Required Data Structure

AbeBooks can accept almost any file format from our booksellers. To get you started, our requirements, recommended fields, and next steps are detailed below.

Requirements:

• The delimiter must be tab.
• The file must be saved as a text (.txt) file.
• Each listing should have a unique identifier (listingid) that is never re-used, even after the book is sold.
• Each listing should include a Quantity. Use quantity to tell us you have 1 (or more) copies for sale, or 0 when the listing should be removed.  
• Field column headers should follow the naming format below. You do not need to use every field, nor do the fields have to follow any prescribed order. You can arrange the fields in any order you like, leave fields blank, or remove fields completely, as long as the fields you do use follow the standardized naming format below. 

Field Names and Descriptions:

• listingid - Must be unique for each book record in your file
• price - A numeric value, we remove currency symbols
• quantity - The number of copies of this book you have for sale
• title - The title of the book
• author - We can combine first and last names if you have your data formatted this way. The preferred order for listing the author names is "LastName, FirstName".
• illustrator - We can combine first and last names if you have your data formatted this way. The preferred order for listing the illustrator names is "LastName, FirstName".
• abecategory - This field must include a number code that matches with AbeBooks Category information. You can download the categories and their associated number code from the [Downloads] section of your AbeBooks account.  Please contact Customer Support if you would like further information.
• sellercatalog - Catalogs can be used to group your books by Subject (Fiction, Children's Books, History, etc.), or by Promotions (New Arrivals, Sales, etc.),  for potential customers to browse. A single listing may be associated with no more than 3 catalogs.
• publishername - The name of the Publisher.
• placepublished - The place of publication.
• yearpublished - The date of publication,
• isbn - The 10 or 13 digit ISBN of the listing.
• size - The size and/or weight of the book.
• booktype - i.e.  Book, Advanced Reading Copy, Textbook, Audio Book, EBook, Periodical, etc.
• volume - The volume of the book.
• printingtext - i.e. first printing, second printing, etc.
• description - Any pertinent information, not already included in any other fields, that you would like displayed on Abebooks. You can use this field to highlight the book's unique features, list any flaws, and/or provide a brief summary of the book's contents. Potential customers tend to choose books that are carefully and completely described.
• keywords - Here you can list words related to the book's subject matter, to help buyers find the book in Search. Keywords should be as precise as possible, and should be used economically.
• bindingtext - Hardcover, Softcover, or any other description of the binding, i.e. Wraps, Boards, Leather-bound, etc.
• bookcondition - The condition of the book. Only the following exact phrases will make the book searchable by the ‘New” attribute: ‘New’, ‘Brand New.’
• jacketcondition - The condition of the Dust Jacket (assuming the book has one). While books are not yet searchable on AbeBooks by DustJacket Condition, any text put in this field will indicate that the book has a DustJacket (unless NO DustJacket is specifically stated in the description) and will make the book searchable by the DustJacket attribute.
• editiontext - The edition of the book.  Only the following exact phrases will make the book searchable by the ‘First Edition’ attribute on Abebooks: ‘first edition’, ‘1st edition’, ‘first ed.’, ‘1st ed.’, ‘1st.’
• signedtext - An Indication of whether the books is signed or not.  ONLY the following exact phrases would make the book searchable by the ‘Signed’ attribute on AbeBooks:   ‘signed by author’, ‘signed by authors’, ‘signed and inscribed by author’, ‘inscribed by author’, ‘signed by illustrator’, ‘inscribed by illustrator.’

The number of fields and their order are up to you, but must be consistent for each of your listings. Please also note that regardless of the order of your fields, we'll display book details in the standard order applied to all listings in the AbeBooks search results.

You may wish to use an Excel template that we have already set up for you:

Download Template.xls

Sending Your First Inventory File