How do you remove the junk comment text from Ebay CSV files ? Extracting ebay report data and fees
Earlier I posted here a question how do get the CSV files from Ebay in an importable format. Right now Ebay provides Order and Transaction report which all the junk at the top of the file above the headers. That junk is meant for a novice user to understand how the file is structured and what is what. But once the CSV import process is setup, there is no need for that junk anymore. Ebay could have put it simply into a separate sample file but not include it with every and each download. That makes me to open the CSV every single day and delete the 1st few rows and save it. While apparently Excel macros can do that, it didn't work for me on MacOS. Although Excel for MacOS includes Macros, MacOS version of MS Office is more limited than the Windows version (I am using the installed MS Office, not Office 365).
3d seller solution includes import file from ebay and they also include fees which is great, but their monthly fees went up quite a bit.
Are there any other solutions to that allows me to bring in the ebay fees?
Anyhow, finally I came across and excellent tool for manipulating CSV files. I save a recipe and assuming the input file name is the same, run it and it will remove the junk. It's called Easy Data Transform. It's quite expensive but it pays me back so I don't need to open the CSV every day and edit that because having to edit that sucks alot.
itolduandso
OP3 years agoI confirmed with regards to Easy Data Transform application it can be setup to validate the columns and verify the field names.
Two more options and they both skip the text before headers and they both validate the columns, so if ebay changes the headers, you get a warning.
CSVBox
https://csvbox.io/
EasyCSV
https://www.easycsv.io/
itolduandso
OP3 years agoDoesn't allow me to edit the post, wanted to add:
The EasyDataTransform has an option to add Javascript so maybe I'll look into it if there is a way to create some kind of CRC check on the columns names and compare with a control number. I would need a programmer on tasker then because I am not a programmer.
itolduandso
OP3 years agoThanks for warning. Is there no blog or what's new page that would mention those upcoming changes or changes that were done on CSV page?
While I am aware Ebay likes to make announced changed and puts in small print their are not liable for any mistakes in their CSV reports, you have to go to website to check the data. It's nuts, so you basically are required to look at their site and type things of the website manually. Most companies have this limited liability statement but ebay takes it to the full limits by making the changes when it pleases without informing the users. Big companies have accounting systems to catch it up of course.
I download them every day because I like to see profitability on my items right away rather than over the time.
The sales order report, although has less junk, still has the junk rows above the actual headers start. I need the sales order report to clear cross-postings I have on other sites. The cross post services are expensive, I rather do that myself and to cover so many sites I would just pay multiple cross-posters to do that, so I do that myself and save tons of money.