Ads import begins from a client page: admin_user_import.asp. This page outlines ads import methods, provides a step by step instruction for preparing data templates, provides links for downloading blank templates and links to data fields references. (the "admin_" prefix in a page name is for the page display without portal bars even if they are enabled for every page).

Logon to any user account and navigate to admin_user_import.asp page. Data entering instructions and fields reference are pretty much outlined within this and linked as "Template Fields Reference" reference pages.

Download template for the selected method. For easy identification the template you have downloaded would have a user ID prefix in a name. Go through references using clickable Spreadsheet picture map at admin_user_reference.asp to get familiar with each reference.

Below is a general information (about some data fields), which is not covered at fields references page.

Required fields

Although, as you may see, there are quite a few fields might be filled within template, the required are only 4 for Ads Import and 5 for Ads Import +:

category
subject
description
city
email (for Import + only)

In general if some client does not have an Excel, you may ask to send ads list in a text file, but then you would have to compile the list into Excel template by yourself. The main reason text templates (delimiter separated data) are not covered or supported - is the description field. This field might be formatted with new lines or carriage returns, which would immediately invalidate the text file which must have one ad record per line.

Hot list

If you are running a Free mode the field hotlist is irrelevant. In any Pay Mode the field should have a value of 0 - not in a hot list  or 1 - in a hot list. Although it filled by a client who may enter 1 for all 1000 ads you would probably need to negotiate a price condition for allowing ads into hot list and possibly revert some of the 1's to 0's. But it's entirely up to you. You may also set the field to 0 for all ads but then apply a certain amount of credits to user account and have them insert some ads into hot list later on when ads are posted.

Category Options fields

Note: To avoid confusion and data inconsistency, make sure options and options sets are developed and properly set. Be sure to completely understand category options and option sets before reading further.

The page getopt.asp which is linked from admin_user_reference.asp (link I would like to receive the list of the optional fields for each category) creates a downloadable html page with the list of definitions for optional fields for each category. This is the page, which would be used by your clients to gather possible values and definition of a particular option for the selected category. If you have an options set linked to a particular option it would be built as a text area so that client may copy/paste option value directly from a page.

You need to be aware of the fact that even when clients are presented with the option set (let's say yes|no for example for option1), they still may enter data, which is not part of the options you have available (for instance enter yeah instead of yes or no). Such entries do not pose a direct threat to data consistency in a database. And as you can imagine it is not possible to review all data entered by a client for 1000 ads specifically if you have developed options with various options sets linked to them. But it is still advisable to glance or manually review the template filled by your clients if you for instance have a few global options available so that the inconsistency may be easily spotted.

There are some cases however, when options would be a mandatory and required. If you linked an option set with a range and moreover if you made it searchable, then the particular option must have a numeric value. When the getopt.asp generates option definitions, the fields with applied range would be marked as mandatory. The consequences of not filling this field with numeric value would result in advanced search crash if the option is made searchable.

The import script would evaluate mandatory numeric options (still it's better to identify and review mandatory range options manually before running import), but it will not evaluate textual option sets (i.e. options other than a range type) for consistency.

Ads Style

The reference for field style would be available if you checked "Allow clients to Select Ad Styles" in Admin Preferences. Ads in this case may have a different appearance on a full ad view page depending on a style name selected by a client for each ad.

Duration

This field is for Ads Import Plus only. Although it's not a mandatory field, it's highly recommended to fill it. Not only fill but set various durations for ads if there are over 100 ads are planned to import in one day with this method. The reason is following: When the duration is the same for say 500 ads, then all 500 ads would expire in one day. This means a bottleneck as normally ads expire with a "fresh" user visit. Generally there is a proportion between traffic and number of posted ads in a day - the more traffic you have at your site, the more accounts created and more ads posted. Consequently with high traffic ads expiration process does not halt no matter how many ads are posted online because of natural balance. However, when you post 500 ads in a day and the traffic is not that high, the expiration or imported ads may delay for days when expiration time comes. That is why it is recommended to vary the ads duration with Ads Import Plus method. If planned to run all 500 ads for 180 days, then set some ads for 180, some for 181, 182 .. etc with the increment of no more than 100 (less is better) ads per fixed duration.

Note: The Ads Import method utilizes the same duration for all ads regardless the ads number posted in one day. But then Ads Import utilizes a different (global) expiration and repost procedure than Ads Import Plus (see "Import Management" chapter of this manual).

Price

The "price" field does not exist in downloadable templates. This field, if included, may be used to set the ads price individually. Note: this is NOT the price for the item client may list within the ad but rather the price for particular ad posted at your classified. This field is not included intentionally to prevent the client confusion. Generally the specific price for ALL ads within the Import database is specified during the actual, online Import procedure. However, if you would like to have a different price to be set for individual ads within the Import database, then you may ADD this field to the template. To add the field just type price within the header (row 1 within Excel template) at the next available column (for Ads Import template it would be AL column and for Ads Import Plus it would be AM column). After you create a new header, just enter the a specific price for each ad. The price should be a number (n.nn) format is preferred. You may leave the price field empty for some ads and then specify a price during online Import which would fill blanks.

Note: The price field is symbolic for Free mode and Package mode. It would only be used in Credits mode when client decides to repost imported ad individually.