CSV Bulk Upload Instructions
 

About CSV (Comma Separated Value) file bulk uploads to Collectors Book Mart

Sellers who can export their book records in a customizable CSV file format can easily import their records into our system. The simple requirement is that correct field values are included in the proper order.

Important: Because the Fine Book Mart system is unique from other used book databases (each uploaded record creates a new listing every time it is uploaded),  be sure you understand the significant differences in the way our Bulk Upload system works.  Edit your item to update its For Sale status, DO NOT upload the record again.

Note: Be sure to add your seller policies and shipping charges to the description field of each individual record.


Step-by-step CSV file to Collectors Book Mart Bulk Upload instructions:

  1. To create a properly formatted CSV file template, download this sample Mart CSV file to your computer.  Open the file with a spreadsheet like Excel, or a plain text editor like Notepad*).
  2. Review the accepted values for the CSV field names and our categories.
  3. Add a row to the CSV file for each Item you want to upload, using valid field values (be sure to put them in the correct order and observe the CSV File Syntax Rules below) and then name and save the file to your computer.
  4. Upload your CSV file to the site by clicking the Browse button above,  selecting the file you just saved, and then clicking the Import button.
  5. Review the upload report. If any Items fail to process, note the reasons.  You can Finish the upload process and come back to those Items for the next upload or you can Cancel and go back and correct the errors that caused the Items not to process. 
  6. Review the Fees for the Items in this Bulk Upload.
  7. Click the Finish button to complete the upload process and move to the Bulk Upload Staging area where you can preview the list of Items you uploaded before posting them to make them live.  Your account will be charged the itemized fees indicated when you click the Finish button.
    Note: You can edit or post your uploaded Items at a later time by clicking on your My Mart link in the Auction Menu Bar and then select the Bulk Upload Staging tab.
  8. From the Bulk Upload Staging area, click on the Edit button next to an Item to review it and make any desired changes before posting.
  9. When you are ready to post an Item, check the Post box to the left of that item (or click on the Select All  button to check the Post boxes for all the items on that page).  Click on the Post Selected button below the listings to post all Items that are checked.

Uploading Images: If you want to upload images to take advantage of our gallery option,  use the edit function to add them either before or after you post them to the live ads.

The easiest and recommended way to edit CSV files is with a spreadsheet application, like Microsoft Excel.   CSV files can also be created or edited with a plain text editor, like Notepad, but you must be very careful to make sure your entries are correct.

General Syntax Rules for creating CSV files:

  • There are two necessary parts for each upload file.  The first part is the first row which must contain the proper column headings and the second part is the group of rows (one per record) that contain the proper field values for each record.  The column headings must not be removed from the first row of your uploaded CSV file.  You can use the sample Item row as a guideline and delete it when you are done.
  • Any field value containing a carriage return, line break, comma or a double-quote character must be surrounded by double-quotes. (To specify a double-quote character within the double-quote surrounded field, you must enter two double-quote characters.)
    (Example: "There is an inscription on the front endpaper, ""To Endora, Regards, Darwin"" ").
     
  • Description field HTML attribute values must always be put inside two double quotes.
    (Example: <font color=""#FF0000"">This is a red font</font>). 

    Tip:  Always put long description field text or HTML within double-quotes to avoid overlooking a format breaking comma, carriage return, or line break.
     
  • Several fields in the CSV file must have valid values in them before a Mart item will have the minimum requirements to be accepted.  Any of the Mart items in the CSV file that do not contain these minimum requirements will fail to process.  (The seller will be presented with a list of these failed Mart items on the Bulk Upload Preview page.)  The fields that require valid values are:

*If you are using a plain text editor:


  Special syntax rules when using a plain text editor:
  • Each Item must have exactly 24 field values separated by commas (to match the 24 column headings).
  • Each Item must have exactly 23 commas separating the field values (there is no comma after the last field value).  Commas within field values must be enclosed with double quotes (see the General CSV Syntax rules above).
  • Each Item (row) must be separated by a Carriage Return (pressing Enter) or a Line Break (pressing Shift+Enter).

    Tip: The regular word wrap function of your plain text editor will not cause a problem, but do not press the Enter key at any other time while you are entering your data into the CSV fields.  Any Carriage Return or Line Break will start a new Item (row) unless it is within double-quotes.


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