SWHelp:Bulk Uploader
From StampWantsWiki
Please note that the new Bulk Uploader (v 2.0) is fully compatible with the old Bulk Uploader. Any files which you created to work with the old Bulk Uploader will work with the new Bulk Uploader (v 2.0).
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Introduction
The StampWants Bulk Uploader is a simple yet powerful feature that you can use to easily create listings in bulk. With our newly redesigned Bulk Uploader 2.0, listing items on StampWants has never been easier. To list items, all you need to do is enter a few fields (using the simplest format; this is title, description, price, category and image) into a spreadsheet, upload your file, and then activate your listings. It's fast and easy, and anyone can do it. The format of the file you need to upload is called a 'comma separated value file,' or csv for short. If you don't know what this means, don't worry about it. If you use a program such as Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Works Spreadsheet or OpenOffice.org's Calc (a free program you can download here: www.openoffice.org), you can easily save your file in the correct format.
Our new Bulk Uploader is completely customizable and very flexible. You only need to fill in the fields you will be changing in each listing, and anything which will remain the same you can easily set to a default on the Bulk Uploader page; just click "Click Here to Use/Expand" next to the Bulk Upload Default Settings heading to display all the fields and options you can set for all your listings you upload. You can even click to import all of your settings (such as shipping, payment, etc.) from your last listing!
How to Get Started
To get started, log in to StampWants and click on "Bulk Uploader" in the My StampWants area.
Creating Your File
Start with a template
To create your Bulk Upload file, the easiest way to get started is to use one of our templates. Just download any of the files below, open them in any spreadsheet program, fill in the fields and save the file (make sure if you are prompted for file type, you select "CSV (comma separated values)" or "Text CSV").
We offer several templates depending on the type of listings you are looking to create. You can also create your own template to use by adding any fields you want to your file. For a complete list of fields, as well as the values which those fields can contain, visit the Bulk Uploader Fields List page.
If you use any of the simple or extended templates, be sure to click "Click Here to Use/Expand" next to the Bulk Upload Default Settings heading on the Bulk Uploader page, so that you can set default values.
To get started download the most appropriate template for you listing needs below. Remember that certain fields may have specific values and formats which need to be used, and you can review what they are on the Bulk Uploader Fields List page. Also, please remember that you can always add any additional fields you would like to use to any template by simply adding the appropriate field to the header row (the first row):
- Simple Auction Listings Template (Local Images) - Includes Title, Description, Starting Bid, Category and Upload Picture Name
- Simple Auction Listings Template (Remote Images) - Includes Title, Description, Starting Bid, Category and Image URL
- Extended Auction Listings Template (Local Images) - Includes all the fields of the Simple Template, and some additional more frequently used fields
- Extended Auction Listings Template (Remote Images) - Includes all the fields of the Simple Template, and some additional more frequently used fields
- Simple Store Listings Template (Local Images) - Includes Title, Description, Buy It Now Price, Category and Upload Picture Name
- Simple Store Listings Template (Remote Images) - Includes Title, Description, Buy It Now Price, Category and Image URL
- Extended Store Listings Template (Local Images) - Includes all the fields of the Simple Template, and some additional more frequently used fields
- Extended Store Listings Template (Remote Images) - Includes all the fields of the Simple Template, and some additional more frequently used fields
To create Fixed Price listings, download any Store Template and enter 1,3,5,7 or 10 for the duration, instead of GTE.
- All Fields Template - Includes All Possible Fields
How to include an image in your template
One of the most important parts of a listing is the image. When uploading your items in bulk, there are two ways that you can upload your images. If you have your own website hosting and can upload your images, you can used the Remote Images Templates, which allows you to use the Image URL field, where you can enter the full URL to your image; for example: http://www.yourwebhost.com/images/yourstamp.jpg . If you do not have your own web hosting, you can use the Local Images Templates, which will let you use the Upload Picture Name field, where all you need to do is enter the name of your image, including extension; for example: c3a-1.jpg . If you use the Local Images option, after you upload your bulk upload file, be sure to click on the Upload Your Images link on the Bulk Upload page before you activate your listings. This will allow you to select all the images on your computer which are needed for your listings.
If you want to upload more than 1 image for a single listing, you can do this by separating multiple images with a ; (semicolon). This will work for both the Image URL field, as well as the Upload Picture Name field. An example of this for the Upload Picture Name field would be: mystamp1.jpg;mycert1.jpg
Auction listings, Fixed Price Listings and Store Listings
You can create Auction Listings, Fixed Price Listings and Store Listings all in the same file. To do so, include the following fields in your template: Starting Bid, Buy It Now Price and Duration. For auction listings, set a Starting Bid, leave the Buy It Now Price blank (or higher than the starting bid if you wish to include a Buy It Now price as well), and for Duration enter 1,3,5,7 or 10. For a fixed price listing, do the same, but leave Starting Bid blank and fill in the Buy It Now Price. For store listings, fill in the Buy It Now price, and set the duration equal to GTE (which stands for Good Til Ended - Store Item). Note: When creating fixed price and store listings you can leave the Starting Bid blank, or set it equal to the Buy It Now price, whichever your prefer.
Magic Categories!
For the Category and Additional Category fields, you must enter the category code number of the category you wish to list your item in. A full list of category codes can be found on the Category Codes page. However, there are 2 special category codes which you may also use, which are quite powerful and simple to use.
Category Code: 1 is a special code for use with United States stamps, that will look at the first "word" in the title, which needs to be a Scott Number. It will also look for the keywords Mint, MH, MNH, Used or UnUsed in your title to determine the appropriate category for that item. So for example, if the title is 550, Mint XF NH Jumbo With PFC Cat $100.00+ it would know that a # 550 Mint belongs in the 1901-1940 UnUsed category. This applies to all Back of the Book items as well. The only time you would not want to use the special Category Code: 1 for a United States stamp is if you do not want it to be placed in a category based on it's Scott number. For example, if you are listing a Plate Block and you want it to be listed in the Plate Block category (or it is an EFO, or a Sheet, etc); or if it is not a regular issue or a back of the book item (such as possession, Confederate States, etc). In these cases, you should just use the category code as indicated on the Category Codes page. This will work as long as you start with the US Scott Number, such as 550, or a number sign and the Scott number, such as #550.
Category Code: 3 is a special code for use with Non United States stamps which will look at the first "word" in the title, which needs to be the country. So for example, Austria # 1 would automatically be placed in Austria. For any country which has multiple sub-categories, like Canada and Great Britain, you should not use the Category Code: 3, but instead find the appropriate category code you want to place your listing in. You will also need to find the appropriate category code you want to place your listing in if you want your item to appear in a Topical category, or any other category which is not determined by the country.
Magic Categories are provided as a convenience to sellers. However, StampWants is not responsible if your items are listed in the wrong categories. Whenever possible, we recommend that you use the actual category code of the category you want to list in to ensure that your item is listed in the category that you want it to be listed in.
HTMLize your descriptions
Entering HTML code into a spreadsheet can often be confusing and hard to work with. Thanks to our new HTMLize your listings, you can skip entering any HTML for your listing in the description field of your Bulk Upload file. Instead, you can just enter plain text for your description and then use the HTMLize your description feature on the Bulk Upload page (be sure to click "Click Here to Use/Expand" next to the Bulk Upload Default Settings heading if you do not see the HTMLize your description area). Here you can create an HTML template using our advanced editor, or just enter in your own HTML code. Then, all you need to do is include ::TITLE:: , ::DESCRIPTION:: and/or ::IMAGE:: anywhere in the HTMLize area or in the HTML source code. (Please note that the words are all in upper case and surrounded on both sides by two colons.) When you upload your listings, the descriptions will then be replaced with the HTML from the HTMLize area, and the title, description and image will be replaced with the title, description and image of each listing. This way, you do not need to worry about entering HTML in the bulk upload file. Of course if you want to, you still can.
Uploading Your File
Select Your File
Click on the "Browse" button on the Bulk Uploader page to select your Bulk Upload file, which you saved on your computer. Remember, that your file needed to be saved as a *.csv file. If you downloaded one of our templates, and clicked save, it would have been automatically saved as a *.csv file. (Note For Mac Users: When saving your file, if you have the option to save the file as a CSV (DOS or Windows) file, use that option, as the default CSV file format on Macs may not work properly).
Select Your Default Settings
If you use any template which does not contain all of the available fields, be sure to click "Click Here to Use/Expand" next to the Bulk Upload Default Settings heading on the Bulk Uploader page, so that you can set default values for listings. The Default Settings on the Bulk Upload page will fill in for any field which is left blank in your Bulk Upload file, or is omitted.
Loading Settings
The easiest way to fill in the Default Settings on the Bulk Upload page is to load the settings from any template you may have created, or simply the last auction you created. Just click Use an Existing Template or Import Settings from Your Last Created Listing. Please take note that if you are using the HTMLize your description feature, you will need to replace any titles, descriptions and/or images, with the special HTMLize keywords - otherwise the HTMLize feature will not be applied. Note: If you are loading settings from an existing template or listing, you will need to re-select your Bulk Upload file using the "Browse" button, as the page will be reloaded.
HTMLize Your Descriptions
Entering HTML code into a spreadsheet can often be confusing and hard to work with. Thanks to our new HTMLize your listings, you can skip entering any HTML for your listing in the description field of your Bulk Upload file. Instead, you can just enter plain text for your description and then use the HTMLize your description feature on the Bulk Upload page (be sure to click "Click Here to Use/Expand" next to the Bulk Upload Default Settings heading if you do not see the HTMLize your description area). Here you can create an HTML template using our advanced editor, or just enter in your own HTML code. Then, all you need to do is include ::TITLE:: , ::DESCRIPTION:: and/or ::IMAGE:: anywhere in the HTMLize area or in the HTML source code (Please note that the words are all in upper case and surrounded on both sides by two colons.) When you upload your listings, the descriptions will then be replaced with the HTML from the HTMLize area, and the title, description and image will be replaced with the title, description and image of each listing. This way, you do not need to worry about entering HTML in the bulk upload file. Of course if you want to, you still can. Note: If you are using the load settings feature, the HTMLize area will be populated with the description from your last listing. Be sure to replace any titles, descriptions and/or images, with the special HTMLize keywords. If the ::DESCRIPTION:: keyword is not used, the HTMLize feature will not be applied, and your descriptions will only be what you entered into the Description field of your Bulk Upload file.
Starting Your Listings at a Later Date
From the Start Time section of the Default Settings on the Bulk Upload page, you can easily schedule your listings to start at a later date and time. Just set the date and the interval between listings. The first listing in your Bulk Upload file will have a scheduled date and time of the date and time you set on the page. The next listing will be scheduled to start at the first listing's date and time plus the interval you set. The next listing will be scheduled to start at the previous listing's date and time plus the interval you set, etc. Note: Your listings will only start at the specified date and time if you first activate them on the Bulk Upload page. If you do not activate them, they will remain in the Review, Edit & Activate section. Also, if you activate your listings after the date and time which is set for them, the start date and time will be adjusted to when you activate your listings.
Upload Your File
Once you have selected your Bulk Upload file, and selected the Default Settings (if applicable), click the "Submit Information & Listings" button. Note: Do not close your browser or leave the page until it is finished loading.
Activating Your Listings
Once you upload your Bulk Upload file, your listings will appear in the Review, Edit & Delete section of the Bulk Upload page (you will only see this section if you have listings waiting to be activated). All listings, including those which are scheduled to be listed at a later date and time must first be activated before they will be listed.
Review, Edit & Delete
The Review, Edit & Activate section allows you to review, edit, delete and activate your listings. The table will initially display a max of 50 items to allow the page to load quickly. Anytime you scroll to a point in the grid where your items are not yet displayed, they will be displayed in approximately 1 second. You can sort the grid by any column by clicking on the column heading. You can also edit most fields by double clicking in the cell. You can select individual rows by clicking on them once. You can use the Ctrl and Shift keys on your keyboard to select multiple rows (hold ctrl and click to select additional rows, and hold shift and click to select a range). Once you have selected one or more rows, you can click to Activate those listings or to Delete them. You can also click to activate or delete all of the listings in the grid. Note: If you use shift to select a range of listings, you will only select those which you have viewed on the page, and have been loaded into the gird. For example, if you have 500 items you cannot simply click on the first item, and then the last with shift and click delete, as only the first 50, and last few would be loaded if those are all you have viewed.
Upload Images
If your Bulk Upload file contained any local images (not URLs to images), you will need to upload these images to StampWants before you activate your listings, otherwise your listings will not have any images. To upload your images, click the link "Upload Local Images", follow the instructions, and return to the Bulk Upload page once you have uploaded your images.
Activate Your Listings
To activate your listings, you can either select individual listings in the Review, Edit & Activate section, and then click the "Activate Selected" button, or activate your listings the easier way by clicking on the "Activate All" button. Note: You must let the page finish loading once you click to activate your listings. Depending on the amount of items you are activating, the page can take a very long time to finish loading.
