The import process
1. Creating the import file
2. Validation of the import file
3. Fully automated import
Composition of the import file
Creating new ads and updating of existing ads
Keep only freshly imported ads
Embedding pictures, documents and videos
Sorting of ads – the date of creation
Cell description
Cell 1. Description (German)
Cell 2. Description (English)
Cell 3. Manufacturer
Cell 4. Machine type
Cell 5. Technical data (German)
Cell 6. Technical data (English)
Cell 7. Year of construction
Cell 8. Condition (German)
Cell 9. Condition (English)
Cell 10. Trade price
Cell 11. Trade price options
Cell 12. Hours of operation
Cell 13. Machine number
Cell 14. Location
Cell 15 until cell 20: Pictures 1 to 6
Cell 21. Document
Cell 22. Machine video
Cell 23. Renting
Cell 24. Main category
Cell 25. Subcategory
Cell 26. Second Subcategory
Cell 27. Price
Cell 28. Price options
Cell 29. Life span of ad
Cell 30. Your stock number
Cell 31. Machine type
Cell 32. Deactivate ad temporarily
Optional cells (extensions)
Cell 33: Incoterms public
Cell 34: Incoterms for traders
Cell 35: Youtube ID
Cell 36: Last update
| Example Import File |
| #1 |
Creating import file
Most likely you’re going to export your data from a database to import them to Machineseeker. Therefore you’ll have to develop a singular export routine. Subsequent, with only a few clicks, you create an import file to upload to Machineseeker. Directions to that please find further below. |
| #2 |
Validating the import file on your part
Follow this link to our Csv validation Service. Now you’ll see a detailed report. In case your file contains major errors or minor warnings, they are displayed here. |
| #3 |
Fully automated import
After you have fixed possible errors, you can fully automate the process of synchronizing your database with Machineseeker. To achieve that, you have to make your import file available to us on a server of your choice. After that is done, log in to your account and navigate to "Data Import" > "Automatic Import" and follow the instructions provided on the Page. After you have saved the changes, your file will be uploaded once every night. The fully automated import always deletes all non-updated ads. |
To make the import a simple matter we use CSV (Character Separated Values) text files. These files are arranged like a table.
Each line consists of 32 columns. Each column contains information, like, for example, machine type, machine manufacturer or price.
Columns are separated by separators.
Every ad consists of one line.
Lines are marked by word-wrap.
You can create new ads and update existing ads. Therefore we use the stock number (Feld Nr. 30).
The system checks for an already existing ad for a given stock number. If the number is already in use, it won’t create a new ad, but update the exiting ad instead.
Hint: In case of an update we delete the existing information and replace it by the new data from the import file. An exception are pictures, documents and videos. We keep them until you explicitly provide new media.
Warning: Using the same stock number multiple times is not allowed. Those must be unique!
Detailed information please find at the descriptions of the cells (15-22 and 30).
Same as with the manual ad management, you have the continuing ability to provide pictures, documents and videos with the import tool. Since media files can grow quite big, you’ll not upload them directly.
Instead you provide a link (URL) to this files within the import file. The import robot will later execute the download. During this process images will be optimized for display on Machineseeker. All files are checked for malicious code (viruses etc.).
The sequence of ads on Machineseeker result lists, is massively influenced by the date of ad creation. For manually provided ads the creation date can be refreshed (renewed) once a month. This way we prevent the malpractice of pushing ads to the top of result lists.
All ads provided over the import tool get the creation date evenly spread over the time period of one month, regardless of their actual creation time. This way we aim to eliminate the risk of people permanently recreating existing ads as new ads to climb to the top of result lists.
For each cell (column) of the import file apply specific rules. Below we document them and offer some hints for implementation
Basically HTML code, email or web addresses (URLs) are forbidden within cells.
Optional cells may always, regardless of restrictions, be empty. But they must be present (by two following separators).
Please provide the machine description in German language, e.g. „Schwerdrehmaschine“.
This cell is required (5 characters minimum), if the english description cell is empty.
A maximum of 50 characters is allowed.
Please provide the machine description in English language, e.g. „Heavy Duty Lathe“.
This cell is required (5 characters minimum), if the german description cell is empty.
A maximum of 50 characters is allowed.
Please provide the manufacturer name, e.g. „Ravensburg“.
This cell is optional.
A maximum of 50 characters is allowed.
Please provide the type designation, e.g. „FP5NC“.
This cell is optional.
A maximum of 50 characters is allowed.
Please provide detailed information about the technical specifications of your machine in German.
Up to 10.000 characters are available.
This cell is required (15 characters minimum), if the english technical data cell is empty.
A maximum of 10.000 characters is allowed.
You can wrap lines by using the XHTML entity <br/>. This is only allowed in cells for technical data!
Please provide detailed information about the technical specifications of your machine in English.
Up to 10.000 characters are available.
This cell is required (15 characters minimum), if the german technical data cell is empty.
A maximum of 10.000 characters is allowed.
You can wrap lines by using the XHTML entity <br/>. This is only allowed in cells for technical data!
This cell may contain numbers larger 1900 until the current year or the value “unbekannt” (meaning “unknown”).
Empty cells will throw a warning and the system assumes an unknown year of construction.
Please describe the condition of the machine briefly.
Example: ready for operation
Caution: The data import only accepts standardized values. These values are:
• gebraucht
• ausstellung
• neu
• wie neu
• generalüberholt
• werkstattüberholt
• gut
• sehr gut
• einsatzbereit
• ungeprüft
• reparaturbedürftig
This cell is optional.
Please describe the condition of the machine briefly.
Example: ready for operation
Caution: The data import only accepts standardized values. These values are:
• used
• as good as new
• new
• good condition
• refurbished
• reconditioned
• good
• excellent
• ready for operation
• unexamined
• repair required
This cell is optional.
This price is solely displayed to traders registered with Machineseeker.
This cell is optional.
A maximum of 50 characters is allowed.
Example: 1800
Further information regarding the trade price, like:
Example: EUR ONO incl. VAT
Please provide the hours of operation as natural number.
Decimal point or text is not allowed.
This cell is optional.
Please provide the unique serial number of your machine, e.g. "WMMB848473934932".
This cell is optional.
A maximum of 50 characters is allowed.
Please choose the location freely. E.g. "Southampton, UK"
This cell is optional.
A maximum of 50 characters is allowed.
Please feel free to provide up to 6 machine pictures. The cells just carry the link (URL) to the pictures saved on a webserver. Please ensure the pictures are available and the URLs are correct.
The following image formats are supported: JPG, GIF, PNG, TIF und BMP.
Image size should not exceed 3,5 MB.
All pictures are optional.
The system will throw a warning in case you don’t provide picture no. 1 (used for previews). Import is nonetheless possible.
If you want to add more than six images, you can add multiple urls to cell 15 (Picture 1) and separate them with a space.
You can add in total a maximum of 15 Images.
URL to a document containing data about the machine. Please ensure the document is available and the URL is correct.
The following formats are supported: PDF, RTF, TXT, HTML, XLS oder Word.
The document size should not exceed 5 MB.
This cell is optional.
A maximum of 250 characters per URL is allowed.
URL to a video containing data about the machine. Please ensure the video is available and the URL is correct.
The following formats are supported:: MPEG, MPG, MP4, AVI, ASX, ASF, WMV, QTL, MOV, RM, RA, FLV, MSWMM, oder RV.
The video size should not exceed 10 MB.
This cell is optional.
A maximum of 250 characters per URL is allowed.
Is the machine for rent?
Valid values are ja, nein and empty.
This cell is optional.
Please provide a the number of the main category where to publish the machine.
For easy access to category numbers please use the category tree tool.
This cell is required!
Only valid numbers are allowed.
If available, please provide a subcategory of the chosen main category.
For easy access to category numbers please use the category tree tool. Please select a main category to display the available subcategories.
This cell is optional.
In case you don’t provide a valid category number – or no number at all – your ad will be shown in the keyword search. The category browsing feature of Machineseeker will not show this ad!
Only valid numbers are allowed.
Adding a subcategory increases the visibility of your machine tremendously. We strongly encourage you to provide it!
Same procedure as with the subcategory. If available, provide a second level subcategory. Please select a main category and a subcategory to display the available second level subcategories.
This cell is optional.
In case you don’t provide a valid category number – or no number at all – your ad will be shown in the keyword search. The category browsing feature of Machineseeker will not show this ad!
Only valid numbers are allowed.
Adding a second level subcategory increases the visibility of your machine tremendously. We strongly encourage you to provide it!
Please enter the price of the machine as natural number here.
Cent values, thousands separators and currency designation (20,000.00 $) are not allowed. A value of “0” as price is also invalid and will be removed automatically.
This cell is optional.
Please provide a number between 1-6.
The numbers represent the following price options:
1 ONO inc. VAT
2 ONO plus VAT
3 ONO VAT not included
4 FFP inc. VAT
5 FFP plus VAT
6 FFP VAT not included
This cell is optional.
In case of malformed or missing data the system automatically assumes “5” (FFP plus VAT).
The time period, after which the ad is deactivated automatically. In case of an update (same stock number) the new value will override the old one and therefore result in a longer or shorter life span.
Valid values are numbers from 1 to 6 (months lifespan), ISO date (YYYY-MM-DD) or ISO date time (YYYY-MM-DD hh:ii:ss).
Example ISO date: 2010-05-25
Example ISO date and time: 2010-05-25 14:45:35
Please consider that the ISO year always consists of four numbers, month and day and time always consists of two numbers (leading zero).
This cell is optional.
In case of malformed or missing data the system automatically assumes 6 months.
Warning: A date in the past will delete the machine ad!
Please provide your stock number.
You are not limited to numbers.
The stock number is used to identify machines already published on Machineseeker. These will be updated instead of creating a new ad.
Therefore your stock number must be unique! It can’t be used multiple times!
This cell is required!
A maximum of 50 characters is allowed.
New machines or machines from exhibition have to be marked as such.
| New machines | = | Brand-new machines |
| Showroom machine | = | Machines with few hours of operation at a reduced price. |
| Used machines | = | Machines with hours of operation, once owned by customers. |
Only the following values are valid: neu (new), gebraucht (used) und ausstellung (showroom).
This cell is required!
If the year of construction is stated and it lies more than two years in the past, this cell may be left blank. In that case the value will default to "gebraucht".
This feature disables machine ads temporarily. You can re-activate them any time using the ad maintenance or the import.
Valid values are ja (do not display ad) and nein (display ad).
This cell is required!
The following cells don’t need to be present.
A file with just 32 columns is valid.
Please provide the Incoterm code to be shown next to the public price.
Valid values are:
EXW Ex Works
FCA Free Carrier
FAS Free Alongside Ship
FOB Free on Board
CFR Cost and Freight
CIF Cost, Insurance & Freight
CPT Carriage Paid To
CIP Carriage and Insurance Paid to
DAF Delivered at Frontier
DES Delivered Ex Ship
DEQ Delivered Ex Quay
DDU Delivered Duty Unpaid
DDP Delivered Duty Paid
If you don’t provide terms, or in case of malformed terms, this cell will not be shown.
Please bear in mind that all Incoterms are written in capital lettters.
Please provide the Incoterm code to be shown next to the trade price.
Valid values are:
EXW Ex Works
FCA Free Carrier
FAS Free Alongside Ship
FOB Free on Board
CFR Cost and Freight
CIF Cost, Insurance & Freight
CPT Carriage Paid To
CIP Carriage and Insurance Paid to
DAF Delivered at Frontier
DES Delivered Ex Ship
DEQ Delivered Ex Quay
DDU Delivered Duty Unpaid
DDP Delivered Duty Paid
If you don’t provide terms, or in case of malformed terms, this cell will not be shown.
Please bear in mind that all Incoterms are written in capital lettters.
Provide the ID of a Youtube video. The video is shown directly within your machine ad.
The valid value is only the ID of the video. The following example shows this part:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZ34RDn34Ws
This cell is optional.
If you don’t provide data or the data is malformed, the video will not show.
Provide the latest update date of the machines.
The format is an ISO timestamp. The assumed time zone is MEZ.
Example: 2014-03-24 16:59:03
We strongly encourage you to use this feature! This way pictures, videos and documents are only transferred when needed. Else they will be transferred with every single import process, usually daily, even when they are unchanged.
This cell is optional.
If you don’t provide data or the data is malformed, all media will be downloaded.
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