NATS4 LinkCodes

NATS 4 About NATS 4 NATS4 Requirements NATS4 vs NATS3 Advantages IPSP Integration NATS4 Changelog For Affiliates Affiliate Adtools Automatic Campaigns Affiliate Payment Information Affiliate Defaults Linkcodes Affiliate Stats Dumps ASP Query String Deep Linking Main Program Page NATSCode NATS 4.1 Affiliate Area NATS 4.1 Affiliate Area Affiliate Account Details Affiliate Account Change Log Affiliate Adtools Affiliate Adtools Search Affiliate Campaigns Affiliate Dashboard Dashboard Key Statistics Dashboard Statistics Summary Affiliate Display Settings Affiliate Email and Notification Settings Affiliate Linkcodes Affiliate Linkcode Settings Affiliate Login History Affiliate Messages Affiliate Payment History Affiliate Referrals Report Affiliate Referring URL Report Affiliate Signup Affiliate Skins and Languages Affiliate Statistic Filters Affiliate Statistic Views Quick Links Affiliate Bonus Rewards NATS 4 Upgrade Changelog Administration Changes Admins Admin Overview Reports Admin Payments Admin News and Notifications Admin Affiliates Admin Members Admin Sites Admin Difference between NATS4 and NATS3 Postback URL Programs Admin Billers Admin Adtools Admin Upsells Admin Includes Admin Mailing Admin Skins & Templates Admin Configuration Admin Cleanup and Maintenance Admin Logs Admin Affiliate Changes Affiliate Dashboard Affiliate Statistics Affiliate Adtools Affiliate My Account Affiliate Support NATS Setup Post-Installation Steps Apache Configuration MySQL Settings Creating Admin Accounts Multiple Server Setup Using Memcached for Caching File Upload Setup Link Domain HTTPS Setup NATS4 Files and Directories NATS4 Go Live Checklist NATS3 to NATS4 Going Live Checklist Moving NATS4 Admin Overview The Admin Overview Reporting Admin The Reporting Admin track and strack Fraud Reports     Report Breakdowns The Profit and Loss Report The Retention Report The Subscription Report The Transactions Report The Detailed Trial Report The Cascade Activity Report The Fraud Report The Account Rep Report The Surfer Actions Report The Affiliate Referral Tier Payouts Report The Affiliate Referral Signup Payouts Report The Additional Payout Report The Graphical Affiliate Comparison Report The Single Day Comparison Report The Affiliate Liability Details Report Payments Admin The Payments Admin Creating and Editing PayVia Options and Dump Formats Pay Via Types Check Functions Payment Dump Entry Numbers Bulk Invoice Import Payment Dump Variables Payment Periods Payout Period Configuration Manual Invoices     Payment Methods Intercash RevUpCard ePayService Payza News and Notifications Admin The News and Notifications Admin Add News Item Sending Messages Affiliates Admin The Affiliates Admin ID Numbers Account Representatives Affiliate Referrals Affiliate Activation Affiliate Access Permissions Affiliate Admin Settings Affiliate Overrides Creating Admin Accounts In-House Accounts Affiliate-Specific Join Options and Payouts Add Manual Sale Manual Invoices Affiliate Groups Affiliate Documents Change Affiliate Status Members Admin The Members Admin View Member Details Add Member MySQL Auth Mod Authn DB Multisite Access Member Logging Member Password Retrieval OpenID Connect Mod Auth OpenIDC ID Numbers Sites Admin The Sites Admin Sites Site Setup Site Templates Tour Setup Join Options No Cost Registration Special Pricing Options Join Option Rules Post URL Usage Post URLs in NATS4 Approval/Upgrade/Denial Variables Approval/Upgrade/Denial Template Variables Mobile Tours Token Sites ID Numbers Site Partner Site User Management Example Postbacks for Site User Management Configure Redirects Split A-B Testing Username Checking Form Validation Post-Biller Templates Send Information To Special Biller Join Option Box vs Button Qualified Join Page Hits Allowed languages Customize Join Form Package Plus Token Plus Signup Plus Type-In Traffic Coupon Codes Setting Rules Site Groups Options Simulator ATVOD Verification Process Programs Admin The Programs Admin Adding Programs Payout Changes NATS4 Affiliate Referrals ID Numbers NATS Program Special Pricing Options Setting Rules Billers Admin The Billers Admin Biller Biller Fees Taxes NATS Cascades Add Cascade Cascade Weight Autocascade Hidden Cascades Geo-Targeting Cascades Post-Biller Templates HTTPS Gateways Timed Cascade Rules Upgrade Plus Token Plus Gateway One Step Join Extra Biller Fields Send Information To Special Biller Setting Rules Cross Sell Supported Billers Upsell Supported Billers Packageplus Supported Billers Tokenplus Supported Billers     Biller Instructions NATS4 Biller List 2000Charge 2000Charge Gateway 2KCHARGE A1Payments Aebill Aconti Allopass AltoBilling Argus Authorize.net Bill1st Gateway BillAPay Gateway Billing Revolution Billing United Bit-Pay BoaCompra Braintree Payments C2Bill CardFlex CCBill CCBill Flexform CCBill Web900 CashSend CashtoCode Centili Centrobill Clearcard Clearcard IDV Click and Buy CoinGate CoinPayments CommerceGate CurePay DHD DHDGateway DIMOCO EGatePay ElectraCash eMerchantPay Gateway eMPPay.com Epoch Escalion EuroBill EPGBill.com Ezic, Inc. Focal Payments FXBilling FXBilling Native Gateway tokens Gigadat Global Access GlobalCharge Global DPS GoCoin Greta 11 (G11Bill) GTBill GTBill GATEWAY GXBill ICN Ltd. Itelebill Jettis International Jettis International Gateway LocalBilling MobiusPay MerlinBill NETbilling NETbilling Native NetCash NetMobile Netpay International NoCreditCard OrbitalPay Password By Phone Pay4 Pay900 Payment Network Paygarden Paygea PayPal Paysite Cash Payspace Payspace Gateway Plug'n Pay Prime Orange Probiller PumaPay Rocketfuel RocketGate RocketGate Native RSBilling RSBilling Native SafeCharge SafeCharge Native Secure Billing Worldwide Secure Billing Worldwide Gateway Secure Trading SecurionPay SegPay SegPay Gateway SOFORTdauerauftrag Sonic Bill StandardBill TrustCharge Telecom UKash Vendo Services Vendo Verotel Pro Voxtel VXSBill WebBilling Wispay WTS WTSeu Zombaio Shopping Cart Sales Switching From Epoch to Epoch EU Third Party Admin Third Parties Supported Third Parties AdultFriendFinder AdultFriendFinderAPI Cams.com Datingfactory DatingGold EffexMedia Fling Flirt4Free GameLink MallCom MyDirtyHobby SexGoesMobile (SGM) StreaMate WebCamClub WebCams Wister XloveCash XOnDemand Adtools Admin The Adtools Admin Duplicating Adtool Types Add New Adtools Add New Adtool Type Bulk Import Adtools Downloadable Content Adtool Type Get Hosted Galleries Adtool Templates Content of the Day Linkcodes and Tools Admin Setting Rules     Default Adtool Types Adtool Types Image Banners Geo Banners Flash Banners Free Hosted Galleries Mailers Feeds Content Fan Signs Flash Videos Embedded Videos Hosted Videos Page Peels IM Popups Footer Ads Page Ads Hosted Free Sites Overlays Upsells Admin The Upsells Admin Configuring Cross Sells Configuring Upsells Cross Sell Supported Billers Upsell Supported Billers Process Gateway Cross Sales Outside NATS Cross Sells: A to Z Upsells: A to Z Upsell Plus Setting Rules Includes Admin The Includes Admin The Promotionals Admin IntelliChat Mailing Admin The Mailing Admin Create New Mailer Email Configuration The Mailing Queue Mailer Template Variables Mass Mailing Template Variables Common Mailer Examples Setting Rules Skins and Templates Admin The Skins and Templates Admin Skins Templates Site Templates Language Skins Language Files custom_errors.php Join Page Variables Skipping NATS Join Form Post URL Variables Member Usernames & Passwords Form Validation Username Recommendations Password Retrieval Post-Biller Templates Geo-Target Join Options Random Usernames and Passwords Smarty Smarty print array Smarty Plugins Available Smarty Functions Affiliate Support Template Adding a Verification Image Custom Program and Campaign Selection Pages Output An Affiliate's Last Paid Date Affiliate Signup Email Affiliate Join Page Linkcodes Approval/Upgrade/Denial Variables Approval/Upgrade/Denial Template Variables CSS Theme Builder     Template Functions nats_add_to_array nats_adtool_replace_linkcode nats_array_flip nats_array_to_xml nats_build_array_by_reference nats_convert_bytes nats_decode nats_display_account_campaigns nats_display_account_change_history nats_display_account_notifications nats_display_account_preview nats_display_admin_links nats_display_admin_message nats_display_adtool_form nats_display_adtool_types nats_display_adtools nats_display_adtools_type_limit nats_display_choose_adtools_group nats_display_code_info nats_display_create_campaign nats_display_edit_account_details nats_display_edit_account_settings nats_display_edit_defaults nats_display_edit_password nats_display_edit_payvia nats_display_edit_payvia_info nats_display_edit_skin nats_display_gallery_builder nats_display_graph nats_display_hourly_sales nats_display_latest_adtools nats_display_map nats_display_news nats_display_page_peel nats_display_payment_history nats_display_payment_summary nats_display_ratio nats_display_reward_category nats_display_reward_order nats_display_reward_purchases nats_display_signup_advanced nats_display_signup_basic nats_display_signup_payvia nats_display_stats nats_display_stats_calendar nats_display_stats_form nats_display_stats_referrals nats_display_stats_retention nats_display_stats_subscription_details nats_display_stats_table nats_display_timezones nats_display_top_stats nats_dump_data nats_encode nats_get_first_in_array nats_get_payment_breakdown nats_get_period_end nats_get_reward_categories nats_get_member nats_list_adtool_groups nats_list_affiliates nats_list_billers nats_list_campaigns nats_list_linkcodes nats_list_options nats_get_option_details nats_list_programs nats_list_sites nats_list_tool_categories nats_list_tours nats_list_xsells nats_smarty_function_amount_owed nats_smarty_function_getbonus nats_smarty_rebuild_form nats_smarty_rebuild_link nats_smarty_rebuild_query nats_tooltip nats_track_link nats_strack_link tmm_admin_pagination Template Shortcuts add_to_array adtool_replace_linkcode affiliate_select_form array_flip array_to_xml amount_owed build_array_by_reference convert_bytes display_account_campaigns display_account_change_history display_account_notifications display_account_preview display_admin_links display_adtool_form display_adtool_types display_adtools display_adtools_type_limit display_choose_adtools_group display_code_info display_create_campaign display_gallery_builder display_stats_referrals display_edit_account_details display_edit_account_settings display_edit_defaults display_edit_password display_edit_payvia display_edit_payvia_info display_edit_skin display_graph display_hourly_sales display_latest_adtools display_map display_news display_page_peel display_payment_history display_payment_summary display_ratio display_reward_category display_reward_order display_reward_purchases display_signup_advanced display_signup_basic display_signup_payvia display_stats display_stats_calendar display_stats_table display_stats_form display_stats_retention display_stats_subscription_details display_top_stats display_timezones dump_data get_first get_period_end get_reward_categories list_billers list_campaigns list_linkcodes list_options list_programs list_sites list_tool_categories list_tours list_xsells rebuild_form rebuild_link rebuild_query reward_points tooltip Common Parameters assign assign_prefix count data_only display_on_assign start tpl NATS Configuration Admin The Configuration Admin Log Admin Activity IP Address Filtering MEMBER_EXPIRE_PAD SKIP COUNTRIES Fraud Configuration Email Configuration Affiliate Signup Email Affiliate Postback Affiliate Postback NEW Affiliate Analytics Throttling NATS4 Terms of Service feature GeoIP2 SOAP API API API Best Practices WSDL Cache Add Affiliate Add Member Note Admin Get Adtools Adtool Categories Adtool Types Affiliate Get Campaigns Bulk Import Adtools Caching Decode Natscode Expire Manual Member Get Affiliate Campaigns Get Affiliate Hit Data Get Affiliate Loginids Get Affiliate Nats Codes Get Affiliate Payout Get Affiliate Program Campaign List Get_Affiliate_Program_Campaign_List Get Member Details Get Member Instant Upgrade String Get Member Package Upgrade String Get Member Token Rebuy String Get Member Upsell String Get Payment Data Get Payvia Rule Get Profit Loss Report Ping Record Member Login Search Affiliate Info Search Member Info Send Email API Function Set Affiliate Admin Settings Set Affiliate Customs Set Affiliate Defaults Set Affiliate Information Set Affiliate Settings Set Member Details Set Payment Status Set Payvia Rule REST API API Overview API Best Practices REST API PATH UPDATES Adtools GET /adtools/admin GET /adtools/categories GET /adtools/types POST /adtools/importdump Affiliate GET /affiliate/campaigns GET /affiliate/hitdata GET /affiliate/payout GET /affiliate/searchinfo POST /affiliate/addaffiliate POST /affiliate/invoice PATCH /affiliate/setadminsettings PATCH /affiliate/setcustoms PATCH /affiliate/setdefaults PATCH /affiliate/setinformation PATCH /affiliate/setpayviainfo PATCH /affiliate/setsettings PATCH /affiliate/status Member GET /member/authstring GET /member/details GET /member/searchinfo GET /suggestedcanceloffers PATCH /member/setdetails PATCH /member/setexpiration POST /member/addnote POST /member/recordlogin PUT /member/expiremanual PATCH /member/forget Option GET /option/options GET /option/rule PATCH /option/rule PATCH/option/text POST /option/rule Payments GET /payments/getpayments GET /payviarule PATCH /payments/setstatus PATCH /payviarule Report GET /profitlossreport Get /transactionpayouts GET /report/transaction Service GET /service/decodenatscode GET /service/ping POST /service/sendemail Misc. Admins Database Cleanup Support Admin Logs Admin Rules Freeform Date Rewards Admin Troubleshooting Common Errors Email_Issues Fix Graphs Expired License Zend License Zip Files in Internet Explorer NATS Extras TMMid Gallery Builder Module CAPTCHA Remote Affiliate Authentication Build Your Own Anything Module Shopping Cart Sales Moving Tours, Members' Area, and Galleries Admin Areas Extended Sales NATS Code Wordpress Plugin Error_message_display ATVOD Verification Process

Affiliates get their link codes on the Affiliate Link Code page. There are 3 types of link codes:

• encoded
• unencoded
• shortname

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL THREE TYPES ARE INTERCHANGEABLE WITH EACH OTHER.

Encoded Link Codes

Figure 1.1 - Link Codes Explained

This is the most common variety of link code. All of the info NATS needs to tie an affiliate to a surfer is in the base64-encoded string of characters at the end.
For more information on what a link domain is, please visit the page devoted to it. For the variations on track, please visit the pages devoted to each of them.

Unencoded Link Codes

Figure 1.2 - Unencoded Link Codes Explained

This example shows how the unencoded link code. Instead of the encoded string, we now have a period-delimited list of all the info that the encoded string would have.

• Affiliate Username - The username of the affiliate who referred this surfer
• Programid - The numeric id of the program that the surfer's transaction will be paid out under (See Things to Remember)
• Siteid - The numeric id of the NATS site your surfer is trying to visit
• Tourid - The numeric id of the site's tour that your surfer will be redirected to (See Sites Admin for details)
• Affiliate Campaignid - The numeric id of the campaign associated with the affiliate (0 = the default campaign for that affiliate)
• Adtoolid - If the surfer followed a link code associated with an adtool, this will represent the numeric id of the adtool the surfer saw. If no adtool was used, this will default to 0
• Subid1 & Subid2 - (See explanation above)

Shortname Link Codes

These linkcodes will look very similiar to Unencoded Link Codes, but instead of using the ids, this format will use the shortnames of the program, site, and tour.

Example: http://demo.nats4.com/track/DemoAff.pps.sitea.MAIN.0.0.0.0/

Decoding Link Codes

Encoded link codes can be decoded using base64 decoding.

Things to Remember

• All three formats are interchangeable!
• If moving from NATS v3 to NATS v4, your NATS3 link codes are 100% usable and compatiable in NATS v4
• The non-encoded formats are security-smart! If an affiliate alters a link code so that he/she sends traffic to a program that the affiliate does not belong to, or if they send traffic to a site/tour that does not belong to the program, the affiliate will not get paid out on any transactions that result from that traffic.
• The non-encoded formats are NOT idiot-proof! If an affiliate alters the link code so they are using a program they don't belong to or using a tour that doesn't belong to the site, they will not get desired payout or the surfer will not land on the right tour in most cases.

Deep Linking

Affiliates can link directly to a pre-join page by appending /join to a linkcode. For example:

http://linkdomain/track/MjozOjE/join

Affiliates can link to any other page on your site by appending a forward-slash and a relative URL to the link code. For example, using the following linkcode to link to http://example.com/tour1.html:

http://join.example.com/track/MjozOjE/tour1.html

Affiliates can manipulate the query string too. For example, the affiliate can pass the variable, extra_var=1234 to a tour by appending a question mark and the variable assignment to their linkcode:

http://join.example.com/track/MjozOjE/?extra_var=1234