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What upload formats does Biblio accept?


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We can accommodate nearly any type of upload format or database software.  Here is a short list of just some of the formats we already work with:

Access 

The Art of Books  

Basil Bookstore Software   

Bookhound 

Booklist

Bookmate  

Booktrakker  

BookRouter  

Excel  

HomeBase   

Monsoon

Neatoscan

We also accept custom upload formats, with the following FIVE (5) minimum required fields:

Your record number (sometimes referred to as an inventory number, seller sku, SKU, dealer book ID, or item number), author, title, description (this can be a simple format indicator such as "hardcover" or "softcover", or a more detailed description of the book and its condition) and price.

Delimiters (characters which separate data fields): We recommend that tabs or pipes be used as delimiters if possible, as tab and pipe characters are rare in book descriptions, whereas commas are frequently used.

We can process uploads in nearly any format, as long as the data format is a regular delimited text file, including tab, pipe, and comma delimited files, as well as UIEE format.  Those kinds of files can be generated from many common types of software, including Excel and Access.  If you are using a spreadsheet program to manage your inventory, we reccommend exporting your book information in Tab delimited, .txt (text) format.

Field Definitions: We recommend making the first line of the upload file a data dictionary or header line, so that there are no misunderstandings about which field is which. If a header is not sent in your uploads, please contact with a list of definitions for the fields you are sending.  You are welcome to send your fields in any order you prefer!  We just need to know what the fields are, and the order in which they appear in your uploads.

Note for Excel users:

We recommend using the tab delimited option in Excel to produce a tab delimited file for upload.   If you do use csv, make sure that you are using " as your delimiter when saving the sheet.

A short sample upload file is included here, including a first line containing field definitions:

Book ID  Status(A=add)  Price  Author  Title  Condition   First Edition(1=True)  Format 

54  A  4.00  Robert A. Heinlein  Stranger in a Strange Land  Very Good  1  hardcover

DATA FIELDS

Here is a list including many of the fields Biblio can use, starting with the five minimum required fields.  If you have any additional fields you want to include in your uploads, contact us with details so that we can make sure we are filtering that data correctly.

FIVE REQUIRED FIELDS

Author:  Please include the author name as First Name + Last Name, or Last Name + Comma + First Name. Like so: Robert A. Heinlein or Heinlein, Robert A.  Whichever you choose, please keep that consistent for all of your listings.

Book ID:  A unique record number assigned by the seller (sometimes referred to as an inventory number, record number, listing ID, seller sku, SKU, dealer book ID, or item number).  You are welcome to assign your ID's according to any scheme that works for you.  We strongly recommend assigning a unique ID to each listing you offer for sale, an ID that is not assigned to any other books in your inventory, past or present.  We do not recommend re-using record ID's from sold listings.

Condition/Format/Description:  You only need to provide one of these to fill the minimum requirement.  Each of these can aslo be included in separate fields, and with as much or as little detail as you wish.  Data in this field can be as simple as a one or two word condition indicator, such as "Very Good" or "Fine", a simple format indicator such as "Hardcover" or "Paperback", or a more detailed description of the book and its condition.

Price:  The selling price of the book, preferably without currency symbols and using US style periods and commas.  26.34 or 1,234.43 are both valid prices.  The European style commas and periods can be accommodated, but please make sure that Biblio is informed that your uploads contain those, so we can set up your upload filter correctly.  Those values will appear with your listings in your own listing currency.  Customers in other places will see your prices converted to their home currency.

You will have indicated a listing currency when you first created your bookseller account.  You can make changes to your listing currency from your bookseller menu, under business information.

Title:  The title of the book, as well as any subtitle information you want to include.

OTHER RECOMMENDED FIELDS

Book Condition:  In addition to providing a detailed "Book Description", you can send a separate field containing a short condition indicator or abbreviation, such as "Good" or "F/VG" (Fine condition book, with a Very Good condition dust jacket).  Sending both a detailed description and a separate book condition field can help to optimize your listings for search results.  Please see our Book Glossary for standard book condition terms and definitions.

Book Description:  A detailed physical description of the book offered for sale, including any notes about damage or wear.   For example, "Rubbing on lower left corner of cover".   You can also include condition indicators such as "Very good" or "Good +", although condition indicators may also be sent in a separate field, as explained under "Book Condition".  Details about the book jacket, if present, as well as any supplemental materials can be included here.  You are welcome to include a synopsis and/or any information about the content of the book, but a detailed physical description of the book itself is the purpose of this field.

Please see our Book Glossary for standard terms and definitions.

Catalog:  Your bookseller catalog information for that listing.  If you have your books assigned to catalogs, you can upload that information to us.  This will enable customers to browse your inventory according to the catalogs you assign.  You can upload multiple catalogs for individual items by including each catalog name in a separate field. Alternatively, you can include all the catalogs you want that item included in by sending each catalog in a single field separated by commas. For more details about bookseller catalogs, click here.

Edition Description/Edition:   For example, "First stated American Edition", or "Sixth Edition".  A numeric value may be entered instead, such as "6".  NOTE: "Teacher's Edition" may be included in this field as well.  If you are not including an Edition field, please include "Teacher's Edition" in your Book Description field for those books.

Format or Binding:  The format or binding type, such as "softcover" or "hardcover", and/or any alternate format or binding information such as "boards" or "wraps".  Please see our Book Glossary for standard book condition terms and definitions.

Illustrator:  Please include the Illustrator name as First Name + Last Name, or Last Name + Comma + First Name.  Like so: Joseph Schindelman or Schindelman, Joseph.  Whichever you choose, please keep that consistent for all of your listings.

Image URL:  The location of your .jpg or .gif book images hosted on another internet location. You can include multiple images by sending individual URLs in multiple individual fields, or by including multiple URLs comma-separated in a single field. You do not have to include an image URL in order to add images of your books.  For details about adding photos of your books, click here.

ISBN:  The ISBN of the book, with or without any dashes.  Our system will remove those from the ISBN number before use.  Most books have both a 10-digit and a 13-digit ISBN.  You can include either, but using the 13-digit ISBN is recommended.  Please include just one style of ISBN consistently for each listing.

Jacket (or Dust Jacket) Condition: In addition to providing a detailed "Book Jacket Description", you can send a separate field containing a short condition indicator or abbreviation, such as "Good" or "F/VG" (Fine condition book, with a Very Good condition dust jacket).  Sending both a detailed description and a separate book jacket condition field can help to optimize your listings for search results.  Please see our Book Glossary for standard book condition terms and definitions.

Jacket (or Dust Jacket) Description:  A detailed description of the dust jacket, if present, including any details about defects or wear to the dust jacket.

Keywords:  Keywords which are relevant to the book.

Language:  The language that the book is written in.

Pages:  The number of pages in the book.  This can be expressed as a number only, or as "pp 325", for example.

Publication Date:  Date this copy of the book was published, usually expressed as the year of publication, such as "1923".

Publication Place:  Place of Publication.  For example, "Atlanta, GA" or "New York, NY".

Publisher:  The publishing house that published the book.

Subtitle:  The subtitle of the book, entered as a separate field from the title.  It will be expressed as title + colon + subtitle as listed on Biblio.  For example:

The Jummoo and Kashmir Territories: A Geographical Account

would be uploaded with "Kashmir Territories" in your title field, and "A Geographical Account" in yoru subtitle field.  We will add the colon, so you do not need to include one.

Quantity:  The number of copies of that listing you have for sale at that same price.

BOOLEAN FIELDS

"Boolean" simply refers to a field which contains a true or false indicator.  If you include boolean fields, it can help to optimize your listings for Advanced Search results.   Customers can check boxes for signed, first edition, dust jacket present, and hardcover, to help narrow down their search results.  Including a boolean field for your signed books and first editions can be a good tool for directing customers to your listings.

For example, "STATUS(A=add)" is a boolean field.  In that case, "add" is the "true" value, and indicates that the listing should be active (listed as for sale).  If any other word is present in that field, such as "delete" or "sold", or if the field is left blank, then the listing would be filtered as inactive (not for sale).  If the listing is already present in your active inventory, it would be removed.  If the listing is not already present in your active inventory, it would simply be processed as an inactive listing.

If you include boolean fields which use "yes" as the true value, please note that case does not matter.  In other words, you are welcome to upload that data as "Yes" or "No".  You can also simply use "y" or "n" as well.  Using "1" or "0" will also work.  Whichever expression you choose, please be consistent, to avoid any errors in processing your upload.  Just let us know what your "true" value is for any of your Boolean fields.

Here are some common uses for Boolean Fields:

     Book Status:  If you want to indicate the for sale or sold status of the book using a boolean field, we recommend that you include either "for sale" or "sold" in that field.

     First Edition:  If you want to indicate that the book is a first edition using a boolean field, include either "yes" or "no" in that field.

     Signed:  If you want to indicate that the book is signed by the author using a boolean field, include either "yes" or "no" for each book.

     Dust Jacket Present:  If you want to indicate that the book has its dust jacket using a boolean field, include either "yes" or "no" for each book.

Other fields will be incorporated and used where appropriate. If you have any questions concerning your software or file upload format, please contact us at .

I was delighted with my order and your service. The book arrived in time for the occasion that I needed it for. I was thrilled to be able to find an out-of-print copy.

Margaret, PA