Using CSV Files

This section provides you with some general guidance on using CSV files.

Audiogon recommends that you use Excel or Google Sheets to work with your CSV files. Google Sheets provides easy version recovering if you accidentally overwrite or mess up your data.

To use Google Sheets, you must import the CSV file into the program. After you've made your changes, export the CSV file to your computer. Special characters don't always work correctly in CSV files that are exported, edited with another spreadsheet program, and then re-imported into Audiogon.

CSV files

CSV stands for comma-separated values, a file format (.csv) for spreadsheets. You can use CSV files to import products to create new listings.

If you are unfamiliar with CSV files, it might seem daunting, but after you understand the format, and how they work, you'll appreciate the convenience.

Your CSV files must use UTF-8 encoding.

When you prepare your CSV for import, ensure you encode using UTF-8 encoding. Otherwise, you may get unwanted special characters in your file. If you are updating a CSV file export (like out of Shopify or another system where you inventory products are managed), then remember to confirm the UTF-8 encoding to avoid generating unwanted special characters in your file. If you save your file after forgetting to confirm its UTF-8 encoding, then your data will be corrupted when you upload it as a new spreadsheet.

When importing content using a .csv file, there is a file size limit of 5MB per file for listings. If your .csv files are larger than this limit, then you will need to import the information in batches.

In a CSV file, each entry represents a cell in a spreadsheet, each line represents a new row, and each comma indicates where one entry ends and another one begins.

For example, the entries in your CSV file may look like this when you open it up in Excel. 

But look like this once loaded in a spreadsheet program:

Sample Files

We have created sample files with allowed fields for listings, as well as as our Category ID Taxonomy.

• Audiogon Bulk Upload Sample for Excel
• Audiogon Bulk Upload Sample Google Sheet 
  • You can easily make a copy of this sheet to your own Google Drive.

Preparing CSV files in Excel

When you open a CSV into Excel, you will be prompted to define how the CSV is formatted. In most chases, you will choose Delimited (separate columns are defined by a certain character).

By default Excel will have the Tab option checked. If your CSV is formatted this way, then your data should preview correctly.

But for most CSVs, you will simply check the Comma option. Confirm the data integrity in the preview window.

Export CSV files using Excel

When you are done viewing or editing your CSV file in Excel, you can export it as a .csv file to your computer.

Steps:

1. From your CSV spreadsheet page, go to File > Save As then confirm the File Format option selected is CSV UTF-8 (Comma delimited) (.csv)

Then choose where you want to save your exported file.

Preparing CSV files in Google Sheets

Steps:

1. Log in to your Google account.

2. On the Google Sheets page, click Blank in the Start a new spreadsheet section.

3. From the Untitled Spreadsheet page, go to File > Import...:

   

4. Locate and select the CSV file that you want to edit.

5. In the Import file dialog, select your preferred options under the Import action, Separator character, and Convert text to numbers and dates sections.

6. Click Import.

From here you can edit your CSV. When you are done, you can export it from Google Sheets as a .csv file.

Export CSV files using Google Sheets

When you are done viewing or editing your CSV file in Google Sheets, you can export it as a .csv file to your computer.

Steps:

1. From your CSV spreadsheet page, go to File > Download > Comma-separated values (.csv, current sheet).

Your CSV file is exported to your downloads folder.

Use a text editor to edit your CSV file

If you don't have a spreadsheet program, then you can edit CSV files using a text editor.

You should only use a text editor as a last resort. For example, use a text editor if there are formatting errors in your CSV file and you cannot open it in a spreadsheet program.

Most computers have text editors that can open CSV files. You can also use a program like Visual Studio Code or Sublime Text to edit and debug your CSV file.

When you format your CSV file in a text editor, observe the following considerations:

• Column headers must be separated by commas (for example, Title,Category ID,Asking Price, Condition).
• Multiple Image URLs must be separated by commas
• Different records must be separated by line breaks.