Changing Inventory Software

AbeBooks keeps a record on your account of what kind of data format you are using for your book files.  We have established a specific conversion for your records, and if you begin using different inventory software, we need to modify your account to accept your new files.  If your account is not modified, your upload will result in an error and the file's contents will not be applied to your online inventory.

Ensuring your account is updated for your inventory format change is a five-step process:

  1. Send an e-mail message with the field orders and description, including a description of blank fields. Also, describe how books will be marked as sold and whether or not you will be using unique bookID numbers.
  2. Send us a sample copy of your file via the online upload facility or FTP.  This should be a file containing five book records with an example of all fields in the proper order.
  3. AbeBooks creates a conversion for your new format. You receive an e-mail notification once the conversion is complete.
  4. Request a purge and reload if your bookID format changes (for example if 00001 changed to Book0001).
  5. Send us a complete copy of your file via the online upload facility or FTP.
 

To e-mail AbeBooks your new inventory fields:

 

To upload a file online:

 

To send a file to AbeBooks via FTP:

 

To request a purge of your book data on AbeBooks:

 

When you upload your next file, be sure to change the file name extension to reflect the new format. This prevents our automated system from trying to convert the new file in the same way it converted your old files.

Notes: