---
title: "Action: Open Sidekick"
description: This article will walk you through adding the Open Sidekick action to an ad unit
---
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1. [Knowledge Base](https://help.adventive.com/en/knowledge)
2. [Building Ads](https://help.adventive.com/en/knowledge/building-ads)
3. [User initiated actions](https://help.adventive.com/en/knowledge/building-ads#user-initiated-actions)
# Action: Open Sidekick
## This article will walk you through adding the Open Sidekick action to an ad unit
**In this article, you will learn:**
[How to Add Actions to an Ad Unit](https://help.adventive.com/en/knowledge/action-open-sidekick#add)
[How to Add the Open Sidekick Action](https://help.adventive.com/en/knowledge/action-open-sidekick#add-sidekick)
[How to Configure the Open Sidekick Action](https://help.adventive.com/en/knowledge/action-open-sidekick#configure)
### How to Add Actions to an Ad Unit
**Actions** are single-event operations to trigger something specific to happen within your ad build. Any asset, text box, shape or [Hitbox](https://help.adventive.com/en/knowledge/tools-hit-box) can have a corresponding [Action](https://help.adventive.com/en/knowledge/user-initiated-actions) set to it.
1. Choose the ad format and dimensions of the ad unit you wish to add the Action to. For guidance on building specific formats, check out [this article](https://help.adventive.com/en/knowledge/building-ads#ad-formats).
2. Once you have created your ad, select the object you’d like to set an action to.
3. Click the blue "Add Action" button on the right side of the builder:
4. The "Actions" section will then appear in the Properties panel:
5. You have the option to Open URL, Go To Screen, Open Adhesion, Open Overlay, Open as Full Page Flex, Open Sidekick, Call, Close Ad, Add To Calendar, Email, or Download File.
### How to Add the Open Sidekick Action
The Open Sidekick action expands the unit from either the left or right side of the screen, pushing the page content left or right with an accompanying screen expanding out. This can be triggered on user click, hover over, hover off, timed, or in view.
1. Select the asset or object on your canvas that you'd like to add the Open Sidekick Action to.
2. Select **Open Sidekick** from the dropdown menu:
3. Once selected, the following fields will show:
### How to Configure the Open Sidekick Action
The configuration options for the Open Sidekick Action are explained below:
| Report Label | (Optional) Append a unique label for the Open Sidekick action, which will display in campaigns and reporting. |
| --- | --- |
| Action | Single-event operations which trigger something specific to happen within an ad build. |
| Action On | The event that will trigger the action. |
| Click | The action is triggered when a user clicks on the action area. |
| Hover Over | Triggers action on mouse hover over. |
| Hover Off | Triggers action on mouse hover off. |
| Timed | Set the amount of time in seconds before the action is triggered. ***\*** If selected, you'll be prompted to set the **Frequency** of how often you want the Sidekick to automatically open, as well as the **Delay** time. You also have the option to **cancel the timed action on engagement (optional)**. More information below.* |
| In View | Triggers the action when ad comes into view. ***\*** If selected, you'll be prompted to set the **Frequency** of how often you want the ad to automatically open. More information below.* |
| **Sidekick Position** | Choose the position where the Sidekick will open: - **Right Of Screen -** Sidekick will open to the right side of the initial screen, and the page content will shift to left to accommodate. - **Center Of Screen -** Sidekick will open in center of screen, and move initial screen, and the page content will shift to left to accommodate. |
| **Page Content Position** | Choose the position of the initial screen and page content after the Sidekick opens: - **Left Of Sidekick -** Initial screen and page content will move directly to the left side of the Sidekick screen after the Sidekick opens. - **Left Of Screen -** Initial screen and page content will move to the far left side of the browser window after the Sidekick opens. |
| **Screen** | The screen in the ad unit that will launch/open the Sidekick. |
| Transition Time | Speed of the transition animation (Default is set at 300ms). |
**Open Sidekick - Action On Click** – User click triggers the action.
1. Select **Click** from the Action On dropdown menu:
2. Select the Sidekick Position:
3. Select the Page Content Position:
4. Select the screen in the ad unit that will launch/open when the action is triggered:
***\* Note -** Be sure you have added **screens** before you get to this step, or they will not be available in the drop down menu. More information on adding additional screens can be found within our [Screens & Layers](https://help.adventive.com/en/knowledge/screens-layers) article.*
***\* **When adding a second screen, the second screen can be be the same width as your first screen, but does not necessarily need to be, depending on your ad.*
5. Set the speed of the transition animation (Default is set at 300ms):
6. Upload a custom Close Button Icon (optional).
7. Add your report label (optional).
**Open Sidekick - Action On Hover Over** – User triggers the action on mouse hover over.
1. Select **Hover Over** from the Action On dropdown menu:
2. Select the Sidekick Position:
3. Select the Page Content Position:
4. Select the screen in the ad unit that will launch/open when the action is triggered:
***\* Note -** Be sure you have added **screens** before you get to this step, or they will not be available in the drop down menu. More information on adding additional screens can be found within our [Screens & Layers](https://help.adventive.com/en/knowledge/screens-layers) article.*
***\* **When adding a second screen, the second screen can be be the same width as your first screen, but does not necessarily need to be, depending on your ad.*
5. Set the speed of the transition animation (Default is set at 300ms):
6. Upload a custom Close Button Icon (optional).
7. Add your report label (optional).
**Open Sidekick - Action On Hover Off** – User triggers the action on mouse hover off.
1. Select **Hover Off** from the Action On dropdown menu:
2. Select the Sidekick Position:
3. Select the Page Content Position:
4. Select the screen in the ad unit that will launch/open when the action is triggered:
***\* Note -** Be sure you have added **screens** before you get to this step, or they will not be available in the drop down menu. More information on adding additional screens can be found within our [Screens & Layers](https://help.adventive.com/en/knowledge/screens-layers) article.*
***\* **When adding a second screen, the second screen can be be the same width as your first screen, but does not necessarily need to be, depending on your ad.*
5. Set the speed of the transition animation (Default is set at 300ms):
6. Upload a custom Close Button Icon (optional).
7. Add your report label (optional).
**Open Sidekick - Action On Timed** – Set the amount of time in seconds before the action is triggered.
1. Select **Timed** from the Action On dropdown menu:
2. Select the Sidekick Position:
3. Select the Page Content Position:
4. Select the screen in the ad unit that will launch/open when the action is triggered:
***\* Note -** Be sure you have added **screens** before you get to this step, or they will not be available in the drop down menu. More information on adding additional screens can be found within our [Screens & Layers](https://help.adventive.com/en/knowledge/screens-layers) article.*
***\* **When adding a second screen, the second screen can be be the same width as your first screen, but does not necessarily need to be, depending on your ad.*
5. Set the speed of the transition animation (Default is set at 300ms):
6. Select the **Frequency** of expansion:
7. Set the delay (in seconds) before the action is triggered:
8. You have the option to **Cancel On Engagement** - cancels the timed action if the user engages with the ad unit (includes hovering over the ad for 2+ seconds).
9. Upload a custom Close Button Icon (optional).
10. Add your report label (optional).
**Open Sidekick - Action On In View** – Triggers the action when the ad comes into view.
1. Select **In View** from the Action On dropdown menu:
2. Select the Sidekick Position:
3. Select the Page Content Position:
4. Select the screen in the ad unit that will launch/open when the action is triggered:
***\* Note -** Be sure you have added **screens** before you get to this step, or they will not be available in the drop down menu. More information on adding additional screens can be found within our [Screens & Layers](https://help.adventive.com/en/knowledge/screens-layers) article.*
***\* **When adding a second screen, the second screen can be be the same width as your first screen, but does not necessarily need to be, depending on your ad.*
5. Set the speed of the transition animation (Default is set at 300ms):
6. Upload a custom Close Button Icon (optional).
7. Add your report label (optional).
**Save** and [Preview](https://help.adventive.com/en/knowledge/previewing-ads) to test.
#### Additional Notes
**
- [Account settings](https://help.adventive.com/en/knowledge/account-settings)
- [Payments and billing](https://help.adventive.com/en/knowledge/payments-and-billing)
- [Advertisers](https://help.adventive.com/en/knowledge/advertisers)
- [Building Ads](https://help.adventive.com/en/knowledge/building-ads#main-content)
- [Builder Basics](https://help.adventive.com/en/knowledge/building-ads#builder-basics)
- [Ad Formats](https://help.adventive.com/en/knowledge/building-ads#ad-formats)
- [Rich Media Components](https://help.adventive.com/en/knowledge/building-ads#rich-media-components)
- [User initiated actions](https://help.adventive.com/en/knowledge/building-ads#user-initiated-actions)
- [Tools](https://help.adventive.com/en/knowledge/building-ads#tools)
- [Embedded Players](https://help.adventive.com/en/knowledge/building-ads#embedded-players)
- [Best Practices](https://help.adventive.com/en/knowledge/building-ads#best-practices)
- [Adventive Services](https://help.adventive.com/en/knowledge/building-ads#adventive-services)
- [Campaigns & Trafficking](https://help.adventive.com/en/knowledge/campaigns-trafficking#main-content)
- [Third Party Tracking](https://help.adventive.com/en/knowledge/campaigns-trafficking#third-party-tracking)
- [Ad Tags](https://help.adventive.com/en/knowledge/campaigns-trafficking#ad-tags)
- [Delivery Groups](https://help.adventive.com/en/knowledge/campaigns-trafficking#delivery-groups)
- [Reporting](https://help.adventive.com/en/knowledge/reporting#main-content)
- [Reports](https://help.adventive.com/en/knowledge/reporting#reports)
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