Custom template

Hi Helenw!

Here is a link to a previous link with some help on using your custom template with Auctiva:

How to use custom template

If you still need help, just give a holler and I would be more than help with your template.

Marcia

MARCIAY96, IVE DONE ALL THAT NOW I WANT TO POST MY AUCTION. STILL LOST WHAT NEXT? THANKS HELEN

Helen,

Okay, lets figure out what point you are getting stuck at.

So you are able to use your custom template and get all your info and pictures into the template and then review the template here in auctiva?

You can then either schedule the listing or post it immediately from the listing page of the item (buttons to click on are at the very bottom). When you do that, do the items not post? Is it giving you an error message?

Marcia

HI MARCIA, i DIDN'T SE ANY BUTTONS AT BOTTOM OF PAGE BUT THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO POST. THANKS HELEN

[edited to remove all the HTML - please read sticky threads on how to get help with templates. particulary the part about pasting them into practice board and providing a link to that]

Helen,

Okay, I think I see the problem here.

All of your info and pictures are already in the template. It looks like you have your photos with photobucket (which is fine) but the URLs are embedded in this template.

This html code would be fine to use if you were listing directly from Ebay but Auctiva is set up a bit different.

For example, I purchased a custom template from ebay. All it is really is a cute border, my store name at the top and some buttons I wanted on my template. I have this html code for my listing, saved under "Custom Templates" on the "Listings" page.

BUT when I want to set up an auction or store item, I have to go "Listings" -> "New Listing" to set that up. Here you decide if it is an auction item or fixed price, what ebay category it goes in, etc. This is the page with the buttons on the bottom that say "Post" or "Schedule". Here you can also write a description (no html required, that is only needed for your template) and add pictures from those hosted here or elsewhere (like Photobucket). Then you can choose your template from the list of ones that auctiva offers or your own custom one. You can also choose shipping options here.

Auctiva is also based on setting up profiles to use on this listing page. If you go to the Profiles tab, you can set up profiles for shipping, marketing, etc. I will say that this was the most time consuming part of using auctiva but once it is done, it is done and you will only have to go back and edit as needed.

If decide to use Auctiva in this way, the template needs to be almost "gutted" of the description and images you already have in there and tags put in. Right now the description tag is above the template border. There should be a tag for the description where you want it to show up within the template and image tags for where you want those to go. Again this is so you can use the template over and over again and NOT have to touch the html.

That is the true beauty of auctiva. I hate working with html and this allows me to write my listings without touching it. You can also host unlimited pics here and schedule your auctions to launch when you want them to.

Auctiva also offers classes on how to create an ebay listing using their service. Here is the link for the class listings this week:

Auctiva Classes

Please let me if I can help any further. I know that there is a learning when using this service but once you get through it, I think you will really like Auctiva especially if you plan on listing more in the future.

Marcia

MARCIA, THIS WAS THE ORIGINAL TEMPLATE I BOUGHT BEFORE I EDITED IT. WHAT DO I DO FROM HERE? I TOOK THE CLASSES RECENTLY AND IAM STILL CONFUSED. YOUR HELP AGAIN. HELEN

[edited to remove HTML]

Helen,

I cleaned up the template and put the auctiva tags in for you. Copy and paste the html below and save it as a custom template under the "Listings" tab -> Create custom template. You can preview it to see what you think about it. I know it will plain from what you are use to looking at but once you get your profiles set up and then add the descriptions and images it will look better. I only tagged it for 4 images I think. You can add more or I can add more for you.

[edited to remove HTML]

After you save this under your custom templates, you need to go to the Profiles tab and set up things like shipping profiles, marketing profile (like using a gallery pic) and your seller details (Payment and shipping terms). Does not have to be long or anything fancy, just enough to explain your terms (ie what payment you accept and how long do people have to pay). You can look at one of my listings to get an idea of what I mean.

I need to run out to the post office, I will check on you when I get back! Good luck!

Marcia

Using the practice board would make helping much easier

Just paste your HTML here:
www.practiceboard.com

Click on get HTML and then get the link and post it back here.

Like this:
http://www.practiceboard.com/?4581815

Makes things alot easier to see and understand

MARCIA, NOW DO I GO TO TEXT MODE HIGHLITE THE TITLE AND TYPE WHAT I WANT IT TO SAY? DO I HIGHLITE DESCRIPTION AND TYPE WHAT I WANT IT OT SAY? AND SHIPPING THE SAME.I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE BEFORE I MESS THINGS UP AGAIN. HELEN

I agree Danielle that I prefer to look at html on Practiceboard but I was not sure if I should introduce another tool yet to this poor soul.

Marcia

Helen,

Are you in the create a custom template mode? Looks like this:
Creating a custom template

Or are you in the listing page for items? Looks like this:

Listing page

You should be in #2 to start writing your title and description but it kind of sounds like you are in #1.

Marcia

Wow, that template really is poorly coded and a big mess. I hope you didn't pay alot for it. some of the tags are not even ebay legal

I was going to try and "fix" it for you but its not my place to alter someone elses work. I can tell you it does not work in other browsers besides IE. I'm using FireFox and its not displaying correctly at all.

I rechecked in IE and it looks better but is still poorly coded!

DANIELLE, THANKS FOR YOUR WONDERFUL KNOWLEDGE AND IMPUT. I ONLY PAID 5.00 FOR IT SO NO BIGGIE.DO YOU KNOW HOW TO ADD MUSIC TO A TEMPLATE IN AUCTIVA? I HAVE A CODE FOR IT BUT I COULD NOT USE THE LAST TIME I WANTED TO SELL ON EBAY.THE PERSON WHO SOLD IT TO ME MAKES HIS OWN TEMPLATES AND KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT AUCTIVA.THANKS FOR THE WARNING AND NEXT TIME I WILL TRY AND USE THE PRACTICE BOARD. I JUST THOUGHT THE WAY I POSTED WAS ALOT EASIER BUT I WAS WRONG. GOT BASSETS HELEN

Hi, sorry to ask again but I'm really not sure where else to get help for my custom template. I've been trying to follow your directions. I put my template here to make it easy for anyone to help me.

http://www.practiceboard.com/?4577809

It's kind of difficult to get this thing right.

It's a listing for a digital product.

Thanks so much...

Martin

HI ONCE AGAIN, I WANT TO TAKE THIS TIME TO SAY WHAT A WONDERFUL PERSON MARCIA IS. SHE HAS SO MUCH PATIENCE WHEN IT COMES TO HELPING OTHERS.SHE IS TRULLY AN ASSET TO AUCTIVA COMMUNITY. IVE MADE A NEW FRIEND AND LEARNED A FEW THINGS ABOUT CREATING A CUSTOM TEMPLATE. THANKS AGAIN FOR STICKING WITH ME. HELEN

Helen, I'm glad you were able to get it figured out

There are alot of nice folks here on Auctiva, I used to spend more time here but was spreading myself to thin so don't get to help out as often as I used to.