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Last Post Nov 16, 2009 6:05 PM by: mstuf
Replies: 27
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mstuf
Posts: 419

Ebay Changes Link and Cuts off Listings

Oct 21, 2009 11:07 PM
Hello - Sorry this explanation is so long but its a Complex problem thats rather hard to explain -- I have tried to give good documentation for what I see.
I've worked on this issue for Sometime. I've been fighting with it for more than a year. It Causes partial pages to display for my listing and Forces me to let all my store items expire every 30 days and have no other listings at that expiration point so that I can Sync and restart my Turbo Lister. I have been trying to work with Ebay Turbo Lister Help. They have sent me here saying that the problem is NOT with Turbo Lister. I'd appreciate any input. I'm baffled. This problem is causing me to not be using my store and not be listing anything else until I can cure it.

I use photobucket as a Photo Host - They provide a Direct HTML Link and an HTML Code Link to access the stored photos. Here is an Example of the Code Link.

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f19/Mstuf/SunshinyDaysVHS001.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

I Create my Desctiptions and add the above photolink to the middle of the description. If I open description builder and Save - it Changes the img's in the code to IMG and modifys the code.

When the item is Uploaded it appears on line just fine -- but the code that appears in the Active Listings Area of Turbo Lister under Active Auctions displays a Broken Photo Link and something is telling Ebay to insert its TL Advertisement at that point and it Cuts of my Description at that point. -- When I Sync Turbo Lister with Ebay -- The Broken Listing is Inserted and Thus it leaves me with no photos and no text in the bottom half of my Listing.

It doesnt happen to all -- only some - Usually about 40% of a Batch. Its not always the First Photo that Breaks the Code.

I have been using the same Template for many years with Background and Text with Store Links etc. Turbo Lister Help suggested that the remedy was to remove the Background and Text Color HTML from My Listings. I did so and it still happened. I then Created a Listing with NO HTML - Not even a Line Break Tag - only the two photos and it still happens.

The Description was done in the Window of the TL Item Creation Screen.

I Typed:
Just Using Plain Text to see whats happening - I am using NO HTML other than a Photo link - Edited to try plain.
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"> <img src="http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f19/Mstuf/SunshinyDaysVHS001.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"> </a>

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"> <img src="http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f19/Mstuf/SunshinyDaysVHS002.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"> </a>

I have followed it with Text that would be the remainder of the Auction.




After Opening it in Description builder to see what it looked like and Saving it -- the Code appears as

Just Using Plain Text to see whats happening - I am using NO HTML other than a Photo link - Edited to try --- <A href="http://photobucket.com" target=_blank><IMG alt=Photobucket src="http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f19/Mstuf/SunshinyDaysVHS001.jpg" border=0></A> <A href="http://photobucket.com" target=_blank><IMG alt=Photobucket src="http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f19/Mstuf/SunshinyDaysVHS002.jpg" border=0></A> I have followed it with Text that would be the remainder of the Auction.


Note that the Photo Links are Rearranged and that the img's are changed to IMG's.


After Uploading the Listing -- it appears on Site Correctly - The Description that is Returned to my Active listing area of Turbo Lister is

<TABLE cellSpacing=28 cellPadding=0 width="100%">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=top>Just Using Plain Text to see whats happening - I am using NO HTML other than a Photo link - Edited to try plain --- <A href="http://photobucket.com" target=_blank>><BR><FONT face=Arial,Helvetica size=2>Powered by <A href="http://pages.ebay.com/turbo_lister/">eBay Turbo Lister</A><BR>The free listing tool. List your items fast and easy and manage your active items. </FONT>
<CENTER></CENTER></TR></TBODY></TABLE>


So at this point it appears Correctly online but NOTE that the Code is Broken at the Photolink and that ebays TL Ad has been inserted. I use the Synchronize Button -- It passes the shortened code in the active Listing to site and my listing then has NO PHOTO and No Text that came after the Photos. Heres what appears


Link


If I would have replaced the IMG with img in the second example - before Uploading - and then done the same Sync routine, The listing does not display this Malady.

Link

Granted - I could just do a Find and Replace IMG with img and I do, but something always sneaks through. I have done that SO MANY Times yet during editing and just preparing my listings - the IMG's just keep sneaking in. There may be other editing Scenarios that are doing it that I havent found yet.

If I replace the Description window in the Active Listing with original code and Sync -- all is again OK. ( But what a Hassle to check and repair 1800+ listed items )
I have 1800 items needing to be listed - but am hesitant to start knowing that this problem exists. The sync feature cannot be used because then every item would need to be opened and checked.


I replied back to Turbo Lister Help after they suggested that I remove Background Color and Text Color -- and after I removed ALL HTML except the Photolink
Turbo Lister Help said:
Thank you for writing back. I do appreciate your concern about the html issue being an eBay issue.

However, I must tell you that the Listing Tools team does not support
html issues except for some very basic issues. html was not developed
by eBay, it is a universal language; nevertheless, eBay recognizes that
some sellers do have questions about their html and that's why they
created a discussion board to give members some help.

I'm just telling you that your issue has gone beyond our expertise here
at this team. Your best resource at this point is the eBay html
discussion board. If we knew html inside and out here on this team,
we'd have been glad to help you further. I'm sorry for the
inconvenience.



I believe that this is a Turbo Lister Issue but Ebay does not --
Any Ideas Appreciated !!
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shipscript
Posts: 8,261
(1 of 27)

Re: Ebay Changes Link and Cuts off Listings

Oct 22, 2009 1:31 AM
The fact that you created a plain text listing with no HTML other than the image code indicates a tool problem.

We saw a very similar problem on this forum perhaps a year ago. The listing was truncated in the middle of the photobucket image code. We couldn't find the reason or the solution. It only happened with a few listings, and they seemed to be associated with synchronization. The seller was using Firefox to edit the listings online and was then synchronizing them, but I believe that was after the problems appeared in the listings.

The TurboLister team had suggested the member's TL database may have been corrupt. Other members have also reported other problems when reaching some sort of limit in the database. So you may want to take a look at the size of your database and perhaps purge some of it. There may also be some method for rebuilding or fixing a TL database, but my TL experience is limited. The TL team should help with that.

I also experienced a slightly similar problem using TL. In my scenario, I had used the online editor to revise a listing and add photos to the bottom of the listing right after the CENTER tag just above the TL logo. When it was synchronized and brought back into TL, the CENTER tag was taken as the beginning of the TL logo code, and TL stripped off that bottom section of the code, taking away the photos with it. This is most likely unrelated to your problem, but I mention it just in case it provides some clues.

TL uses a Microsoft HTML editor engine, so it rearranges and capitalizes HTML codes in the same way Internet Explorer would if you used the online SYI editor.

Do you copy your code directly from Photobucket to Turbo Lister or do you paste it somewhere along the way, like Notepad or Word, and pick it up again from there? Are you on Vista?

You've done quite a bit of experimenting. Could you do more?

What happens if you don't paste your code in the Grid window and instead go straight to the Description Builder and paste your code in the HTML tab?

Alternatively, what happens if you stay out of the Description Builder and put your code directly in the grid window? Can you work that way?

If you created two identical test listings like the plain text one above, would the code break at exactly the same place? If you added one more image to the end or removed one image from the end, would it break at the same place?

I'd be looking at two possibilities here. Either the makeup of the individual listing breaks the code, or its position in the database might break the code.

If two identical listings don't break identically, then I think the data base may need cleaning and would even suggest archiving the data off the computer, uninstalling TL, and reinstalling a new copy and starting fresh from that point forward creating a new database.

If two identical listings do break in the same way, then we should look at the sequence of characters in your photobucket image code and start hacking off parts of it.

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shipscript
Posts: 8,261
(2 of 27)

Re: Ebay Changes Link and Cuts off Listings

Oct 22, 2009 1:41 AM
Can you explain a little about this listing?

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mstuf
Posts: 419
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Re: Ebay Changes Link and Cuts off Listings

Oct 22, 2009 3:07 AM
Hello --

Thanks for Enduring the Long Explination -

Its Almost 3 AM Here and I just saw your post come in as I was preparing to shut down and Sleep --

I will have time tomorrow to try the several other experiments that you ask about -

You ask if I pasted the code direct or through another program. -- I have done both. Normally I work from a Template that I created in Word with a place for my Photo Link Codes. I have used the same templates for about 5 years -- updating them for each ebay "Imporovement " - This particular Example item was just made up for the test and was created from Scratch with the photo link pasted direct.

Yes I can work from the Window --

Just for Reference this listing is style that my normal templates produce.

Link

I started removing HTML features per the first Diagnosis of TL Help that my HTML was "too Complex and interfearing with Ebays Code" -- They suggested that I remove the background and Text color Codes -- and then I went on from there and just kept removing More and more until I was left with the plain listing. So I created the plain listing using a photo link that I know causes the error in the example. About 2 Weeks ago I started 15 Items - Some Old - Some New -- Created from Different Templates - in different Catagories. Out of 15 -- 7 displayed the problem. All had photobucket codes and were of Similar Format.


In your second post you ask about the other Listing --
That is initially the SAME listing as the shortened one except, before uploading to Ebay, after editing, I changed the IMG's to img. Everything then seems to work fine. I have opened the Description builder -- edited the text - saved and Sync'd with no error. Same text - Same Photos.

Off to bed Tonight -- will try some of those requested trials tomorrow and report. IF you have other thoughts just let me know - I check emails first thing when I start it up.

Thanks Much !!
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shipscript
Posts: 8,261
(4 of 27)

Re: Ebay Changes Link and Cuts off Listings

Oct 22, 2009 10:41 AM
I see this listing in Internet Explorer 6, but in Firefox 2, I just see some broken eBay code....

try{vjo.dsf.assembly.VjClientAssembler._callback0([ {"id":"699","type":"none","width":"","height":"","content":""}, {"id":"825","type":"none","width":"0","height":"0","content":""}, {"id":"827","type":"none","width":"0","height":"0","content":""}, {"id":"829","type":"none","width":"","height":"","content":""}, {"id":"813","type":"none","width":"0","height":"0","content":""}, {"id":"283","type":"html","width":"1","height":"1","content":"\n\n\n

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mstuf
Posts: 419
(5 of 27)

Re: Ebay Changes Link and Cuts off Listings

Oct 22, 2009 12:36 PM
Hello --

Well I'm back with the Living -

That Listing you ask about in your last post was created with the First Bold Print Code in the OP.

-----------------------------

You ask my Operating System -- I am XP SP3 and My Office is XP (2002 ) as well.

----------------

You said -
TL uses a Microsoft HTML editor engine, so it rearranges and capitalizes HTML codes in the same way Internet Explorer would if you used the online SYI editor.

It is odd that it capitalizes IMG but Not src. You see that img src is together in the initial photolink but in the initial first edit and save, the code is re-arranged and it becomes IMG alt=Photobucket src

While Sleeping I thought of something to Try -- This mornings first Experiment was to Take the IMG alt=Photobucket src and change it to IMG alt=Photobucket SRC to see what happens. In the First Edit while in inventory TL changes it back to IMG alt=Photobucket src but when uploaded, edited and Sync'd -- it did not break code and shorten.

So I forced it by Editing back to IMG alt=Photobucket SRC and uploading - and again -- it did not break code and shorten.

---------------------------------


A Couple details to Add -

Not all with identical format Photocode - same template etc do it.

I have no example currently but from the past - its not always the first Photo Link that Breaks the code -- With identical format I have seen the Second Link do it and once the 4th link on a listing with 5 Photos.

-------------------

You ask

If you created two identical test listings like the plain text one above, would the code break at exactly the same place? If you added one more image to the end or removed one image from the end, would it break at the same place?

It always breaks at this Spot -- see the >>< in the third code example of the OP.

Heres whats happening -

This is the Section that the error occurs ;

<A href="http://photobucket.com" target=_blank>><<BR>FONT face=Arial,Helvetica size=2>


I begins to execute the photo link

<A href="http://photobucket.com" target=_blank><IMG alt=Photobucket src="http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f19/Mstuf/SunshinyDaysVHS001.jpg" border=0></A>


it breaks here -- omitting <IMG alt=Photobucket src="http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f19/Mstuf/SunshinyDaysVHS001.jpg" border=0></A

it breaks here leaving one >

and inserts its Code for the TL ad.
<BR><FONT face=Arial,Helvetica size=2>Powered by <A href="http://pages.ebay.com/turbo_lister/">eBay Turbo Lister</A><BR>The free listing tool. List your items fast and easy and manage your active items. </FONT>

-----------

I have to do a couple things to get business stuff out of the way -- but will return in a bit and will try pasting into description window and try pasting directly into HTML window of Description Builder -



Thanks
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mstuf
Posts: 419
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Re: Ebay Changes Link and Cuts off Listings

Oct 22, 2009 12:44 PM
PS -- My Above example and defining of the Error Spot is from the Returned Code that Causes the Error -- not what I am attempting to upload. Its whats left of my uploaded code when the error has occurred. It is a breakdown of the error spot in the third secition of code in the OP.
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mstuf
Posts: 419
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Re: Ebay Changes Link and Cuts off Listings

Oct 23, 2009 4:44 PM
My Reply and next effort will be delayed -- I have picked up a Trojan in my home computer. I opened an Email attachment from a Trusted Friends Wife -- He's been having some health Problems and I was caught off gaurd thinking that it might be something new about him.

My Browser is taking me to unrequested Sites when clicking on links etc -

I've tried all my tools to remove it and cannot so far. AVG - MalwareBytes - Bit -- Microsoft - SAS - Spybot -- dont even see it - The Spydoctor Finds it -- Not sure about that site as it causes AVG to pop up a warning when I clicked on the Buy it Screen.

Going to Try System Restore --Should be a acceptable application since I have added nothing new of importance since attaining the Problem

Once fixed I will get back on this -- I appreciate all your help =
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shipscript
Posts: 8,261
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Re: Ebay Changes Link and Cuts off Listings

Oct 24, 2009 11:48 AM
Best of luck fighting your trojans.

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nates_tips
Posts: 3,367
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Re: Ebay Changes Link and Cuts off Listings

Oct 24, 2009 4:00 PM
mstuf,

Go to this page and read every thing, and do it! Don't skip any step. Do exactly as it says, and in order.

http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/Malware-Spyware-Cleaning-Guide-t2852.html

Once through, post your logs on the Geeks To Go Malware forum as instructed. Within a couple of days certified Malware Staff will analyze your system logs and propose a fix.

If you post the things they ask for and do what they say, your system will be back up and running again.

The Malware Staff that will help you know their stuff. They had to go through a 6-8 month training program to just be able to help, and they are advised under some of the most popular geeks in the Malware Removal industry.

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mstuf
Posts: 419
(10 of 27)

Re: Ebay Changes Link and Cuts off Listings

Oct 24, 2009 5:14 PM
Thanks Nate --

So as not to cross subjects here, I actually ask a question about my Infection situation on the Computing board here at Ebay Yesterday -- and early this morning posted that I have Viewed GeekstoGo site recommendations for Malware and Virus Removal -- I have already Completed the first 5 Steps and Saw temporary Improvement. - Did the Reboot and Trial. Its not gone through and I suspect it will begin again getting worse. I was going to run step 6 in just a bit ( the rool kit thing ) and then compose a Post. I read some of the Posted Threads there and I really liked the way that they seem to deal with people. I also looked a MajoGeeks but it seemed a little above my level of understanding and without as much patience to explain stuff.

All the Scans I'm doing have been clean Except SpywareDoctor.

Thanks for The Suggestion - Looks like a Good Place.

Appreciated !
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nates_tips
Posts: 3,367
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Re: Ebay Changes Link and Cuts off Listings

Oct 24, 2009 5:36 PM
Oh ok, you're already ahead of the ball game. :)

Geeks to Go is a great place, and you are correct; the Malware Staff don't mind taking the time to explain something.

I have posted some logs there and have had good experiences.

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mstuf
Posts: 419
(12 of 27)

Re: Ebay Changes Link and Cuts off Listings

Oct 29, 2009 11:01 PM
Hello -- Shipscript ? Still Around ?

Still battling the Malware so I'm using another computer for a while. What a Mess -- There otta be a Law !

Sorry to have had to drop the ball for a bit.

I've had one reply from ebays TL Support -- they suggested that I do a TL program reset. I usually do them after updates anyway. Surprise -- no difference.

I started working on my problem here with some ideas that I had in my downtime. I'm really puzzled. I devised a plan to try.

I composed a New Listing with my original template since it worked for the last 5 years and on about 50% of my last run of stuff. I modified the Code several ways and I Edited and Saved several ways. ( saved from Main Screen - HTML Screen - Design View Screen -- Sync'd and Re- Sycd and several odd things happened but it didnt truncate the photo and second half of the listing. The Text in Active Listings came back in two different forms -- some added Ebays Turbo Lister Ad Code - Some did not. After Several Sync's all of the Turbo Lister ad Code was removed.

So, is this just one of the ones that doesnt do it ? or is this one different for some reason ?

So I again composed the Simplest Listing Descrption Imaginable.
No Backgrounds - No Formatted Text -- Just a Text Sentence - the provided code for the two photos without even a Br inbetween and a Plain text sentence at the end and it Chopped it off at the Photo as before and inserted Ebays Code in the Active Listings View and when Sync'd passed the Shortened Code on the Site.

Sigh !

Do you have some ideas or the patience to help any further ?

I am available to try anything.

I cleaned out some of the old stuff that I uploaded with the past examples. I kept a detailed txt file of what I did on the 8 ( a - h ) examples that would not produce error.
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mstuf
Posts: 419
(13 of 27)

Re: Ebay Changes Link and Cuts off Listings

Oct 31, 2009 3:48 AM
Still Trying more things --

Yesterday I created another Basic Listing -- with the Same photo Links in in Each --

I Uploaded One just as Created with img srcs,

Link

The other I opened and Viewed in Desctiption Builder and added One Character - viewed it in Design View and Saved. The img's were changed to IMGs by Turbo Lister. I Uploaded it and then Syncronized.

Link


The Code is Broken at the Same spot as before shown in a previous post.

I changed to a different photo that I stored at my own website and just replaced the photobucket URL with my own in "this is just a test 4" and its not happening on this same listing. Will Experiment with this more.
If its the Cure that Photobucket is the problem for some reason it would be disasterous to try to reupload all my photos and replace all my links in time to salvage my listings for Christmas this year.
Will Experiment with a group of these to see if the error will replicate over the weekend.
Any ideas appreciated -- I'm confused and in a desperate situation. I need to find a positive answer as to what the problem is before begining the revisions since revising all my listings will be a VERY Time consuming project. Especially this time of year. I need to be Positive that I am finally going to get to run my listings to justify spending the time to fix 2000 descriptions with individual photos. I have not run a group of stuff for Many Months, yet I keep paying for the Store.

Thanks for Looking
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dreeves313
Posts: 1,530
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Re: Ebay Changes Link and Cuts off Listings

Nov 1, 2009 1:35 PM
My listings have been doing the same thing. Come to find out, it was because I didn't have an estimated shipping time...like 3 business days. I used turbo lister for these so I'm sure when the rest get around to the 30 day mark, I will have to relist those too.

I've quit useing tl, too much trouble.

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