Auction Template Instructions

How to Open and Save the Notepad File

Your auction template will be sent to you in a notepad file.

Double click to open it.
If the file does not automatically open in notepad, try having notepad open first (see below for how to find notepad).
Once the file is open in notepad, choose "save as" from the file menu. Give it a name with an html extension. That is, after the name, type .html. (Right now it has a text (txt) extension.)

template_name.txt
change to
template_name.html

In the "save as type" dialogue box, scroll down to choose "all files." (This is crucial) Before you click save, browse to find a place where you want the file saved. Many people chose their desktop, at least for now. Then click save. It should automatically save in your default browser. If it does not, right click on the file icon, then choose the browser you prefer.

Your template can be viewed in 2 formats, as a web site, and as a notepad file. It is as a notepad file that you can view and modify the HTML code. This is where you will find the directions. You should have both files open when you are modifying your auction template.

Some things to remember:

Do not use Microsoft Word or WordPerfect to modify your template's HTML code.
What is notepad? Notepad is a simple text editor used to modify code.
Can't find notepad? Go to "Start Menu", go to "All Programs", go to "Accessories", scroll down unitl you see notepad. Double click to open it.
Some email programs interfere with the HTML code a/o will not allow you to open the template attachment. If this occurs, don't panic! Email for further instructions.

How to Modify the Auction Template (TEXT)

Your auction template has been embedded with instructions within the HTML code in special tags called "comment tags." Below is an example of a comment used in an auction template:

TYPE YOUR AUCTION TITLE HERE.

To modify the text, you will quite literally type over the text in the places indicated by the comments. It's that easy.

Once you are done typing in a section, save the notepad file (top left under "file"), then go to your browser and refresh the page. You should see your changes.

Some things to remember:

You do not need to remove the comments form the template before you use it. They will not show up in the browser.
Although it is strongly suggested that you not remove HTML tags, feel free to add a paragaph tag <P> where ever you need one. The paragraph tag is just a p enclosed in carets. The opening and closing carets are found on the keyboard above the comma and period keys, just hold down the shift key.
When it comes to the amount of text you wish to use, do not worry about space. Your template will automatically expand to accomodate your text.

How to Modify the Auction Template (IMAGES)

Your auction template has been designed with a certain number of image tags. You can easily add more image tags by copying a tag and pasting it where you want it in the template. You almost certainly want the image centered, so make sure it is enclosed in center tags:

Look closely at the HTML code below. You see the comment tag that explains the image instructions, followed by a designator for the image tag, and then the image tag itself.

The red arrows indicate the parts of the image tag that you should modify. It is important that you modify the width and height for all your images.

Go to your image host, and find your image's url. Copy the url and paste it into place, replacing the url in the image tag. Do not remove the quotation marks. Some things to remember:

Different image hosts have different ways of handling the image url; follow instructions given by your image host.
To find the image's dimensions, locate the image on your desktop, right click on the image's icon, scroll down to propeties and highlight it, then click once to open the properties dialogue box. Now choose the "Summary" tab; the summary will display the image's width and height in pixels.
Although the template will expand to accomoodate any size image, if the image is too wide, it may not fit the screen. As a general rule, do not oinclude images that are over 600 pixels wide, unless you set them up to be viewed in a separate browser. Please email for instructions for how to do this.

How to Modify the Auction Template (LINKS)

The technique for modifying the active link tags is exactly the same as for modifying the image tags, except you will be inserting a website url instead of an image url.

Below is an example of a link tag with it's accompanying comment.

<a href = "http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQfgtpZ1QQfrppZ25QQsassZcreativeQ5fbyQ5fdesign" >

Some things to remember:

How to find your auction listings, add to favorites page, etc: Go to your feedback page (click on your uer name to do this), and you will find all thee links on the right.
An email link is handling differnetly from above, and there are instructions in the template. You find the correct tag, and replace our email address with your own.
If you choose to move or copy an active link tag, rememeber that you will need either an image or some text to display your link. After the image or the text, you will need to close the active link tag: </A>

How to Get your Auction Listing into eBay

Open the document in notepad, and copy all the HTML code -- ALL OF IT. Then paste this into the listing description box provided by ebay. (Where you normally include your auction description.) MAKE SURE AND CHOOSE THE "USE HTML" TAB RIGHT ABOVE THE DESCRIPTION BOX.

Some things to remember:

If you do not have the HTML tab selected when you paste the code into eBay, the graphics will not show up. Either go back or revise your lisitng by deleting everything from the description box, selecting the HTML tab, and pasting the code in again.
You must have an image host to have oyur images show up using an auciton template. The only exception to this is the gallery image.
For the Gallery Image, you can upload the image directly from your desktop or from your image host, it's your choice. You will have to pay the Gallery Fee.

Turbo-Lister

To use Turbo Lister with your auction template, you follow instructions exactly as above, except instead of pasting the code into eBay, you paste it into Turbo Lister's description box. Again, make sure you have the HTML tab selected.

Some things to remember:

You can use Turbo Lister to modify the HTML code, but it is not an HTML editor.
Gallery pictures must be loaded from your desktop, as Turbo Lister has no option to upload from your image host.

Glossary

Browser: The program you use to view the internet, such as IE (Internet Explorer), Netscape, etc.

Caret: The special character that encloses HTMl tags.

Comment Tag: A special HTML tag that embedded to provide inforamtion and/or instruction.

Image Host: A web server where you can load your images for public viewing on the internet.

Tag:A specific HTML code.

Text Editor: A simple text program often used to modify code.

url: A website address.