File Exchange CSV fields - job abandoned with no error message

[huntfor]

@dollybeauty and @shipscript  Here's the file we're discussing.

http://s000.tinyupload.com/?file_id=00851142603746333946

Can I delete it from the server it was generated from?

Thank you!

[huntfor]

Hi @dollybeauty,

 Thank you for the words of encouragement. I didn't intend to create multiple variation listings with the single listing csv that I created.

 I started out with a variation listing and then @shipscript  suggested that I create a single item listing just so that I can have a successful upload. That worked!

 I had a revelation this afternoon and hope to produce positive results tomorrow! 

 It's too bad I can't edit my own posts to remove erroneous information from earlier discussions within a forum post. 

 Enjoy the rest of the weekend  and thanks for the excellent help!

[dollybeauty]

The actual manufacturer's sku and product MPN designation, is always best. Only when you are crafting a handmade item or just can not find the original manufacturer's info, do you creatively assign private info into these fields.

Remember, this is not just eBay. Google (Bing, etc) is another big player here. If a buyer is looking for blue widgets, Great!, they will get your listing from the title that says 'Blue Widget'. You also want them to see your item if that blue widget is made by Widget, inc, and has a Widget, Inc part number of blue. This is the entire idea behind Item Specifics. The more info you can add to your listing, the more they will come up in eBay searches and the searches conducted by the other major search engines.

[huntfor]

I'll use the sku's they supply.  The MPN's are another story. Does eBay allow spaces in image file names?

The template I downloaded from the file exchange homepage doesn't have any columns pre-filled with MPN. Does it have to be in a certain column and is it OK for me to add the column myself?

[shipscript]

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@huntfor wrote:

Does eBay allow spaces in image file names?

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eBay does, but I guess the real question is whether the File Exchange data format will correctly escape the spaces. My feeling is that it will because of the expectation of string data, but if not, then %20 will need to replace every space. Want me to test?

[huntfor]

No thank you! You really have more important things to do. Since I seem to have the gist of things I can plug-in different things myself and see if they work. 

[dollybeauty]

To use spaces in an image name....https://www.example.com/images/this%20is%20an%20example%20image%20with%20spaces.jpg....replace the space with '%20'.

MPN is the same as Manufacturer's Part Number. You can use C:MPN instead of C:Manufacturer's Part Number (I can be a bit lazy. Guess which one I use). The MPN comes from the manufacturer. It is perfectly ok to use the SKU number in this field. Just be consistent.

FileExchange will ignore any column that does not contain a keyword heading, except for C: item specifics. If you add a C:Breakfast to your template, then you can use the value...'I had oatmeal this AM', and that will be placed in your item's item specifics. If you leave off the C:, and have a column Breakfast, that column will be ignored by FileExchange.

Columns can be added or deleted (except the columns with an *). Do not add a column before Action.

[huntfor]

For the image file names, I'll just add dashes where they have spaces.  Easier for me. No sense in creating even more work.

About MPN and SKU: That's perfect. Thank you.  Of course I would also use C:MPN instead of spelling it out.

 I want to make sure I understand this. I will name a column C:MPN and I will enter the manufacturer's SKU numbers into that column. 

Yes?

[dollybeauty]

@huntfor 

Yes. But most templates already have a C:MPN column. Multiple columns with the same name will give an error. Even two blank columns will error.

[huntfor]

I found the C:MPN column. I think I got off the track when looking for the SKU column 

[shipscript]

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@huntfor wrote:

No thank you! You really have more important things to do. Since I seem to have the gist of things I can plug-in different things myself and see if they work. 

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I had to find out for myself.   The answer is no. When I tried a tab delimited file that included an image URL with spaces (which was third in a lineup of four), the system rejected the file due to the third image.

Error - Input data for tag <Item.PictureDetails.PictureURL[3]> is invalid or missing

So you will indeed need to modify or correct any image names that include spaces.

[huntfor]

That's very good to know.  I always have to edit the supplier's links anyway because they use upper and lower case as well as spaces.