoTargetConstant(2840)));

  // See https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/reference/data/codes-formats#languages for
  // the list of language criteria IDs. Language constant 1000 is for English.
  campaignToForecastBuilder.addLanguageConstants(ResourceNames.languageConstant(1000));

  // Create forecast ad group based on themes such as creative relevance, product category, or
  // cost per click.
  ForecastAdGroup.Builder forecastAdGroupBuilder = ForecastAdGroup.newBuilder();
  forecastAdGroupBuilder.addBiddableKeywords(
      BiddableKeyword.newBuilder()
          .setMaxCpcBidMicros(2_500_000)
          .setKeyword(
              KeywordInfo.newBuilder()
                  .setText("mars cruise")
                  .setMatchType(KeywordMatchType.BROAD)));

  forecastAdGroupBuilder.addBiddableKeywords(
      BiddableKeyword.newBuilder()
          .setMaxCpcBidMicros(1_500_000)
          .setKeyword(
              KeywordInfo.newBuilder()
                  .setText("cheap cruise")
                  .setMatchType(KeywordMatchType.PHRASE)));

  forecastAdGroupBuilder.addBiddableKeywords(
      BiddableKeyword.newBuilder()
          .setMaxCpcBidMicros(1_990_000)
          .setKeyword(
              KeywordInfo.newBuilder()
                  .setText("jupiter cruise")
                  .setMatchType(KeywordMatchType.BROAD)));

  forecastAdGroupBuilder.addNegativeKeywords(
      KeywordInfo.newBuilder().setText("moon walk").setMatchType(KeywordMatchType.BROAD));

  campaignToForecastBuilder.addAdGroups(forecastAdGroupBuilder.build());
  return campaignToForecastBuilder.build();
}
GenerateForecastMetrics.java

C#

public void Run(GoogleAdsClient client, long customerId)
{
    CampaignToForecast campaignToForecast = CreateCampaignToForecast();

    KeywordPlanIdeaServiceClient keywordPlanIdeaService =
            client.GetService(Services.V18.KeywordPlanIdeaService);

    GenerateKeywordForecastMetricsRequest request = new GenerateKeywordForecastMetricsRequest()
    {
        CustomerId = customerId.ToString(),
        Campaign = campaignToForecast,
        ForecastPeriod = new DateRange()
        {
            // Set the forecast start date to tomorrow.
            StartDate = DateTime.Now.AddDays(1).ToString("yyyy-MM-dd"),
            // Set the forecast end date to 30 days from today.
            EndDate = DateTime.Now.AddDays(30).ToString("yyyy-MM-dd"),
        }
    };

    try
    {
        GenerateKeywordForecastMetricsResponse response =
            keywordPlanIdeaService.GenerateKeywordForecastMetrics(request);

        KeywordForecastMetrics metrics = response.CampaignForecastMetrics;

        Console.WriteLine($"Estimated daily clicks: {metrics.Clicks}.");
        Console.WriteLine($"Estimated daily impressions: {metrics.Impressions}.");
        Console.WriteLine($"Estimated average cpc (micros): {metrics.AverageCpcMicros}.");
    }
    catch (GoogleAdsException e)
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Failure:");
        Console.WriteLine($"Message: {e.Message}");
        Console.WriteLine($"Failure: {e.Failure}");
        Console.WriteLine($"Request ID: {e.RequestId}");
        throw;
    }
}

/// <summary>
/// Creates the campaign to forecast. A campaign to forecast lets you try out
/// various configuration and keywords to find the best optimization for your
/// future campaigns. Once you've found the best campaign configuration,
/// create a serving campaign in your Google Ads account with similar values
/// and keywords. For more details, see:
/// https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/3022575
/// </summary>
private CampaignToForecast CreateCampaignToForecast()
{
    CampaignToForecast campaignToForecast = new CampaignToForecast()
    {
        KeywordPlanNetwork = KeywordPlanNetwork.GoogleSearch,
        BiddingStrategy = new CampaignToForecast.Types.CampaignBiddingStrategy()
        {
            ManualCpcBiddingStrategy = new ManualCpcBiddingStrategy()
            {
                MaxCpcBidMicros = 1_000_000
            }
        }
    };

    // See https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/reference/data/geotargets
    // for the list of geo target IDs.
    campaignToForecast.GeoModifiers.Add(new CriterionBidModifier()
    {
        // Geo target constant 2840 is for USA.
        GeoTargetConstant = ResourceNames.GeoTargetConstant(2840)
    });

    // See https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/reference/data/codes-formats#languages
    // for the list of language criteria IDs.
    // Language constant 1000 is for English.
    campaignToForecast.LanguageConstants.Add(ResourceNames.LanguageConstant(1000));

    // Create forecast ad group based on themes such as creative relevance, product category,
    // or cost per click.
    ForecastAdGroup forecastAdGroup = new ForecastAdGroup();

    forecastAdGroup.BiddableKeywords.Add(new BiddableKeyword()
    {
        MaxCpcBidMicros = 2_500_000,
        Keyword = new KeywordInfo()
        {
            Text = "mars cruise",
            MatchType = KeywordMatchType.Broad
        }
    });

    forecastAdGroup.BiddableKeywords.Add(new BiddableKeyword()
    {
        MaxCpcBidMicros = 1_500_000,
        Keyword = new KeywordInfo()
        {
            Text = "cheap cruise",
            MatchType = KeywordMatchType.Phrase
        }
    });

    forecastAdGroup.BiddableKeywords.Add(new BiddableKeyword()
    {
        MaxCpcBidMicros = 1_990_000,
        Keyword = new KeywordInfo()
        {
            Text = "jupiter cruise",
            MatchType = KeywordMatchType.Broad
        }
    });

    forecastAdGroup.NegativeKeywords.Add(new KeywordInfo()
    {
        Text = "moon walk",
        MatchType = KeywordMatchType.Broad
    });

    campaignToForecast.AdGroups.Add(forecastAdGroup);

    return campaignToForecast;
}
GenerateForecastMetrics.cs

PHP

public static function runExample(
    GoogleAdsClient $googleAdsClient,
    int $customerId
): void {
    $campaignToForecast = self::createCampaignToForecast();
    $keywordPlanIdeaServiceClient = $googleAdsClient->getKeywordPlanIdeaServiceClient();
    // Generates keyword forecast metrics based on the specified parameters.
    $response = $keywordPlanIdeaServiceClient->generateKeywordForecastMetrics(
        new GenerateKeywordForecastMetricsRequest([
            'customer_id' => $customerId,
            'campaign' => $campaignToForecast,
            'forecast_period' => new DateRange([
                // Sets the forecast start date to tomorrow.
                'start_date' => date('Ymd', strtotime('+1 day')),
                // Sets the forecast end date to 30 days from today.
                'end_date' => date('Ymd', strtotime('+30 days'))
            ])
        ])
    );

    $metrics = $response->getCampaignForecastMetrics();
    printf(
        "Estimated daily clicks: %s%s",
        $metrics->hasClicks() ? sprintf("%.2f", $metrics->getClicks()) : "'none'",
        PHP_EOL
    );
    printf(
        "Estimated daily impressions: %s%s",
        $metrics->hasImpressions() ? sprintf("%.2f", $metrics->getImpressions()) : "'none'",
        PHP_EOL
    );
    printf(
        "Estimated average CPC (micros): %s%s",
        $metrics->hasAverageCpcMicros()
            ? sprintf("%d", $metrics->getAverageCpcMicros()) : "'none'",
        PHP_EOL
    );
}

/**
 * Creates the campaign to forecast. A campaign to forecast lets you try out various
 * configurations and keywords to find the best optimization for your future campaigns. Once
 * you've found the best campaign configuration, create a serving campaign in your Google Ads
 * account with similar values and keywords. For more details, see:
 *
 * https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/3022575
 *
 * @return CampaignToForecast the created campaign to forecast
 */
private static function createCampaignToForecast(): CampaignToForecast
{
    // Creates a campaign to forecast.
    $campaignToForecast = new CampaignToForecast([
        'keyword_plan_network' => KeywordPlanNetwork::GOOGLE_SEARCH,
        'bidding_strategy' => new CampaignBiddingStrategy([
            'manual_cpc_bidding_strategy' => new ManualCpcBiddingStrategy([
                'max_cpc_bid_micros' => 1_000_000
            ])
        ]),
        // See https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/reference/data/geotargets for the
        // list of geo target IDs.
        'geo_modifiers' => [
            new CriterionBidModifier([
                // Geo target constant 2840 is for USA.
                'geo_target_constant' => ResourceNames::forGeoTargetConstant(2840)
            ])
        ],
        // See
        // https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/reference/data/codes-formats#languages
        // for the list of language criteria IDs. Language constant 1000 is for English.
        'language_constants' => [ResourceNames::forLanguageConstant(1000)],
    ]);

    // Creates forecast ad group based on themes such as creative relevance, product category,
    // or cost per click.
    $forecastAdGroup = new ForecastAdGroup([
        'biddable_keywords' => [
            new BiddableKeyword([
                'max_cpc_bid_micros' => 2_500_000,
                'keyword' => new KeywordInfo([
                    'text' => 'mars cruise',
                    'match_type' => KeywordMatchType::BROAD
                ])
            ]),
            new BiddableKeyword([
                'max_cpc_bid_micros' => 1_500_000,
                'keyword' => new KeywordInfo([
                    'text' => 'cheap cruise',
                    'match_type' => KeywordMatchType::PHRASE
                ])
            ]),
            new BiddableKeyword([
                'max_cpc_bid_micros' => 1_990_000,
                'keyword' => new KeywordInfo([
                    'text' => 'jupiter cruise',
                    'match_type' => KeywordMatchType::BROAD
                ])
            ])
        ],
        'negative_keywords' => [
            new KeywordInfo([
                'text' => 'moon walk',
                'match_type' => KeywordMatchType::BROAD
            ])
        ]
    ]);
    $campaignToForecast->setAdGroups([$forecastAdGroup]);

    return $campaignToForecast;
}
GenerateForecastMetrics.php

Python

def main(client, customer_id):
    """The main method that creates all necessary entities for the example.

    Args:
        client: an initialized GoogleAdsClient instance.
        customer_id: a client customer ID.
    """
    campaign_to_forecast = create_campaign_to_forecast(client)
    generate_forecast_metrics(client, customer_id, campaign_to_forecast)


def create_campaign_to_forecast(client):
    """Creates the campaign to forecast.

    A campaign to forecast lets you try out various configurations and keywords
    to find the best optimization for your future campaigns. Once you've found
    the best campaign configuration, create a serving campaign in your Google
    Ads account with similar values and keywords. For more details, see:
    https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/3022575

    Args:
        client: an initialized GoogleAdsClient instance.

    Returns:
        An CampaignToForecast instance.
    """
    googleads_service = client.get_service("GoogleAdsService")
    # Create a campaign to forecast.
    campaign_to_forecast = client.get_type("CampaignToForecast")
    campaign_to_forecast.keyword_plan_network = (
        client.enums.KeywordPlanNetworkEnum.GOOGLE_SEARCH
    )

    # Set the bidding strategy.
    campaign_to_forecast.bidding_strategy.manual_cpc_bidding_strategy.max_cpc_bid_micros = (
        1000000
    )

    # For the list of geo target IDs, see:
    # https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/reference/data/geotargets
    criterion_bid_modifier = client.get_type("CriterionBidModifier")
    # Geo target constant 2840 is for USA.
    criterion_bid_modifier.geo_target_constant = (
        googleads_service.geo_target_constant_path("2840")
    )
    campaign_to_forecast.geo_modifiers.append(criterion_bid_modifier)

    # For the list of language criteria IDs, see:
    # https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/reference/data/codes-formats#languages
    # Language criteria 1000 is for English.
    campaign_to_forecast.language_constants.append(
        googleads_service.language_constant_path("1000")
    )

    # Create forecast ad groups based on themes such as creative relevance,
    # product category, or cost per click.
    forecast_ad_group = client.get_type("ForecastAdGroup")

    # Create and configure three BiddableKeyword instances.
    biddable_keyword_1 = client.get_type("BiddableKeyword")
    biddable_keyword_1.max_cpc_bid_micros = 2500000
    biddable_keyword_1.keyword.text = "mars cruise"
    biddable_keyword_1.keyword.match_type = (
        client.enums.KeywordMatchTypeEnum.BROAD
    )

    biddable_keyword_2 = client.get_type("BiddableKeyword")
    biddable_keyword_2.max_cpc_bid_micros = 1500000
    biddable_keyword_2.keyword.text = "cheap cruise"
    biddable_keyword_2.keyword.match_type = (
        client.enums.KeywordMatchTypeEnum.PHRASE
    )

    biddable_keyword_3 = client.get_type("BiddableKeyword")
    biddable_keyword_3.max_cpc_bid_micros = 1990000
    biddable_keyword_3.keyword.text = "cheap cruise"
    biddable_keyword_3.keyword.match_type = (
        client.enums.KeywordMatchTypeEnum.EXACT
    )

    # Add the biddable keywords to the forecast ad group.
    forecast_ad_group.biddable_keywords.extend(
        [biddable_keyword_1, biddable_keyword_2, biddable_keyword_3]
    )

    # Create and configure a negative keyword, then add it to the forecast ad
    # group.
    negative_keyword = client.get_type("KeywordInfo")
    negative_keyword.text = "moon walk"
    negative_keyword.match_type = client.enums.KeywordMatchTypeEnum.BROAD
    forecast_ad_group.negative_keywords.append(negative_keyword)

    campaign_to_forecast.ad_groups.append(forecast_ad_group)

    return campaign_to_forecast


def generate_forecast_metrics(client, customer_id, campaign_to_forecast):
    """Generates forecast metrics and prints the results.

    Args:
        client: an initialized GoogleAdsClient instance.
        customer_id: a client customer ID.
        campaign_to_forecast: a CampaignToForecast to generate metrics for.
    """
    keyword_plan_idea_service = client.get_service("KeywordPlanIdeaService")
    request = client.get_type("GenerateKeywordForecastMetricsRequest")
    request.customer_id = customer_id
    request.campaign = campaign_to_forecast
    # Set the forecast range. Repeat forecasts with different horizons to get a
    # holistic picture.
    # Set the forecast start date to tomorrow.
    tomorrow = datetime.now() + timedelta(days=1)
    request.forecast_period.start_date = tomorrow.strftime("%Y-%m-%d")
    # Set the forecast end date to 30 days from today.
    thirty_days_from_now = datetime.now() + timedelta(days=30)
    request.forecast_period.end_date = thirty_days_from_now.strftime("%Y-%m-%d")

    response = keyword_plan_idea_service.generate_keyword_forecast_metrics(
        request=request
    )

    metrics = response.campaign_forecast_metrics
    print(f"Estimated daily clicks: {metrics.clicks}")
    print(f"Estimated daily impressions: {metrics.impressions}")
    print(f"Estimated daily average CPC: {metrics.average_cpc_micros}")
generate_forecast_metrics.py

Ruby

This example is not yet available in Ruby; you can take a look at the other languages.

Perl

sub generate_forecast_metrics {
  my ($api_client, $customer_id) = @_;

  my $campaign_to_forecast = create_campaign_to_forecast();

  my $keyword_forecast_metrics_response =
    $api_client->KeywordPlanIdeaService()->generate_keyword_forecast_metrics({
      customerId => $customer_id,
      campaign   => $campaign_to_forecast,
      # Set the forecast range. Repeat forecasts with different horizons
      # to get a holistic picture.
      forecastPeriod => Google::Ads::GoogleAds::V18::Common::DateRange->new({
          # Set the forecast start date to tomorrow.
          startDate => strftime("%Y-%m-%d", localtime(time + 60 * 60 * 24)),
          # Set the forecast end date to 30 days from today.
          endDate => strftime("%Y-%m-%d", localtime(time + 60 * 60 * 24 * 30))})
    });

  my $metrics = $keyword_forecast_metrics_response->{campaignForecastMetrics};

  printf "Estimated daily clicks: %s.\n",
    defined $metrics->{clicks} ? $metrics->{clicks} : "undef";
  printf "Estimated daily impressions: %s.\n",
    defined $metrics->{impressions} ? $metrics->{impressions} : "undef";
  printf "Estimated average cpc (micros): %s.\n\n",
    defined $metrics->{averageCpcMicros}
    ? $metrics->{averageCpcMicros}
    : "undef";

  return 1;
}

# Creates the campaign to forecast. A campaign to forecast lets you try out
# various configuration and keywords to find the best optimization for your
# future campaigns. Once you've found the best campaign configuration,
# create a serving campaign in your Google Ads account with similar values
# and keywords. For more details, see:
# https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/3022575
sub create_campaign_to_forecast {
  my ($api_client) = @_;

  # Create a campaign to forecast.
  my $campaign_to_forecast =
    Google::Ads::GoogleAds::V18::Services::KeywordPlanIdeaService::CampaignToForecast
    ->new({keywordPlanNetwork => 'GOOGLE_SEARCH'});

  # Set the bidding strategy.
  $campaign_to_forecast->{biddingStrategy}->{manualCpcBiddingStrategy} =
    Google::Ads::GoogleAds::V18::Services::KeywordPlanIdeaService::ManualCpcBiddingStrategy
    ->new({maxCpcBidMicros => 1000000});

  # See https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/reference/data/geotargets
  # for the list of geo target IDs.
  $campaign_to_forecast->{geoModifiers} = [
    Google::Ads::GoogleAds::V18::Services::KeywordPlanIdeaService::CriterionBidModifier
      ->new({
        # Geo target constant 2840 is for USA.
        geoTargetConstant =>
          Google::Ads::GoogleAds::V18::Utils::ResourceNames::geo_target_constant(
          2840)})];

  # See https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/reference/data/codes-formats#languages
  # for the list of language criteria IDs.
  $campaign_to_forecast->{languageConstants} = [
    # Language criteria 1000 is for English.
    Google::Ads::GoogleAds::V18::Utils::ResourceNames::language_constant(1000)];

  # Create forecast ad groups based on themes such as creative relevance,
  # product category, or cost per click.
  $campaign_to_forecast->{adGroups} = [
    Google::Ads::GoogleAds::V18::Services::KeywordPlanIdeaService::ForecastAdGroup
      ->new({
        biddableKeywords => [
          Google::Ads::GoogleAds::V18::Services::KeywordPlanIdeaService::BiddableKeyword
            ->new({
              maxCpcBidMicros => 2500000,
              keyword => Google::Ads::GoogleAds::V18::Common::KeywordInfo->new({
                  text      => "mars cruise",
                  matchType => 'BROAD'
                })}
            ),
          Google::Ads::GoogleAds::V18::Services::KeywordPlanIdeaService::BiddableKeyword
            ->new({
              maxCpcBidMicros => 1500000,
              keyword => Google::Ads::GoogleAds::V18::Common::KeywordInfo->new({
                  text      => "cheap cruise",
                  matchType => 'PHRASE'
                })}
            ),
          Google::Ads::GoogleAds::V18::Services::KeywordPlanIdeaService::BiddableKeyword
            ->new({
              maxCpcBidMicros => 1990000,
              keyword => Google::Ads::GoogleAds::V18::Common::KeywordInfo->new({
                  text      => "jupiter cruise",
                  matchType => 'EXACT'
                })})
        ],
        negativeKeywords => [
          Google::Ads::GoogleAds::V18::Common::KeywordInfo->new({
              text      => "moon walk",
              matchType => 'BROAD'
            })]})];

  return $campaign_to_forecast;
}

generate_forecast_metrics.pl

Map to the UI

KeywordPlanIdeaService.GenerateKeywordForecastMetrics has similar functionality in the Google Ads UI's Keyword Planner.

Keyword Planner UI Google Ads API
Enter Keywords CampaignToForecast.negative_keywords or ForecastAdGroup.biddable_keywords or ForecastAdGroup.negative_keywords
Locations CampaignToForecast.geo_targets
Languages CampaignToForecast.language_constants
Search Networks CampaignToForecast.keyword_plan_network
CPC Bid
Date Range forecastGenerateKeywordForecastMetricsRequest.forecast_period_period
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