eBay

philipgibbons · ‎10-07-2022

I am trying to use File Exchange but as I sell books, my data contains lots of commas.

I don't want to use Excel, so I wonder if anyone knows how to use a tab-delimited file?

eunster1313 · ‎10-07-2022

@philipgibbons wrote:
I am trying to use File Exchange but as I sell books, my data contains lots of commas.
I don't want to use Excel, so I wonder if anyone knows how to use a tab-delimited file?

You will get the best help if you post on this board

Seller Tools
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Seller-Tools/bd-p/tools-apps-db

tools_apps_team@ebay · ‎10-07-2022

@philipgibbons wrote:

I am trying to use File Exchange but as I sell books, my data contains lots of commas.

I don't want to use Excel, so I wonder if anyone knows how to use a tab-delimited file?

Hi @philipgibbons,

Tab-delimited files (.txt) can be uploaded in Seller Hub Reports (File Exchange). However, it is difficult working with tab-delimited files in a program such as Notepad since things are not neatly separated into columns and rows.

Most commonly, CSV files (comma delimited or semicolon delimited) are used. Excel files (.xlsx) can also be used. If you're using Microsoft Excel, any commas in item descriptions and such should be automatically handled so that they do not cause a problem.

itsjustasprain · ‎10-07-2022

@philipgibbons wrote:
I am trying to use File Exchange but as I sell books, my data contains lots of commas.
I don't want to use Excel, so I wonder if anyone knows how to use a tab-delimited file?

I thought that when you export a file as comma-delimited then any field values containing commas within the data (such as within a mailing address) are either automatically contained within Double Quotes (as text strings) or get an escape character such as a backslash added before the data comma so that its not confused as a field separator. Is something like that not happening when you export your data?

philipgibbons · ‎10-07-2022

Thank you

I intend generatiing the files directly from a database query.

A field list would be useful but I can't find one on Ebay

philipgibbons · ‎10-07-2022

Not reliably, unfortunately.

lacemaker3 · ‎10-07-2022

@philipgibbons

FYI, eBay recommends that you don't use special characters, punctuation or markers between words in your title. They are a waste of space, and they can lower your item's placing in search engines, both on and off eBay.

Buyers are not going to search for commas, and you're not writing a sentence or a paragraph, so grammar rules don't apply.

https://export.ebay.com/en/listings/how-optimize-your-listings/tips-listing-optimization/

...

philipgibbons · ‎10-08-2022

I don't find the Ebay approach to punctuation very useful.

Proper punctuation is necessary to exact understanding - as in the case of the chair for a lady with Queen Anne legs.

And I am a British dinosaur

Also, I only sell books and each listing is used only once.

Thanks to the helpful answers received, I think I now know what to do viz:-

Upload .txt files with a tab delimiter and establish which fields are actually required - I need to avoid many of the 'item specifics' which lead to misinformation and confusion (such as 'genre'). No information is better than wrong iinformation.

Thanks to all for helping.