Skip to main content
 eBay Turbo Lister

CSV Import/Export FAQs

What is "CSV"?
 "CSV" stands for Comma Separated Values. It is a text-only format used to store data, often used with spreadsheet or database software. In a CSV file, "fields" of data are separated by commas. This allows programs to re-create the correct field structure for the data by reading through the file and starting a new field every time a comma is encountered.

Here is a simple example of a CSV file: "This is my item title,1234,This is my item description"

Read into a spreadsheet program or similar, the example above would result in three data fields with the following values:

  • This is my item title
  • 1234
  • This is my item description
What is a CSV "import" or "export"?
 "Importing" a CSV file refers to a program reading a CSV file and entering the data into its own storage. "Exporting" a CSV file refers to a program taking data that it has stored and creating a new file that contains the data in CSV format.

How do I create a CSV file?
 There are many ways to create a CSV file. The most common is to use a spreadsheet program such as Microsoft Excel. (In Microsoft Excel, just select File > Save As…, then select "CSV (comma delimited) (*.csv)" in the "Save As Type" drop-down selector.)

How do I export items to CSV format from Turbo Lister?
 To create a CSV file containing items that are in your Turbo Lister program, just select the items you'd like to export, then select File > Export Selected Items. You'll then be prompted to name your new CSV file.

How do I import items from CSV format into Turbo Lister?
 To import a CSV file into Turbo Lister, first make sure that the file has the correct set of columns that Turbo Lister will be looking for (see below). Then select File > Import From… > CSV. Then select the file you'd like to import.

Why does Turbo Lister support importing and exporting items in CSV format?
 Many sellers have their listing information stored in spreadsheet or database programs. This feature will help those sellers get their listing information into the Turbo Lister program much easier than cutting and pasting or entering by hand. This feature will also allow all users to transfer listings between separate installations of Turbo Lister, or even between users in the same installation. For example, if you want to transfer your listings from your Turbo Lister program at home to your Turbo Lister program at work, just export the listings to a CSV file, email the file to your other computer, and import the file into the other Turbo Lister program.

What is the Turbo Lister CSV format? (advanced users only)
 If you'd like to create your own CSV files to import into Turbo Lister, the correct columns to put in your CSV file are listed below. You must make sure that your CSV file contains the specified columns in the specified order to ensure that the file will be able to be successfully imported into Turbo Lister. (Note: The easiest way to get an example template for your CSV files is to create an item in Turbo Lister and export it to CSV format. The resulting file can serve as a CSV "template" for you.)
  • For the Boolean fields listed below, 1 = "on" or "yes", and 0 = "off" or "no"
  • Fields 70-78 are applicable to Sothebys.com listings only
  • Fields 79-80 are applicable to eBay Motors US listings only
  • Some fields, like 81-90 are not currently used
Note: Creating CSV files "from scratch" is for advanced users only - we recommend that most users create items with the user interface provided by Turbo Lister.

Field Number Field Name Values
1 Site
  • eBay US = 0
  • eBay Canada = 2
  • eBay UK = 3
  • eBay Australia = 15
  • eBay Belgium (French) = 23
  • eBay France = 71
  • eBay Germany = 77
  • eBay Italy = 101
  • eBay Belgium (Dutch) = 123
  • eBay Netherlands = 146
  • eBay Spain = 186
  • eBay Taiwan = 196 eBay Hong Kong = 201 eBay Malaysia = 207 eBay Philippines = 211 eBay Poland = 212 eBay Singapore = 216
2 Format
  • Auction-style = 1
  • Dutch Auction = 2
  • Live Auctions = 5
  • Ad Format = 6
  • Store Inventory = 7
  • Fixed Price = 9
3 Currency
  • US $ = 1
  • C $ = 2
  • GBP = 3
  • AU $ = 5
  • EUR = 7
  • NT $ = 41 HK $ = 22 PHP = 34 ZL =35 SG $ = 39 RM = 46
4 Title Text
5 Description Text
6 Category 1 Category ID
7 Category 2 Category ID
8 Store Category Store Category Number
9 Pic URL URL
10 Quantity Integer
11 Duration [3, 5, 7, 10, 20, 30, 60, 90, 120]
12 Starting Price Currency amount
13 Reserve Price Currently not used
14 BIN Price Currency amount
15 Private Auction Currently not used
16 Counter
  • No counter = 0
  • Honesty-style = 1
  • Green LED = 2
  • Hidden = 3
17 Buyer pays postage [0, 1]
18 Seller pays postage [0, 1]
19 Payment Instructions Text
20 Specifying Postage Costs [0, 1]
This must be set to "1" if you are specifying values for many of the following fields (e.g. Postage & Handling).
21 Postage & Handling Currency amount
22 Additional Postage Currency amount
23 Insurance Option
  • No counter = 0
  • Optional = 1
  • Required = 2
  • Insurance incl. in P&H = 3
24 Insurance Amount Currency amount
25 Goods & Services Tax Amount Currency amount
26 Goods & Services Tax State State abbreviation
27 Apply tax to total [0, 1]
28 Accept PayPal [0, 1]
29 PayPal Email Address Text (email address)
30 Additional Postage [0, 1]
31 Accept Personal Cheque [0, 1]
32 Accept Visa/Mastercard [0, 1]
33 Accept Amex Currently not used
34 Accept Discover Currently not used
35 Accept Payment Other [0, 1]
36 Accept Payment Other Online [0, 1]
37 Accept COD [0, 1]
38 Payment See Description [0, 1]
39 Accept Money Xfer [0, 1]
40 CCAccepted [0, 1]
41 CashOnPickupAccepted [0, 1]
42 Paybox Currently not used
43 MoneyXferAccepted [0, 1]
44 MoneyXferAcceptedinCheckout [0, 1]
45 Post-To Option
  • SiteOnly
  • WorldWide
  • SitePlusRegions
  • WillNotPost
(if "SitePlusRegions" is specified, at least one of the following 9 fields must be "1")
46 Post-To Africa [0, 1]
47 Post-To Asia [0, 1]
48 Post-To Caribbean [0, 1]
49 Post-To Europe [0, 1]
50 Post-To Latin America [0, 1]
51 Post-To Middle East [0, 1]
52 Post-To North America [0, 1]
53 Post-To Oceania [0, 1]
54 Post-To South America [0, 1]
55 Escrow Buyer Currently not used
56 Escrow Seller Currently not used
57 BuyerPaysFixed [0, 1]
58 Location - City/State Text
59 Location - Region Country-specific code - There are a lot of these, so we recommend you find out which code you need by exporting an item with that region selected. (eg: San Francisco = 49)
60 Location - Country Country-specific abbreviation - There are a lot of these, so we recommend you find out which code you need by exporting an item with that country selected. (eg: United States = "US")
61 Title Bar Image [0, 1]
62 Gallery [0, 1]
63 Gallery Featured [0, 1]
64 Gallery URL URL
65 Bold Currently not used
66 Highlight Currently not used
67 Featured Plus Currently not used
68 Home Page Featured Currently not used
69 Gift Icon Currently not used
70 EstimateLow Currency amount
71 EstimateHigh Currency amount
72 ItemNotes Text
73 Condition Text
74 Measurements Text
75 NumItems Text
76 PostingNotes Text
77 InventoryNumber Text
78 AuctionCode Text
79 DepositType
  • No deposit = 0
  • Other method = 1
  • Fast deposit = 2
80 DepositAmount Currency amount
81 PostingRate Currently not used
82 PostalCarrier Currency not used
83 PostageMethod Currently not used
84 PostingPackage Currently not used
85 PostingMachinable Currently not used
86 PostageWeightUnit Currently not used
87 WeightPounds Currently not used
88 WeightOunces Currently not used
89 PostFromPostalCode Currently not used
90 PackagingHandlingCosts Currently not used