Comma Separated Values (CSV), aka Comma Separated List (CSL), is a list format that most spreadsheet and database applications support and may be a Member's only method of generating a file that contains their ad listings for bulk upload. While ClassifiedFlyerAds.com only supports the RSS feed XML-format, there is a simple tool available, Advanced CSV Converter (Windows-only), that will allow a Member to easily convert their CSV-formatted file to an acceptable XML format, ready for bulk uploading their listings.

Before using the tool, the CSV file needs to be first modified to replace (or add) the title line (line 1) to adhere to the field name nomenclature as defined by the ClassifiedFlyerAds.com Category RSS Feed Specification's “RSS Tag” field, refer below for Category specifications.

• Real Estate RSS Feed Specifications
• Products RSS Feed Specifications
• Automobile RSS Feed Specifications
• Jobs RSS Feed Specifications
• Services RSS Feed Specifications

The example below should help clarify this. The section labeled “Before” is an abbreviated example of how a Member's Title line may be defined in the unaltered CSV file and the section labeled “After” is what the fields in that line should be replaced with.

Before

Listing ID,Title,City,State,Price,Description,...

After

unique_id,tagline,company_city,company_state,list_price,description,...

The simplest way to alter this Title line (or add in the case where a Title line may not exist) is to use a plain text editor, such as Windows notepad.exe. Note: DO NOT use a word processor program such as Microsoft Word since it will corrupt the plain text format of the document. After ensuring that the Title line now adheres to the nomenclature as required by the ClassifiedFlyerAds.com Category RSS Feed Specification, simply save the altered file giving it a new name, such as, myfile.csv. Note: It is essential that the file be saved with a file extension of ”.csv” since the Advanced CSV Converter uses the file extension to determine the format of the source file.

Once the altered file has been saved, it can now be easily converted to the XML format needed for bulk uploading to ClassifiedFlyerAds.com. First, start the Advanced CSV Converter program and supply the Source file pathname and the Output file pathname, as typified in Fig. 1 below, and press the “Next” button. Note: It is essential that the Output file be defined with a file extension of ”.xml” since the Advanced CSV Converter uses the file extension to determine the format of the output file.

Fig. 1 File Locations

On the next screen, ensure that the “Use tag Channel” checkbox is enabled and “View after process done” checkbox is disabled, see Fig. 2 below, and press the “Finish” button.

Fig. 2 Common Options

At this time, the conversion program will convert the CSV source file to the required ClassifiedFlyerAds.com XML-formatted file that should now be ready for bulk upload. Note: The conversion time will depend on a number of factors including processor speed and CSV file size and could take up to several minutes to complete.