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Data Feed Process
If you have listings on an
existing website, the information is stored in a database,
which can be exported into a Microsoft Excel CSV file (comma
separated value).
After a few preliminary steps,
you can upload and update hundreds of listings with a click of
a button.
Below are the steps required to
set up your account for automated data feeds.
1- Request your web designer or
programmer to export the data to a Microsoft Excel CSV file.
2- Send the file to Boat World. (We will provide the email
address after signing up.)
3- Your data file will be configured for the import process
and your listings created.
4- For future updates, your programmer needs to create a daily
or weekly file to access. This is usually done by an automated
process called a "Cron Job".
If your website is managed by a
web development company that specializes in the boating
industry like www.marinewebservices.com, it is possible they are already providing a data
feed and simply need to add your company for complete
automated updates.
Additional Instructions
-Include a notation in the top line of
the Excel CSV file for what each field
stands for.
-It does not matter what order the fields are in,
but it is extremely important you do not vary the
field format with subsequent updates, or the results
will be incorrect. For example, in Excel CSV, if the
first field is the year, it always needs to remain
that way. If you must make a change, please notify
when sending a modified update.
-You do not need to include company information in
the data file, only the boat ads.
-Outside of the usual fields, you can include all
general information in a single description field up
to 5,000 characters.
-General fields such
as the year, make, model, and description are required.
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