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Ad - An advertisement placed within a publication issue. In MagBuilder, an ad is represented as a visual element on both the run sheet and the layout, derived from a sold line item on a sales order. Each ad carries information such as its size, advertiser, section, position, and ticket status, and must be placed onto a page before the issue can go to production.

Ancillary Ad - A distinct MagBuilder layout element used to represent small or zero-size advertising units — such as sponsorship slugs, tags, or other minor non-standard placements — that are treated separately from standard display ads in the layout and run sheet. The Ancillary Ad Element has its own visual styling (including a customizable background color) and is classified by the system based on ad size: an ad with a size value equal to zero is rendered as ancillary rather than as a normal ad. In practical terms, ancillary ads are the small add-ons or special-case items tied to a page or issue, not the primary paid display units being paginated across the publication.

Artwork Sync - The automatic process by which approved ad artwork is associated with its corresponding placement in MagBuilder once it has been uploaded to the production ticket. This eliminates the need for manual file management and ensures the layout always reflects the latest approved creative.

Assigned Position - A specific named placement within a publication that is selected when adding a print ad line item to an order — for example, Inside Front Cover, Back Cover, or Inside Back Cover. Assigned positions can affect pricing, restrict inventory availability, and carry through to MagBuilder where they indicate to the production team exactly where in the issue the ad must be placed. Common positions are configured in advance on the rate card or product setup.

Assigned Section - A named editorial or advertising section of a publication (e.g., News, Lifestyle, Technology) that is selected when adding a print ad line item to an order. Sections help organize ads in MagBuilder for easier placement and visual grouping, and publishers often create section-specific rate cards to reflect different pricing or positioning rules within each part of the issue.

Category Separation Rule - An optional MagBuilder setting that prevents ads from the same advertising category from being placed adjacent to one another within the layout. When enabled, the system will block placement if it would violate the configured separation value, helping publishers maintain competitive separation policies.

Display Options - A MagBuilder run sheet setting (accessed via the ellipsis menu) that allows users to choose which attributes — such as advertiser name, ad size, ticket status, or order notes — are displayed on ad and editorial elements in both the run sheet and the layout tiles.

Editorial - Non-advertising content (articles, columns, features, photography) that is tracked and placed in MagBuilder alongside paid advertisements. Editorials are created in the Editorials module, assigned a build size, and can be placed and repositioned within the layout just like ads.

Editorial Build Size - The defined page dimension or space allocated to an editorial piece within MagBuilder. Build sizes are configured in settings and determine how much layout space an editorial element occupies when placed in the flatplan.

Flatplan / Flatplanning - The process of mapping out all pages in a publication before production begins, showing where editorial content and advertisements will appear. In MagBuilder, flatplanning is performed digitally using a drag-and-drop interface, replacing traditional paper-based or spreadsheet layouts.

Flipbook - A digital format that presents a publication as an interactive, page-turning experience — replicating the look and feel of a physical magazine or newspaper online. Flipbooks are typically generated from a PDF of the final publication. Within the Ad Orbit ecosystem, the term is most associated with integrations such as Issuu or Blue Toad, which convert a completed issue into an embeddable, shareable digital edition that readers can browse online.

Free Form Pagination - A MagBuilder setting that allows ads to be placed onto a page without requiring an exact size match. When free form pagination is enabled, placing a fractional ad on a full page automatically adjusts the remaining space to reflect what is left to fill. This mode is not recommended when ads need to be placed in specific positions.

House Ad - An advertisement for the publisher's own products or promotions (rather than a paying client's ad) that can be placed in MagBuilder to fill unsold or reserved space. House ads appear in the run sheet and are managed through a dedicated section in MagBuilder settings.

InDesign Plugin - A connection between MagBuilder and Adobe InDesign CC that allows production teams to send layout data directly from Ad Orbit into their InDesign documents. The plugin enables the placement and artwork information in MagBuilder to drive the final typesetting and design workflow in InDesign.

Insert - A supplemental piece added to MagBuilder outside of the standard paginated layout — for example, a loose insert, a bound-in card, or a special section. Inserts are added via the layout's page actions and appear separately from the main page sequence.

Issue - A specific edition of a publication (e.g., the July 2026 issue of a magazine). In MagBuilder, each issue has its own layout, run sheet, and set of placed ads and editorials. Users navigate to a particular issue to access and manage its flatplan.

Issue Template - A pre-configured layout structure that can be applied to new issues, setting defaults such as the starting page number, number of pages, and page arrangement. Templates save production teams time by establishing a repeatable framework for each publication cycle.

Layout - The visual representation of an issue within MagBuilder, displaying pages in sequence and showing which ad and editorial elements have been placed. The layout is the main working view where production teams arrange content across all pages of a publication.

Line Item - A single advertising unit on a sales order, representing one ad placement in a specific issue. In MagBuilder, each line item corresponds to one item in the run sheet and, once placed, occupies a defined space in the layout. Line items carry information such as ad size, issue, and pricing.

Link Actions - Clickable links displayed on placed ad or editorial elements within the MagBuilder layout that provide quick access to related records, such as the associated order, ticket, or company profile. Link actions allow users to navigate directly from the flatplan to relevant system data without leaving the layout.

MagBuilder - Ad Orbit's digital flatplanning tool that integrates sales and production into a drag-and-drop interface. It enables publishers to visually plan magazine and newspaper layouts, view sold ad inventory in real time, and sync artwork automatically — all within a single, collaborative workspace.

Order Notes - Instructions or comments attached to a line item or placement within MagBuilder, providing context to the production team about special handling, positioning preferences, or other relevant information for a specific ad. Order notes are visible within the run sheet and can be reviewed before or during placement.

Page - A single page within the MagBuilder layout. Pages are the individual units where ads and editorial content are placed. Pages can be added, removed, rearranged by drag-and-drop, and color-coded to reflect their content or ticket status.

Page Actions - Options available at the individual page level within MagBuilder, typically accessed via a menu icon on the page tile. Page actions may include adding a spread, inserting a page, removing a page, or adjusting page-specific settings.

Pending Ad - An ad that has been booked on an order but is not yet fully confirmed — typically because the order has not received all required approvals or is still in a draft/pending status. MagBuilder includes a system setting to show pending ads in the run sheet, allowing production staff to begin planning placements for ads that are not yet 100% confirmed. This is useful for proactive layout work but should be managed carefully to avoid placing ads that may ultimately not be fulfilled.

Placement / Ad Placement - The act of assigning a sold advertisement to a specific page or position within the MagBuilder layout. Placements can be made by dragging items from the run sheet onto the layout, or by using right-click actions on individual pages. Once placed, the ad is associated with that page in the issue.

Placement Inventory - A view accessible from the Run Sheet actions, the placement inventory popup shows the number of available inventory, sold, and placed items per size for the Issue.

Right-Click Actions - A context menu available within the MagBuilder layout when right-clicking on a page or placed element. Right-click actions provide quick access to functions such as placing an ad, viewing placement inventory, removing a placement, or accessing page-level options.

Run Sheet - A panel within MagBuilder (displayed on the left side of the layout view) that lists all ads, house ads, and editorials that need to be placed into the current issue. The run sheet is the master checklist of unplaced items and can be filtered, searched, and customized to display selected attributes.

Spread - Two facing pages displayed and treated as a single unit within MagBuilder. Spreads are commonly used to accommodate full-spread advertisements or editorial features that span both the left and right pages of an open magazine. Spreads can be added directly from within the layout.

Starting Page Number - A configurable MagBuilder setting that determines which number the page count begins at for a given issue layout. The default can be set at the system level and overridden on a per-issue basis, accommodating publications with covers counted separately or other non-standard pagination practices.

Swap Ads - A MagBuilder action that exchanges the positions of two already-placed advertisements within the layout. This allows production staff to reposition ads without having to remove and re-place them individually, streamlining layout adjustments.

TBD Category - A placeholder category used in MagBuilder for ad space that has been reserved but not yet assigned to a specific advertiser or confirmed booking. TBD (To Be Determined) elements appear in the layout and run sheet to indicate space that is pending fulfillment.

Tear Sheet - A page or image from the printed publication showing where an advertiser's ad appeared. In Ad Orbit, tear sheet images can be uploaded to a print ticket and sent to advertisers as proof of placement. The tear sheet workflow is configured and managed through MagBuilder settings.

Ticket Status Color - A visual indicator displayed on placed ad elements within the MagBuilder layout, reflecting the current production ticket status (e.g., artwork received, proof available, approved). Ticket status colors are configurable in Settings > Tickets and help production teams quickly assess the completion state of each ad at a glance.