free2auction - free online auctions and stores
 
Buyers! learn how to benefit from free2auction
 
   
HELP
   
 
TAM templates


Organizing your TAM items into templates may be one of the most powerful tools of the TAM system. The TAM templating system may branch to five levels deep allowing you to have master templates that contain settings common to all your listings, and then sub templates that control values for separate product lines.
Using templates to break descriptions up into sections is a feature that makes administration of complicated description data and updating large numbers of listings a relatively simple task.


How to create TAM templates
In your TAM activities page you may create a new template either from a blank form, or as a child template from an existing template. The only required field when creating a template is the template name, all other fields may be completed as required. On the left of every TAM item setting, including eBay site settings, is the template checkbox which you turn on when you want that variable to be controlled by the current template.
When a template controls a field that field will not be available to child TAM items and templates, and will filed with the data set in the controlling template, when you change the variable in the parent template it will also be altered in all child items and templates.
If you enable an eBay site in a parent template it will be enabled for all child TAM items and templates.


TAM template descriptions
Templates control descriptions by offering sections to child TAM items and templates, this allows you to create a description framework with editable sections that get passed down to lower levels.
To offer sections to child items and templates go to the templates description page and choose to add a new section, you may select from four different types of sections:
Multiple Line Text: Suitable for large areas of text or html code. New lines (returns) are available in these segments. A default value may be entered that will be given to new items and templates that are created from this template.
Single Line Text: Suitable for small text strings such as measurements or attributes of your product. You may enter a maximum length to restrict possible values entered. A default value may be entered that will be given to new items and templates that are created from this template.
Multiple Select: Offers a selection of configurable data values that can be chosen from to fill the section. After you add this type of section you may enter, add, and remove the values that can be chosen from.
On/Off Select: Suitable where only one of two values will be chosen from to complete the section. After you add this type of section you may enter the two values that can be chosen from.

When you are working on a blank template that does not derive from another template you will have available a multiple line section where you can enter the description framework you wish to pass down to child items. After you have added sections that you want to offer to child items you may locate them in your current framework by typing the string [section1], [section2] and so on for each offered section, or the section name enclosed in square brackets. Once a child item or template has data saved into its available sections, this data will be injected into the description at any point where [section1], [section2] etc are found in the controlling parent template.
By default templates do not control descriptions, you must check the "child items descriptions are controlled by this template" box in the parent templates description page for any templates you want to use to build on the existing description framework.


Template management
You may change an existing TAM item or TAM templates parent template at any time, but be aware that existing values will be removed if they are controlled by the new parent template.
If you wish to remove the control of a field from a parent template turn off the check box next to that field in parent templates details, the children will then be able to change that field, with the value initially set to the parent templates last value.
When deleting an existing template that has children items or templates, the children will be set to the deleted templates parent template if it had one, otherwise set to no template.


Replacement strings
Replacement strings are not part of the templating system, but work in a similar manner to allow easy updating of large number of items, and depending on your requirements they may be a valuable tool.
To adjust your replacement strings click on the manage replacement strings link on your tam activities page, here you may create new strings and adjust existing replacement strings. Each replacement string has a name and a content value, to use replacement strings insert the name enclosed by square brackets (eg [name]) inside your item description, template description sections, or any tam item text field such as your title, location, or eBay attributes code, when you export the item to free2auction, eBay, Yahoo, or CSV export, the replacement string will be substituted where ever the [name] is found.


 
at the time of loading this page the free2auction server time was Dec 23 11:28 pm
All Rights Reserved. Designated trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners.
Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of the free2auction user agreement and privacy policy.
Links