NOTE: Installation / G.A.C. problems

Some people have reported installation problems. Most of these issues have be resolved by installing the Microsoft frame work first then installing the application. This solves the issue for most people. You can install the frame work by going to:
http://www.microsoft.com/net/Overview.aspx
and then just click the "Get the .NET Framework" link near the top right side of the page and then follow the instructions.

Offline Lister General Information

The GunBroker.com Offline Lister allows you to create and post items for auction on GunBroker.com by using a Windows application that does not require you to be on the Internet when creating listings.

Some general things to keep in mind are:

• The tool is intended to be used to create auctions only; all other tasks should still be performed at www.GunBroker.com.
• Status information and details about active auctions are not available within the tool.
• When you upload an item you will create a live auction on GunBroker.com. Uploading the same listing will result in multiple active auctions.

Application Setup

Listing Defaults

The default values for listing are accessed from the Settings Menu under the Listing Defaults menu item. This screen will allow you to provide default values for many of the fields that make up a listing.

The Listing Defaults screen has two tabs that contain fields that can have defaults applied to them. The first tab, Listing Defaults contains the majority of the settings and many of the mandatory fields. All values are exactly the same in the Offline Lister as they are online at www.GunBroker.com.

When you open the Offline Lister for the first time the Listing Defaults window will be opened and displayed for you.

Item Location

This allows a default item location to be specified. If the United States is selected then a Postal/Zip Code is required.

Shipping and Taxes

You may specify where you will ship, shipping payment options, your return policy, and whether or not you will collect sales tax. If you select any option under sales tax that indicates that sales tax will be collected a tax rate is required. The tax rate should be entered as the rate in percentage format – if the tax rate is 5.5% then enter 5.5 in the box, not .055.

Payment Options

Use this section to set the forms of payment that are accepted.

Auction Duration

This allows a default Auction Duration to be specified. Valid values are 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, or 14 days.

Additional Auction Instructions

Using this field you can specify text that will be appended to every listing posted using the offline tool. You may override or update this text when creating individual items as necessary. The text will be shown in the appropriate text entry box when creating an auction item.

Listing Enhancements

This allows you to setup a default set of listing enhancements for every item created in the Offline Lister. You will be able to add additional enhancements or remove default enhancements when creating and auction item.

Activating the Offline Lister

In order to upload listings to GunBroker.com the application must be activated by providing your username and password to the application.

Application Setup

In order to activate the software and upload listings to GunBroker.com you must first register the software with GunBroker.com. The Application Setup dialog is used to activate the software and is opened from the Setting menu by selecting the Register Application menu item.

You should provide your GunBroker.com username and password and click the Ok button. The application will then securely send your credentials to GunBroker.com for validation. Upon successful validation the “AppKey” and “DevKey” will be populated and the software will be able to post listings. Your password will not be saved by the application; however, it is not needed after the registration process is complete.

Managing Listings

Auction Item List

The Auction Item List is opened by default when you start the Offline Lister and will show all of the saved items by default. If you close the list it can be reopened by selecting the Open List Items menu item under the Auction menu.

Sorting the Item List

To change the sort order of the item list you can click and of the column descriptions. The list will now be sorted by the column selected. Click the column a second time to reverse the sort order for the column.   The first click of the column will sort the column in an ascending manner.

New Item

New items can be created by selecting the New Item menu command under the Auction menu.

Open an Existing Item

To view the details of an item in the list you should double click the item you wish to open. Alternatively, you may check the “Action” checkbox on each row you wish to open and use the Open Item menu command under the Auction menu.

Delete an Existing Item

To delete an item from the list you should check the “Action” checkbox on each row you wish to delete and use the Delete Item menu command under the Auction menu.

Preview an Item

To preview an item from the list you should check the “Action” checkbox on each row you wish to preview and use the Preview Item menu command under the Auction menu. The preview will show a representation of what the auction will look like on GunBroker.com.

Upload Listings

To upload items from the list you should check the “Action” checkbox on each item you wish to upload and use the Upload Item menu command under the Auction menu. This will cause the program to transmit the selected listings to GunBroker.com and will create a new auction for each item.

IMPORTANT: A new auction item will be created for each item regardless of whether or not it had been previously uploaded.

Auction Item Details

The Auction Item Detail is opened when you create a new item or open an existing item from the Item List screen. The Item Detail screen contains the same fields as found online at GunBroker.com and the same fields are required to create an auction. Required fields are denoted with a asterisk (*).   Any default values that were specified in the Applications Defaults will be applied to a new item upon creation. The defaults may be overridden if desired.

Menu Options in the Item Details Screen

Most of the same commands available in the Auction Item List screen are available from within the Auction Item Details screen. You may create a new auction item, delete an item, upload a listing, and preview a listing.

Saving a listing is accomplished by using the Save Item under the File menu. Also, you may create a copy of a listing by using the Save As menu item. The copy of the listing will have “ – Created from Copy” appending to its name to provide an indication that it is the copy. Once you use the Save As feature you should make any edits necessary to the listing. This includes renaming the listing.

Importing Listings

Items can be imported from a properly formatted Microsoft Excel workbook.   Excel files created in Microsoft Office 2003 or 2007 are supported. The file format should include only the following columns in the following order:

• TITLE
• DESCRIPTION
• SKU
• OPENING BID
• CONDITION

The import file should contain one line per item.

In order to import a file select the Import menu item under the File menu. The application will prompt you for the Excel file location and then import the items.   Any listing defaults will be applied to the items as they are imported.

Database Backups

The Offline Lister provides a database backup feature that will help preserve the listing data you have entered in case of a system failure.

Backing up Data

In order to backup the database, select the Database Backup item from the File Menu. A new window will open that contains some brief instructions on using the backup feature and two buttons, Backup Database and Restore Database. Click the Backup Database button and provide the location for the backup to be saved to.

After backing up your data it is highly recommended to move the file to a USB Memory Stick, CD, or other storage location external to the computer you run the Offline Lister on.

Restoring the Data from a Backup

In order to restore the database, select the Database Backup item from the File Menu. The database backup screen will appear. Click the Restore Database button and provide the location of your backup file. After clicking Ok the application will restore the database you have specified.