Turbo Lister.

Turbo Lister is an ebay program which speeds up the auction listing process and can store auction templates with all the category details. Turbo lister can be downloaded from the homepage. This guide shows how to use TL to create auction listings quickly using HTML.

Using Turbo Lister.

Once installed TL may be used either on-line or off-line, this guide is for using TL when connected to the web.
To create a listing click on Create New | Create New Item . This will open a new page containing all the areas to create a new listing. This page can be customised by clicking the Customise link (top right corner) and then selecting the required sections.

To make a new auction listing select Description Builder, on the description page there are three main areas; Design View, HTML View and Preview. When using HTML to create the listing the design view should not be used.

Open your auction design with the HTML-kit editor, copy the HTML and paste it into Turbo Lister's HTML view. The design can be previewed in the preview area, if necessary amend the HTML code in the HTML view. If a lot of changes are required then go back to the HTML-kit editor to do the rework.

There is an area to add a free photo using the ebay photo service, this is used for a main photo at the bottom of the auction, a small photo at the top left of the auction and also as the Gallery/Listing photo (which costs 15p). This photo should be no more than 400 pixels in width and be of a square format. A photo editor may be used to produce this format.

The auction can be previewed in the Preview area.

On the left of the description area is the listing designer feature, this may be used but their are fees for this function.
Continue with the auction listing by going to the next page. Here there are the forms for completing postage, payment start price details. Also a Gallery/Listing picture can be added by using the upgrade listing feature. Once these details are done click on save.

HTML Templates for Turbo Lister.

All of the HTML auction templates on this website have been designed for compatibility with Turbo Lister. Free auction template designs can be found in the Templates page.

Turbo Lister can perform HTML checks and then delete HTML not suitable for eBay. TL checks the HTML when switching between design view and HTML view, this happens after changes have been made in the design view. To stop this happening use Ebay complient coding, all the templates in Erns-Eporium are ebay complient.

Important; If the design view is used when editing text be aware of how the Enter key works. As well as starting a new line it can also repeat the HTML coding and so could cause unwanted effects to the page design. To start a new line use the Shift + Enter keys.

The listing design work and rework can be done using an HTML editor (or equivalent) and then the HTML pasted into TL's HTML area, this is a quick and easy process. Turbo Lister's design view can be used to amend the listing for errors such as typing mistakes or for final adjustments. The preview section can be used to view the design.

Back-ups for Turbo Lister.

A copy of the auction remains with TL and contains all of the listing information such as categories, postage etc. This can be used as a template for creating new auctions. Having these listings stored in Turbo Lister represents a lot of work and effort and so it is important to make backup copies to prevent loss.

There are two methods for backing up Turbo Lister. All of the auction listings may be saved by the backup database tool. First create a folder on your PC where the backups are to stored. In TL select File then "Backup Database" then give it an unique name (eg backup1) and select where it is to be saved, ok it. For extra security the backup should be written to a CD. To restore a database select File, "Restore Database" and then the file containing the listings. After restoration the TL files/folders may need renaming.

With the second method it is possible backup individual listings or groups of listings and also restore from individual listings or groups. To use this method, first highlight/select the listings to be saved and then go to File then "Export Selected Items", in the pop-up window select "Turbo Lister Format" click export and create a name for the file and save. To restore listings select File then "Import Items" and the file to be restored. After restoration the files/folder may need renaming. Using this method it is also possible to import listings already uploaded to ebay.

To be totally secure with backups it is best to make copies using both methods and also to make copies to external storage devices such as CD's.

Updating Turbo Lister.

Ebay regularly updates TL, this is normally done automatically after an auction upload, which can be inconvenient. To update manually; go to tools and then "check for updates", this can be done at a convenient time when on line. Also in the tools menu, under Options then Advanced Options, there are more settings for program updates.

Uploading to ebay

When completed the auction listing can be added to the upload area to await upload to Ebay. The auction listing in the upload area can be uploaded individually or in multiples.

Passwords

If you change your password on Ebay then you must also update your password in Turbo Lister. If you change your password in Turbo Lister then you must also update your password on Ebay. Your ID and password inTL and Ebay must be the same as this information is used when then listings are uploaded to Ebay.

To change your password in TL, first login then go to tools and select options. In the pop-up window select Personal Information and Ebay Account. This gives access to the change password screen.