Requesting Inventory Download

AbeBooks encourages all our booksellers to use HomeBase 2.3 as their book inventory management software. If you use different book inventory software, such as BookMate, Book Master III, spreadsheet or database software, you can easily convert your current file for use with HomeBase 2.3.

Important

• We require the file you send to us to be in text format, and if you are using a spreadsheet or a database, it should be a tab-delimited text file. Filenames and extensions are irrelevant as long as the data has been saved as text and each field is separated by a tab or some other delimiter such as the tilde (~) symbol (please do not use a comma as a delimiter).

• HomeBase user who require a copy of their book data should be aware that the downloaded file does not include non-book data information; Client records, Invoices, or specialized fields such as, "My Price", "Location", and "Private Notes".

Sending a Conversion Request to AbeBooks

If you want a copy of your book data file with your fields converted to the HomeBase 2.3 fields, complete the following 4 steps:

1. Send an e-mail message to sellertech@AbeBooks.com.  In the body of the e-mail include a description of the fields you use and any specific requests you may have (such as separating binding type from the description field, or including page numbers in the description field).  Upload your book data file to your HomePage directory by:
• Log into your AbeBooks account
• Select [Your HomePage] from the Members Menu
• Click [Upload your custom homepage]
• Find the file you'd like to upload to AbeBooks by using the [Browse] button.  When you have located the file on your computer and the file location appears in the box, click [Send File] to upload the file to AbeBooks.
2. An e-mail notification is sent to you when AbeBooks has completed the conversion.
• Please note: this conversion is a one-time only procedure.  Please do not send additional files to be converted.
3. Download your pending HomeBase file. We recommend saving the file to an easily accessible location, such as the desktop.
4. Import the file into HomeBase by going to the [File] menu and clicking [Import/Export] and then [Import].  You'll be asked whether to merge or zap the existing data.  Merging means the file you import will be added to the existing data in HomeBase.  Zap will overwrite the existing data with the import file.  Find the HomeBase file on your desktop (or the place where you saved it).  The file will fill in your HomeBase data file and display your books in HomeBase.

Downloading Your Inventory Directly from AbeBooks

You can request a download of your book inventory directly from the AbeBooks Web site.  If you do not request the conversion in step one above, the converted book data will have the following seven fields:

• BookID
• Title
• Author
• Publisher
• Description: Information that was in a field other than the ones listed here may be located in the description field.
• Keywords
• Price

To request a download of your AbeBooks inventory in HomeBase 2.3 format:

If your HomeBase database becomes corrupted, you may request a download of your HomeBase file from AbeBooks.  This file can be imported into your HomeBase and restore the data.  

1. Click [sign on] and enter your E-mail Address and Password.
2. Click [Downloads] in the Members Menu.
3. Do one of the following:
• Click [Download your books in European format].
• Click [Download your books in North American format].
4. Click the [Click Here to Initiate File Download] button.
5. Download your pending HomeBase file. We recommend saving the file to an easily accessible location, such as the desktop.
6. Import the file into HomeBase by opening HomeBase. Go to the [File] menu and click [Import/Export] and then [Import].  You'll be asked whether to merge or zap the existing data.  Merging means the file you import will be added to the existing data in HomeBase.  Zap will overwrite the existing data with the import file.  Find the HomeBase file on your desktop (or the place where you saved it).  The file will fill in your HomeBase data file and display your books in HomeBase.

Note:

• The downloaded HomeBase file does not included Client or Invoice records that you may have had in a previous HomeBase data file (.hbd).